Community Videos, Tips, & Techniques, Articles.

Someone Asked, So here it is. A trick to change the background color of a field depending on it's contents. FieldColorChange.zip

(Edited: Later on the thread is another sampler, which brings some other features) Here's one method for displaying AND entering in a portal just the values you need, and their related value lists. Another use of Get Field () P.S. : The attachment has been edited to get rid of unused scripts, so that you can't be confused while exploring the settings. DynamicPortal.zip

I have modified a calendar database done in filemaker pro which was posted to the samples section sometime ago. I have modified it to serve as an easy to use calendar program. Everything is working fine except there is a problem with shading certain days. If have attached a .zip copy of the filemaker files. Go to JUNE 2003 and you will see what the problem is. It is supposed to shade unused days from the previous and next month however, on certain months it shades the entire first row. I want the entire first row to shift up if it is the case like JUNE 2003. Any help is greatly appreciated. I plan on creating a repeating events script, MYSQL integration, and I…

In one session Darren Terry demonstrated a solution for you to develop a date range system that doesn't require a plugin. Nor does it require a loop in a script actually it doesn't require any scripts at all. The beauty is also that it dosen't bust with the 64k text limit of FMP... In fact you can get a range from 01/01/0001 to 12/31/3000 Check it out for yourself Special recognition goes to: Mikhail Edoshin at Onega Software, who developed this technique. Mikhail credits Geoffrey Gerhard and Jason L. DeLooze on his website. Here is the instructions and file samples.

I thought someone had posted a sample that creates timeline (gantt) type barcharts but couldn't find it here. Anyway, here is another one. Timeline.fp5.zip

Has anyone purchased those "applications" such as Tasks or Recruiter or Meetings? I am very curious. Brad

Background In FileMaker Pro, calculations which include references to global fields or related fields (ie fields from other databases) cannot be indexed. Indexes, on the other hand , perform several important functions: 1. they facilitate searching and sorting on a field 2. they enable the creation of value lists based on field contents 3. indexed fields can be used as the target (foreign) key in a relationship Each of these considerations is significant. however the latter two sometimes present the database designer with a dilemma. Occasionally, the natural connections between data elements require that a relational dependency - or a global variable …

Recentely, there were some questions about how to dinamically renumber related records in portal and how to move them up and down. This files try to answer those questions. Hope you'll find them useful. Dj Renumbering Portal Records.zip

Hi there... In answer to This thread , this sampler shows how Relationships can be "nested" to narrow a "search" built on multiple criterias. This thread had somehow moved to Caf

Inventory databases are such a hassle. This might help you in designing your own inventory system Inv_Sample.ZIP

We run an auto auction and use fm 5.5 for the inventory and are moving to use for actual auction. What is the best way to protect the original inventory but have the sale information up date into db including sale, buyer info. we have database for customer and inventory that work indenpendently but i am concerned about have a db for the sale and having the ablility to pull the car inventory from the original db and then update the sale info back into the original db. I am willing to study info just dont know where to start. We are already running the customer to inventory just to print paperwork for dmv but wish to add the ability to register bidder (from customer …

This is in response to another thread about how to export a tab delimited file where each record line must end with a carriage return and a linefeed. ExportCRLF.fp5.zip

I originally posted a set of sample files that shows how to do typical date calculations that skip weekends and holidays here: http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/54679 Here is an updated set that includes a holiday maker file that allows you to define holidays that repeat annually, and also lets you define different calendars. For example you may have one calendar for your office staff who work Monday to Friday, and another calendar for your site crew who work Monday to Saturday, or a US calendar which has US holidays for US employees and a Canadian calendar with Canadian holidays for Canadian employees etc. I set this up a long time ago and never pos…

This presents one solution to a checkbox (on a web page) which causes a radio button in a peer-to-peer layout of the db to change according to a valuelist. Certain language of the valuelist (used on edit.htm) was taken directly from a question which was posited by daviator in this thread Drag and drop check.fp5 on FMPro to open. You can drag and drop the format files onto SimpleText (Mac) and make them readable. I do not know if that will work with NotePad (windows). If not, view source. This sample is in FMPro 5.0v3. Set your Web Security db for all users and allow browse and edit. Should run fine on localhost. Select the name of a title (two words, e.g. T…

