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  • Steven H. Blackwell

    Hacking Your Own FileMaker Platform Solutions

    By Steven H. Blackwell

    Hacking Your Own FileMaker Platform Solutions Should FileMaker Platform developers mount hacking attacks on their own solutions? At first glance, this may seem an odd question. But I believe that the answer is “Yes, we should.” Consider this. As developers we see our solutions from a totally different perspective than Threat Agents see them. Without practicing our own hacking skills, we can become blind to the vulnerabilities a Threat Agent can exploit to compromise the Confidentiality
    • 1 comment
    • 6,140 views
  • Josh Ormond

    A Conversation About '2 Factor Authentication'

    By Josh Ormond

    [ Edit: 3/16/2016 - With the help of some other people, we have been able to recover, or recreate some of the original images from original thread. ] Security is always a big topic when it involves data, or people, or possessions. Recently, over on the FileMaker Community, there was a very beneficial discussion regarding security. Unfortunately, that discussion was the victim of a necessary action...and was deleted. It was deleted, because the discussion was tied to a video that, as was det
    • 1 comment
    • 6,214 views

Claris Engage 2025 Session: How to build next-level web apps with Claris FileMaker

For those who have yet to dive into web development— whether you’re intimidated by all there is to learn or still believe that Claris FileMaker isn’t fast enough to support a web app— Eric’s session from Claris Engage 2025 will swiftly prove to you just how feasible web dev is.  By utilizing ProofKit (a free […] The post Claris Engage 2025 Session: How to build next-level web apps with Claris FileMaker appeared first on Proof+Geist. View the full article

Todd Geist

Todd Geist

Claris Engage 2025 Session: Building efficiency, a DevOps approach to Claris FileMaker applications

Everyone asks what DevOps is, but the bigger questions are: who is doing DevOps, where is DevOps being done, and finally, why is DevOps being done?  Many Claris FileMaker developers follow a “process” that features crossing fingers, off-hours importing, and frantically checking for backups. You can ensure faster development while maintaining high stability and scalability […] The post Claris Engage 2025 Session: Building efficiency, a DevOps approach to Claris FileMaker applications appeared fi

Todd Geist

Todd Geist

Claris Engage 2025 Session: Creating durable Claris FileMaker solutions, best practices and strategies

How does durability apply to Claris FileMaker solutions, and how can you make sure that your FileMaker software can stand the test of time? Setting a project up for success doesn’t have an easy checklist, but there are a host of things to consider to keep your FileMaker projects consistent and readable. No matter if […] The post Claris Engage 2025 Session: Creating durable Claris FileMaker solutions, best practices and strategies appeared first on Proof+Geist. View the full article

Todd Geist

Todd Geist

OttoFMS and Your FileMaker Server with Todd Geist

We would like to extend a big thank you to Richard Carlton, who had us on his FM Training.TV livestream again. Todd Geist spent a full week demoing OttoFMS for your Claris FileMaker Server and answering questions. The recordings are now available for all to watch.  Join Richard and Todd as they go over the […] The post OttoFMS and Your FileMaker Server with Todd Geist appeared first on Proof+Geist. View the full article

Todd Geist

Todd Geist

Elegant Panel Wizard

Having a few pieces of code that can be easily replicated into any solution is one of the best ways to achieve efficiency in development. Yes, AI is revolutionizing how we build solutions, but it's still important to have a personal "treasure chest" of code you're familiar with and don’t need to re-learn. In this video and technique file, we take a look at just one of many ways to create a wizard-like, multi-step process. Using a slider is likely one of the simplest methods for collecting data

Plotting Locations on a Map with FileMaker and JSON

Introducing A Free Demo File You Can Use If you’ve ever wanted to visualize address data inside a FileMaker solution, this free demo file shows you exactly how it’s done. During a Claris Community Live event, we shared a FileMaker demo called “Plot Locations on a Map” that uses JSON and the FileMaker Data API to plot multiple address points on an interactive map. This demo is available at no cost and is part of the free FileMaker Features and Free Resources course from Productive Computi

PCIPal

PCIPal

FileMaker Quick Quote System Speeds Quotes, Orders

FileMaker Takes Heat Off Thermocouple Manufacturer’s Day-to-Day Operations Quick-Quote System Gets Custom Quotes Out, Orders In Lickety-Split In an industry where every product is a custom order, quick quoting is essential; the quicker a quote goes out, the quicker an order comes in – See how FileMaker is helping one manufacturer speed up the quoting process. Thermocouples make the world go ’round. From hot water heaters and pizza ovens to cars and spacecraft, thermocouples are everywhere. T

eXcelisys

eXcelisys

Magic Numeric Value List

The Challenge Demo Files magic numeric value list v1.zip magic numeric value list v2.zip Recently a challenge came up to use a dynamically-generated ascending sequence of numbers as the basis for a value list, and in a multi-user-safe manner. By dynamically-generated, I mean that the list of numbers would be calculated at runtime and would… Continue reading Magic Numeric Value ListView the full article

Better UI Settings

Longtime FileMaker developers have often used the database itself to store values for various user interface settings. This is valid, because, where else would you store them? A common approach is individual fields. However, there are a few problems with this. First, it adds "noise" to your data structure, making it harder to distinguish between actual data fields and those used for other purposes. For example, you might ask, "Is this an actual data field or is it used for something else?" Sec