Not much to this very simple demonstration. To fully appreciate the time formatting you need to create a record before noon and a record after noon. Oops, almost forgot to mention, this is in FMPro 5.0v.3. Unstuff the folder and place the files loose in Web. I should also mention that for publishing over the www your db files should not be in the folder Web. For the demo's which I post the db files are placed there for your convenience only. And create a record in Web Security for the db file for all users, Browse and Create. timedate.zip

Sorry folks I didn't realize that I have disabled "Define Fields" access So now it is really Open Source, Dj Calendar.2.zip

Exploring the -LOP Tag's values More pedantry. Developed in FMPro 5.0v.3, latest WC updaters. Tested on IE 5.1 and NN 7.0. Unstuff. Place the files from this folder loose in your folder WEB. Create a new record in Web Security.fp5 for all users with the permission Browse. Make sure web companion is enabled. I use the URL http://localhost/default.htm. If you are using something other than port 80, you may need to edit the format files and the URL accordingly. For NEWBIES. In addition to the -LOP values, this demonstration uses the "field contents match" restriction in a find, and the text which is displayed on two pages (of four) is controlled with [FMP…

Sometimes it EnterInCalcs.fp5.zip

This is an example file for radiohead on FileMaker Cafe who is looking for a way to create customer IDs using a combination of the customer's last name followed by a sequential number starting at 100, and incrementing by 1 for each new customer with the same last name. You can read radiohead's post here. Essentially this solution uses a custom dialog for First and Last name entry, validates the entries, then sets the ID field from a relationship-based aggregate calculation. It's probably not the most elegant solution, but it works pretty well. It does require that users cannot access the "New Record" menu command so they can't bypass the "New Record" script. This wil…

This is a demo for robert58 on FileMaker Cafe who needs a solution for automatically synchronizing the contents of a pop-up menu field with 6 checkbox fields on another layout. You can read robert's question here. Popup_Actions_fp5.zip

Thought I would send an updated file using Rays calc.

I was chalenged to do this one. See http://forum.filemakerworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=4318&highlight= Attached find a file I modified Logic done originally by JMO Added to this are fields to make the time work less Sat. + Sun. Also New OSX Background. Work Time.zip

http://mostarnet.com/tutorials/filemaker/FMembeded.zip let me know what you think! All the best!

Simple example showing how to replicate almost all the items in the status area when doing a scripted find. FindSample.fp5.zip

Designed in FMPro 5.0.v3 More pedantry. This demonstrates the submission of a username and password through a CDML hyperlink using FileMaker Access Privileges in conjunction with Web Companion. This approach, combined with a bit of JavaScript and frames presents a fair amount of site security. For NEWBIES, this demonstration also uses a JavaScript form submission, the FMP-LinkRecordID tag, and the code to use images in lieu of form buttons, among other things. After you decompress the folder you will want to open the file jsopen.fp5, probably by dragging and dropping on your FMPro 5.+ application. You will be asked for a password. Enter banana. You the…

Here's a Sample I created to get the records that were created withing the last 24 Hours. Just press the refresh button. Posted 8/19/2003 after this date add your own records to makeit work. V2 Removed Startup script Get Last 24.zip

If you need to print from Filemaker onto pre-printed forms it can be tricky getting the fields to line up exactly with the blanks on the form. When you later switch to another printer the fields may no longer be aligned, even if you have selected fixed margins in your layout setup. This sample file shows how the end user can shift a report vertically and horizontally to compensate for printer differences without having to get into layout mode. PrintAdjust.fp5.ZIP

Hi all, Being an eye-candy-junky I made the attached demo that automatically shows different buttons (graphics) and text when changing from browse- to findmode. I did not test the sample in Windows and I'm curious if the 'Aqua' buttons will retain their transparancy when used on that platform. Regards, Ernst. GraphicsAndText.fp5.zip

Hello, I was just on another forum where Chopper had posted a list of Filemaker Error codes. Mentioned he had it in Filemaker. I decided to put the list in filemaker. I'm posting it here because now that I'm learing scripts this will be very handy. Hope its useful to others. This list is also available in the Filemaker help section. Michael

Hi. This sounds like an excellent FMP project and is one of the VERY few to be listed in SourceForge: http://sourceforge.net/projects/phile-o-goo/ Only problem is... there are no files. And nobody seems to be home at the admin addresses. And nobody replied to my post on the message board. Anyone know anything about this project? Is it just a red herring?

This procedure avoid problems when changing IP address of server hosting FM files 1)MacOs X Open NetInfo Manager (applications-->utilities) Select "machines" Click on new and edit name of new folder to for ex. FmServer double click on property name to edit it to "ip_address" (without quotes) set the ip_address value to IP number of the host you are using. Click on new (or select from menu "Directory" New property" Set the property to "name" and it value to FmServer. Now edit the FileMaker Hosts file (located in preferences-->Filemaker preferences) and add line FmServer (if you don't need any other host you could delete them). 2)MacOS…

Question from another forum "Does anyone have any example of a button from one database that will go to the same record in another database with the same ID. But I need it to first search all the records in the second database so that if there are multiple records with that ID it will show them.. if not then create a new record and set the ID field to what the ID field is in the first database. I have tried 100 different ways and can't get it to work correctly. Thanks," See attached screen shots ScreenShot for Find or Add Script.zip

This demonstration was prompted by the thread "Linking to the next record" in the CDML Forum. Remove all the files from the folder and place them in your empty Web folder. Set Web Security for the database file such that all users have browse abilities. Run it on localhost (or whatever suits your style). If anyone can improve upon the solution I would welcome your efforts. There is room for improvement. NEWBIES, there are some notes throughout this demonstration just for YOU. link_next.zip

I just developed this idea to use for an invoicing system at our satellite offices. Quite often my users want to add charges or make changes to charges that cause the sort order of their invoices to go out of whack. The predefined sort orders don't help them, because they may need to reorder charges based on random criteria or how a particular client requests to see their invoices. So it's not as easy as giving them the option of selecting different sort fields. I read on this forum that permanently resorting a file or select group of records involves exporting and re-importing the data. I didn't like the idea of involving an extra file or dealing with serial number …

Since I am continually explaining this concept, I thought that I might post a FAQ on how to create a unique*, non-sequential**, non-random*** automatically entered record ID for you to use as the Primary key in your files for a relational database system. I give all of my files a PrimaryID_key, which is an auto-entered calculation into a text**** field. The calculation is the concatenation of the Filemaker internal RecordID, plus the current Date and the current Time. Right( "000000" & Status(CurrentRecordID), 6 ) & "-" & Right( "000000" & Status(CurrentTime), 6 ) & "-" & Right( "000000" & Status(CurrentDate), 6 ) This ge…

[ NOTE: updated attachment is a few posts down ] Given FMForums has given me so much help, I thought I'd try to give back by contributing the starter template that I've built based on all the great advice given here. The About text in the database is copied below. Since I'd hate for someone to start with this and suffer from my mistakes, I'd greatly appreciate it if you smart guys could look the template over and tell me what you'd do different, or what things I've done wrong, or what things will be maintenance headaches, etc. I still have a few more days of work to do on it, incorporating a user login system, before I start replicating it to th…

Is there a plug in(s) and a script available that would let me replace line breaks, i.e., paragraphs to tabs in an external text file? Thank you DanielM

Here is my Aqua template I've played with for the past few months. Based on Joe Obegi's template that can be found at layoutmode.com. Feel free to add to it and post back (version control might be troublesome). There is plenty of fun stuff to add. -Different Aqua colours (this one is only graphite) -Field locking -Aqua-isk drawer graphics (my ones weren't good enough to include with this) -Super-smart tabs. ... anything else. AquaTemplate16.fp5.zip