Streamline Your Salvage Contracts with Our VSS Digital Solution

Vessel Service Solutions (VSS) is a custom-built mobile solution created specifically for TowBoatU.S. operators and marine towing companies. It simplifies dispatching, boat maintenance, fuel logs, invoicing, and payroll. Everything runs from a centralized, cloud-based system and connects with iPads used in the field. VSS replaces manual BoatU.S. paperwork with a digital workflow and pulls dispatches directly from the BoatU.S. system. This means faster, more accurate tracking of your towing a

PCIPal

PCIPal

FMIndent - FileMaker Code Formatting

FileMaker developers who use editors like VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, BBEdit, or even VIM are very familiar with the modern conveniences expected from a code editor: linters, code completion, formatting, syntax highlighting, and more. In FileMaker, however, we've been stuck in the 90s for quite a while. One of my favorite tools is Typinator, which offers extensive text manipulation capabilities. Recently, a new tool for Mac developers was released that addresses the lack of a full-fledged editor. F

Upcoming Community Live: Hidden Dangers of Running Outdated Claris FileMaker

To ensure your business runs smoothly, it’s vital to keep your software up to date. From bug fixes to security concerns, there’s a host of reasons to keep your applications recent. On Thursday, May 29th, join Rick Kalman and Rosemary Tietge as they take a deep dive into how, why, and when to update your […] The post Upcoming Community Live: Hidden Dangers of Running Outdated Claris FileMaker appeared first on Proof+Geist. View the full article

Closing Windows During Transactions

This article documents behavior in the current shipping version of the product, i.e., FM 21 (a.k.a. FM 2024). Demo file: transaction_test.zip (requires FM 21 or later) This is a follow-up to last month’s article on Modal Transactional Card Windows to address a very specific question. Given that transactions are scoped to a window, does a… Continue reading Closing Windows During TransactionsView the full article

ForEach Function for Scripted Loops

When it comes to doing the same thing over and over again, you really can't beat a loop. It's the wet side of DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself), where the "Don't" turns into a very big "Please, yes, DO." The trick with loops, especially when you're processing a lot of data like JSON, is that you often have to manage multiple iterators, counts, and all the little bits and pieces needed for a successful outcome. One of the wonderful things about many other languages, like Python, PHP, JavaScript, and

Testing Your Work in Claris FileMaker

Testing is a crucial part of building reliable FileMaker solutions, whether you're a freelancer or a citizen developer. This guide explores smart testing strategies, from applying the "Zero, One, Many" rule to leveraging FileMaker’s Script Debugger for efficient troubleshooting. Learn how to think like a user, anticipate errors, and implement best practices that will make your applications more robust, user-friendly, and scalable. Includes demo file and video. Testing Your Work in Claris FileMak

Complex Conditional Formatting

Breaking down complex logic into manageable chunks of code is the smartest thing you can do when it comes to conditional formatting. Especially when it needs to account for an increasingly wider number of conditions. This week's video deals with what seems like a simple solution to solve, yet it comes with all kinds of complex little pieces to make the solution provide the end result desired. If you enjoy the type of video which is a bit of a solution walk-thru, where I discuss how things are

Proof+Geist Talks with Richard Carlton

A big thanks to  Richard Carlton for hosting multiple members of the Proof+Geist team on his FMTV podcast during Claris Engage 2025. Check out the conversations and the short demos surrounding multiple free-to-try or fully free tools for FileMaker development.  FMLayoutLens and FMPerception with Dave Ramsey In this conversation, Dave Ramsey discusses FMLayoutLens and FMPerception. […] The post Proof+Geist Talks with Richard Carlton appeared first on Proof+Geist. View the full article

Todd Geist

Todd Geist

Effective Solution Settings

Every solution starts out like an infant. It knows very little and works hard to manage your solution's data as it becomes a productive citizen of your digital society. As it grows, your solution will need to offer a variety of options. User A prefers things one way, while User B another. Your job, as the developer, is to accommodate those whims and preferences, or settings as we’ll call them, in the most efficient way possible. As is somewhat typical, you may be halfway through development whe

Learn Essential AI Terms for FileMaker

Using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini can significantly streamline your development process and enhance problem-solving capabilities. But to effectively leverage AI, it’s important to understand foundational AI terminology. This blog introduces you to the essential terminology you’ll need to make sense of how AI works and how it can improve your FileMaker development efforts. AI terms you should know Machine Learning (ML): A subset of AI that

PCIPal

PCIPal

Modal Transactional Card Window

Demo file: transactional-card-window.zip (requires FM 20 or newer) Resources Card windows — Windowing in FM 16: First Impressions Transactions — A Practical Guide to Transactions in FileMaker (ClickWorks) Introduction Recently a colleague and I were discussing ways one might go about having a card window be both modal and transactional. By default card windows are… Continue reading Modal Transactional Card WindowView the full article

Kevin Frank

Kevin Frank

Claris Engage 2025: Energy, innovation, and community

I arrived in Austin excited to see some familiar faces and show off all the cool stuff we’ve been working on at Proof+Geist. I left Claris Engage feeling grateful for the people, the conversations, and the chance to be part of something that keeps evolving. Winning as a team Claris recognized Proof+Geist with an Excellence […] The post Claris Engage 2025: Energy, innovation, and community appeared first on Proof+Geist. View the full article

Todd Geist

Todd Geist

Using Gateway Files

One of the greatest joys of working in technology is that you never really have to stop learning - although you certainly can. Everything also moves so fast that it often feels like you can’t keep up. The great thing about FileMaker is that you're not stuck in the '80s or '90s when the software first started - you get to explore as widely as you like. FileMaker can literally reach into almost all aspects of technology. You can learn about relational structure, SQL, REST, web APIs, and whatever
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