Hey all, I've seen lots of people come up with different ways to output text files from FMP. The problem being the paragraph returns . Here is an xsl translator that can do this super simple. The instructions are commented in the file (view with note pad etc.) Charles TextOutput.zip

Edited :This file has been corrected.... Finds with relationships exclusively... This demo is an adaptation of a file I've made, which allows to find records which checkbox are checked according to Multiple Criterias. - Any ----> values A OR B OR C - Multiples ----> At least values A and B and C - Exact ----> ONLY values A and B and C The Exact Match is limited to a 10 checkbox checked matches at the moment. This file uses a repeating Value List and the user has a 19 checkbox value list that he can change according to its needs. You would just delete the previously entered records. The 10 checkbox limits is due to FM indexing li…

Hi I'm looking for a sample/tutorials to ASP + FM. I'm a newbies in FM Thanks

What about having scripts running dependantly of the number of mouse clicks... See attached a very little demo. I use it for either flag "one single record" of my found set or "all records". MouseClicks.fp5.zip

Hi, I am new to this forum, and I am not sure if this is the appropriate place to post this, but has anyone heard/see of a template used for ticket brokers, as in businesses that buy tickets to concerts/sports/theatre/etc, and sell them to consumers? Thanks for any help! -WSR

Hi all, I have seen quite a few posts on the board asking about date calculations so... This won't be a lot of use for those of you who are quite experienced, but for any newbies who need an example of date calculations then I hope this helps. Credit goes to Ugo for the calculation to work out the amount of months! Please feel free to update or add to this if you know of any other date examples which may be useful to newbies but please do not remove anyone elses work on the example without checking with them first. BTW is also contains the example of hiding fields in a portal which I found on this forum - sorry can't remember who I got this off th…

This is actually a re-post of an old message from the old days before we could attach sample files A few people have posted questions to FMforums about how to use multiple buttons to trigger a single script and then have that script take different actions according to which button was clicked. Currently, there is no Status(CurrentButtonName) function to determine which button triggered the script, but here is another possibility. You can use the following concept to create a dynamic vertical tool bar on your layouts. It's based on the idea of putting buttons in a portal. It's simple. Create a related file with a key field, a button name field and/or a button ic…

Inspired by Kevin's question, I am offering a CDML/Filemaker solution created in FMPro 5.0v3. This is just one method of tracking the number of web hits on a record. Take everything out of your Web folder. Take everything out of the attached folder and drop them in your Web folder. There are two db files: kevin.fp5 and track.fp5. In your Web Security.fp5 file create a record for kevin.fp5: all users, Browse. Create a record for track.fp5: all users, Browse, Edit. For newbies in particular: 1. You will find action tags (-find, -findall and -edit) used in links and forms. 2. You will see the display of data from certain fields and from single and multiple…

At Ugo's request I'm posting a link to this sample file: http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=64213&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&vc=1 While you can use this to generate a multi-key on the fly, it wasn't really intended for that. For a multi-key, I recommend using the similar but simpler method in this thread: http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=64912&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=186&fpart=1

Some People think that transparent graphics in FileMaker cannot be done. Here is a little tutorial to prove them wrong ... transparent_graphics.zip

(updated with new attachment 2 posts down) Hi, Control entry or duplicates on Names. This method allows to match errors when processing some Name entries. Associated with a Clairvoyance tool, there's little errors that wouldn't be catched IMO : Match : - characters inversions - characters substitution(s) - character addition(s) - character ommission(s) Thanks to Ernst for his help on this one. Originated from this post. Spell Checker, does this exist ? Anyone willing to look at the calcs and simplify them to be even more dynamic is really welcome. Thanks. SpellCheckerv3.fp5.zip

This is an adjustment of a first demo I've made some time ago. CheckDupes.fp5.zip

Hi, Here is one template (posted in response to Wendy T. for a "Layout Pop-Up contol". I'll progressively update it with other tools, when they are working. I just hope it may help someone else. I feel like in order to build good and efficient db, you first need to create a good and efficient db to manage the dbs ! Is there any other tools available BTW ? Developper.fp5.zip

Don't we all LOVE repeating fields, but hate that we can't set them easily ? Well, as this sample shows, it can be done! Sample could be expanded to set more then one field and more then 10 repetitions. Regards, Ernst. SetRepeatingField.fp5.zip

OK, it's a form of eye-candy but a lot of end users are well known to the way search engines on the web displays their find results. This sample file shows how to mimic that look & feel with filemaker. And it shows another good use of those dreaded repeating fields! Comments and questions are of course welcome. Ernst. WebstylePortal2.fp5.zip

Hi all I have searched for this demo but can not see it. I have a field comment, I want to setfield the date is red and the text is black. Can it be done??? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks Anh Tran

At BradStanford.com you will find a selection of FileMaker tricks, demos, and an open-source soultion called AlloCater. AlloCater is a fully-function scheduling soultion for the food service industry. Other examples include my famous pop-down calendar, US Map made of filemaker objects, and more! Please come visit and be sure to download the free music before you leave! -Brad Stanford http://www.bradstanford.com

This may be useful in some cases. Thanks to Dj for his help. NotUsedVLv2.zip

Hi all, I would like to know if you guys have an example as sending email as a form or a letter to a person??? Since I know that email only text field or attached a file ... what I want to do is sending a form of cuurent record only. If you guys have, i love to see it. Thanks Anh Tran

I'm looking to redesign a very large multi-tab database and one of the things I would like to do is find a really cool interface. Does anyone have a file they can share with a very smooth/cool looking user interface (preferably with tabs)? Thanks.

The example custom login system that I posted in the samples forum seems to have caused some misunderstanding. It stores passwords and user IDs in an encrypted form. I never assumed that it would be difficult to get the encrypted passwords out of the file. That is the very reason that it was encrypted in the first place. By encrypting it, it becomes useless to the hacker. You might think that by getting this data, and knowing the algorithm that was used to generate it, that it is a trivial matter to create an inverse function to decrypt it. Not so! That is the whole point behind one way functions. They have no inverse. I didn

Edit -> Latest version is MultipleSelect v2, somewhere down this thread. This is a simplified example of how to implement multiple selection of records in Filemaker's List view and perform an operation on such selections. One of the advantage of this method is that it's completely 'network happy' as far as the selecting goes. When performing an operation on the selected records in a shared database there is of course a chance that a record is being modified by another user, in which case an error is reported. Error handling could be more elaborate then in this example. One slight disadvantage is that the maximum selection is limited. In th…

This file is a cut down version of a system used for allowing riders and spectators at a race (the Australian 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race in this case) to use computers around the race site to get direct access to their results. With over 3000 riders and spectators and over 6,400 laps - printing results was a never-ending task, so we went this way, using computers and data projectors. This sample presents 2 techniques. Hilighted Histogram. This allows riders to see how their own lap times compare with the rest of the field. They can see an on-screen histogram of lap times, in which their lap time is hilighted and their name appears in the header. Keybo…

(Edited::Little bug in this one. Try the newest version several posts down in the thread) Hi, Here are some portals to play with. Fixed, filtered and sorted, waiting for a new version of "Horizontal scrowl". Please tell of any problem you could discovered about this demo... Enjoy. PS: The Fixed Portal technique is an adaptation (using the Get Field function) of Giuseppe Pupita's fixed Portals that can be found at www.buliga.it. osx.zip

The following stysheet allows to insert FileMaker data into mysql. It creates the apropriate data structure from FileMaker METADATA and the INSERT statements. It does not, however, create the database itself, nor does it support container fields. Of course, you have to be careful to avoid special characters in your field names (no spaces, ".", ";", ",", "@" etc. allowed). USAGE: on the mysql pc, execute mysql databasename [-u<user[@host]>] [-p<password>] < output.sql If you want to keep your existing table, comment out the "DROP TABLE" and CREATE TABLE statements. This XSLT converts dates in M/d/yyyy (US) and d.M.yyyy (European) forma…

hello, enclosed you will find a similar solution to my EAN-13 and Code 39 examples. Included is an example product database that uses the solution to generate vector images of the barcode and pastes it into a container field. The barcodes & checksum calcs have been verified with a barcode reader. This is not the fastest solution, may not work with all readers (should though, but no warranty ...), so if you using barcodes a lot, get a font or plugin. However, as a free solution without the hassle of installing fonts or plugins, it's ideal for bound Filemaker apps. Enjoy UPCbarcode.zip

Not exactly an XSL file, here is a perl script that retrieves a tab delimited file from a web server running perl. this can be useful to get text files into FileMaker that are generated by a cgi guestbook or download counter, to access webserver statistics. you can also use it to update data in a bound solution without having to send & manually import the files without having to run FileMaker Web Companion on the server side. The script takes the first row of data as field names. Simply throw it in a perl-enabled, password protected cgi-bin directory, add a data file ("data.txt") and access via FileMaker XML import, http://yourserver.com/perl_directory/fmpxml.cgi…

lped me in pre-FileMaker 6 days to export XML encoded in UTF-8. Today this file can be useful when generating stylesheets within FileMaker or simply with a FM4 or FM5 runtime .. The translation is hard-coded but the technique can be applied to different charsets. I created this because AppleScript Text Encoding Converter do not run in windows and I needed BMECAT-XML out of a Filemaker product catalog. (that's a business XML standard similar to cXML used in big corporation procurement systems) UTF8_export.zip

Well, I'm off to sea for a while so that might make responding to posts a bit difficult for me. I've attached a sort of "handy bits and pieces" file that I've accumulated over the years. Many of my answers to posts on this forum have come from this file. Some bits are original (I think), some not original (almost certain). Its not finished - it never can be. Have fun... From time to time, I will be adding new calculations to the file. The latest version is now attached to this post. RussCalcs From Oz v5.zip

Has anybody already worked on a means of exporting data from FMPro files so that it is easily imported into applications using vCards such as apple's Address Book ? If so I would be interested in seeing how it's done.

It is well known that you can use the FileMaker Aggregate Functions - i.e. Sum(), Average(), StDev(), Min(), Max(), Count() to aggregate repeating fields and related records.

Hi all, I just wanted to share this with you I had to slightly work on my line item to make it work, but it's now so great I couldn't wait to post an adaptation sample. As there is only one file involved here, the result could look less dynamic. Not sure after all ... Thanks for the feedback.!! FolderizedLineItem.fp5.zip

This solution will fetch daily Euro reference exchange rates from European Central Bank. You can also get the rate for any day since Jan 1, 1999. Also shows how to (somewhat) protect your XSL code ... US users will have to adjust decimal point and date conversion routines. See file for instructions... Euro Rates.zip

Here's a post form anther fourm, and since they don't have sample files here goes. Here is the question. Quote i've got a mailing label problem. i'm trying to create a way for multiple contacts who live at the same residence to all be on the same mailing label. so i've got a many contacts to one contact situation. so i've built a relationship between an address.fp5 file and a contact.fp5 file. what i'm trying to figure out how to create a calculation in the address file that will collect all the data from a contact field displayed in a portal. for example: "joe doe" and "jane doe" - two unique contacts, will be collected into one calculation field that w…

Example file for finding missing serial numbers. Missingserialfinder.zip

Hello Find attached a file I call HistoryMaker. Some of it was borrowed from an open source file I found and some of it was my own. In this file with a few relations and a few scripts you can keep track of your user moves. Kinda of like Big Brother is watching. So download it and enjoy. As far as your users go----Mum the word. HistoryMaker.zip

Hi, Here's some new features I've just added to my interface. Global for filters and Keywords for quick finds (used as index) are hided in the menu bar. Ciao Books.fp5.zip

Just in case you don't have nothing better to do Given Security template example and assuming you know the FileMaker user password, what do you think Protecting data It is (practically) impossible to log in without having the account It might be possible to loging without having the account I don't know if it's possible It will take me 30 secs to log in without having the account Dj

3 different ways to create barcharts (there are many more). 1 - using indexed repeating fields 2 - using the sliding feature in page preview/print 3 - using flash and quicktime Have Fun! barcharts.zip

Here is a file I posted 10 days ago to FileMaker XSLT library. However, it seems to take ages to appear on the page. It demonstates the use of QuickTime SMIL (Simple MultiMedia Language) to display images/movies of remote web pages directly in a container field. The field has to be activated, though, and the image(s) play as movies ... You can also define clickable regions .... There are more possibilities to it: By defining different regions, you can ,for example, have an animated bar chart with movies playing in background or on bars .... SMIL SlideShow.zip

Hi - I am looking for some sort of simple (hopefully free) time tracking software. It could be in FMP, but doesn't have to be. Just want something simple - a basic stopwatch - I can start at the beginning of a call or project and stop when I am done. Any good ideas or suggestions out there. Thanks Tweety

Inspired by CoreSolutions Development Inc's 'FileMaker Pro Development Standards' (say that 10 times fast) here is a set of files (and folders) to act as a

This database shows that Filemaker can be used for other things then inventory tracking and contact management... Shows -sort of- how to use Applescript to write the configuration files and copy them to the /etc and /var directories. The interface was drawn in Interface Builder and then copied and pasted to Filemaker.

After folllowing the advice of some wise folks on this board, I have created a small, lean opener file that pops up a custom error message if the requested database is not found on the server. It also lets a user know if FileMaker Pro is not configured for TCP/IP (my network's protocol) and allows them to open Application Preferences to fix it. There are some elements to this file that you might want to change, as this is tailored for my network, but it's completely open. I'm also interested in ways I can improve this file, so please post feedback! ClientOpen.hqx

While this isn't as clever as the smart ranges calculation, (see http://www.onegasoft.com/tools/smartranges/index.shtml ), it is a much simpler formula; hence, easier to understand. This example file allows a span of at least 1000, and can be extended higher by changing the formula. However the 64000 character field restriction is the ultimate limitation. Smartranges doesn't have this limitation of course. Multikey.fp5.zip

Hi all, Hi, Surely not to be considered as a " Lesson ", this article may be useful for those who are currently developping a Business Solution. I believe it could also help those who have difficulties understanding what a Line Item is, how it works and when to use it. Based on both my " professional" and " FM Implementation " experiences, I tried to give, in a few lines and basic samples, a global overview of what should be considered before any developpement in a Business environment. Step by step, this article end up with a proposed line item scheme and file structure, that obviously is pretty succint. I agree there is no " global s…

This comes up frequently enough that I've created a sample file with a script that can retrieve the last find criteria. It works without the need for scripted finds where the user enters the criteria into global fields. It gets the info directly by doing a 'Modify Last Find' and retrieving the information directly. The comments in the script explain what's going on. Have fun. GetLastFind.fp5.zip

First let me say thanks to all of you who created and posted audit solutions on the forum. Your ideas gave me the insight needed to create a solution. Now it's time to pass it along to someone else who may be able to use it. This 'Audit_Trail' solution is currently operating in several of our databases (as an admin level layout..and working very nicely). NOTE: FM version 5.5 + is required to return the text for field contents, earlier versions return a '0', all other info is captured. File is .zip format.. Audit.zip

(make sure you download the updated files...1 post down) Hi, Here is how I dynamically switch from a portal with relationship set to "Allow creation of related records" to a scripted method. There are some times when this kind of tip could really be useful. At least, I know when and why to use it Thanks and keep telling me if there are other methods... [color:"red"] Edited Important The file is working fine, but there are some "validate by calcs" in the related file sets to return error messages. These messages by-pass the classic FM alert when you enter a text field in a date field or in a "hour" field....So do not try to enter a text field in …

Attached here is the first article in the Better*FileMaker*Developer learning series - all articles available at http://bfmd.net In this first article in a series of 17, we will explain the ins and outs of one of the most overlooked and underrated activities that should form part of your FileMaker development - gathering information from the users of the system. The reason this is usually overlooked is that most FileMaker developers are too busy. You have a rough idea of what is needed and so you simply sit down and plough ahead only to find out days or even months later that you missed out vital integral components to the success of your system. The…

Hi guys, I'm playing with this one for some time. I'll just drop it as a sample. There are 2 options for you 1. Tell me if you want me to update 2. Give me some advice if you've already done such things or if there is a sample here around. Than you for the feedback When I dowloaded it, the files seemed as plain files, but you can open them using FM Open Menu. Don't know why my DropZip seems to have a bug. Any clue for that BTW ? O forgot to say... this involves many many many tips I got here. Couldn't list them all but Thanks to any of you... Private Messages.zip

This examples show how to perform some math operations(without scripts) on multi line(or multi word) text fields. Given multi line text fields A and B with A={Aword1 ,Aword2 ,...AwordN } B= {Bword1 ,Bword2 ,...BwordM } 1) Addition is defined (my definition ,of course) as 1.1)N>=M A+B= {Aword1 &" " & Bword1, Aword1 &" " & Bword2 ,...AwordM & " " & BwordM, AwordM+1,... AwordN } 1.2)N<M A+B= {Aword1 &" " & Bword1, Aword1 &" " & Bword2 ,...AwordN & " " & BwordN, BwordN+1,... BwordM } 2)Multiplication is defined (my definition ,of course) as …

QuickToolKit Lite 2.1 is a great option for the majority of novice FileMaker users. It will give you a major productivity boost while only taking a few hours learning. Please have a look at the fully functional Trial version which you can download from here: http://olive.forest.net/coretech/downloads/qtk/QTK_LiteTrial.zip QuickToolKit Lite contains all that is required to build any type of small to medium sized FileMaker solution in 25 - 40% less time. Furthermore, a number of additional learning tools surround the QuickToolKit ensuring that you are off to a flying start.

Hi, since I saw for the first time the Mikhail Edoshin implementation of smart ranges I told myself that there has to be more general and simply way to implement it. Initially I've tried to extend his original work, you now those formula you wish it was you that have found them first (at least I do), but I was involved with other projects so I've almost forgot about it. Then, few weeks ago when I saw the post here on the forum requesting the range relationship and since I've had some spare time I've retook the project. The key points of the method I've developed are: 1) The method could be deployed, without changes to any type of data that allows relatio…

This is a test file in response to this thread Rob-Jones Books and Sets of Books Inventory Problem sit here, zip 2 posts down Again, please note that this is only a test file, and that some calcs will need to be modified in order to have an accurate view of the number of sets you can actually invoice. Remove the control by calc "check availables =1" in the field Quantity in the Line Item Invoice file to see exactly how one set sold affects the inventory count on the articles from the set.

I hear a lot about inventory file. So I have one in the works. See attached jpg.

This problem comes up from time to time, and I finally found a very simple solution to it. Well...maybe it was out there all along, but I never found it. Anyway, here is a sample file that shows how to draw a border around a printed list report even when there are only enough records to partly fill a page. (Usual techniques fail because the border only extends as far as the last record. This technique doesn't have that problem.) BorderReport.fp5.zip

Here is one way I filter my Product db to just pick-up the good product. Reduced list of 700 records from 2 Manufacturers. The original file holds 45,250 products, from 59 different Manufacturers.

(edited:the attachment above has a portal with one column sliding horizontally. Look down for another solution with one fixed column and 4 sliding ones) Hi, Here is another tip. I really needed to have my portal scroll horizontally. Thanks FileMaker 5.5 !!! horizontalportal.fp5.zip

Hi, there was a small bug in file I've posted some time ago (the last line in formula was missing). Now it is corrected. You could use iy also for numeric base conversion for ex to hex, binary or octal Just set char to use to 0123456789ABCDEF (for hex) or 01(for bin) or 01234567(for octal) Dj Alfa.fp5.zip

How to prevent creation of additional lines . Well, it's all that simple that I can't imagine why I didn't find it before. OK, it's an workaround, but until FMI don't give use option to limit data entry into field to only one line... Check the attachment. Dj OneLineField.1.zip

Hi everybody, This is another kind of conditional value list. It allows you to display for one field only a different value list, coming from different files. Choose your relationship MultipleVList.zip