ISO FileMaker Magazine

Maintaining a comprehensive set of custom functions for managing windows in FileMaker can be extremely valuable. Once you’ve established a consistent set of standards, window behavior becomes predictable, and you no longer need to worry about repeatedly solving the same layout and positioning problems. In this video, I showcase the collection of window-related custom functions I’ve developed and refined over the years. These functions are organized using the new custom function folders feature introduced in FileMaker 22. We walk through how each function works and demonstrate practical techniques for positioning and managing windows precisely within your FileMaker soluti…

For many businesses, FileMaker has long served as the primary hub for data. However, there are plenty of situations where FileMaker either can’t perform a specific task or simply isn’t fast enough for the workload. This is where external technologies shine. Python handles complex mathematical operations with exceptional speed. JavaScript can process large datasets far more efficiently than a FileMaker custom function. And your data doesn’t always need to live inside the same tool you use to manage it. Sometimes, the most effective approach is to let FileMaker act as the connective layer, the glue-between so to say, of your specialized systems. In this video, I walk thro…

Whether you're new to developing in FileMaker or have been using it for a while, unless you’re already familiar with standard timestamp formats and have experience working with external systems, there are several important things to understand about using dates, times, and timestamps within FileMaker — especially when integrating with other systems and APIs. In this part of our series, we’ll explore a helpful suite of custom functions which serves as a solid foundation for nearly anything related to dates and times in FileMaker. By storing these functions within our Launcher tool, we can easily copy and paste them into any other solution we build. Click the title or lin…

In my opinion, before creating your first complex solution in FileMaker, it’s best to become familiar with the core features the environment provides. When considering how to structure your solutions — whether using a data separation model or a single file — it helps to understand how certain features can influence your decisions. In this video, I cover the External Data Sources feature. While this feature is primarily intended for connecting to external data sources, its utility goes beyond simply linking to an ODBC or JDBC source and displaying SQL data alongside information stored within FileMaker. For our simple launcher program, we use this feature to launch FileMa…

As with all increasingly complex human creations, especially those that go beyond the simple steps of “1, 2, 3, and done”, it’s important to plan for a solid foundation. A well-thought-out foundation guides a project toward long-term success and easier maintenance once the initial effort has been invested. These early investments in your technical solution cover a variety of areas, one of the most important being permissions. Controlling what can be done, and by whom, not only protects against malicious intent from outside your organization but also helps prevent the inevitable accidental mishaps that occur internally. This video begins laying the groundwork for impleme…

In any multi-user solution, one of the first things to focus on is managing its users. While it's always possible to create a FileMaker solution without a dedicated Users table, doing so prevents you from offering users a wide range of benefits, with user preferences being the first major advantage. While adding a Users table will allow you to manage those users and their preferences, you might as well also add a Sessions table to track whatever you wish about user activity while they're logged in. Often, the rush is to simply start solving the main problems the solution addresses. However, to build a successful multi-user solution, core features must be implemented fir…

Debugging your solution's features isn't simply about using the built-in debugger offered by FileMaker. Debugging also involves knowing enough about the environment to determine what could be causing a problem. It includes being able to investigate and troubleshoot a particular feature while testing. It's probably no surprise that using a dedicated developer-only option, such as a debug menu, is one of the best ways to approach the problem. In this video, we walk through the foundations of the debug menu I personally use in most of my solutions and discuss how it evolves and what elements it provides. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the …

Being able to move within a development environment with ease and efficiency is one of the great joys of integrating features quickly into your solution. The quicker features go in, the better you feel about the progress. While setting up and taking the time to familiarize yourself with and use shortcut keys may feel like a bit of a hassle, it's well worth the investment for the time it saves. In this part of an ongoing series, we'll cover a highly effective method for managing your personal keyboard shortcut keys on macOS. We'll do it right within FileMaker itself, and we'll take the opportunity to explore how to manage preferences using the command-line tool defaults.…

This video discusses the general FileMaker preference settings and file specific settings. ABOUT THE SERIES The Ultimate FileMaker Course is a walk-through of adding essential components found in pretty much any modern FileMaker solution. The course is based around building a useful tool for launching other FileMaker solutions. By creating a launcher file, which provides full control over launching your other FileMaker solutions, you'll be treated to a variety of lessons around the various aspects of a successful FileMaker solution. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

This first video discusses the general FileMaker environment and highlights various folders and files any FileMaker developer should be aware of. ABOUT THE SERIES The Ultimate FileMaker Course is a walk-through of adding essential components found in pretty much any modern FileMaker solution. The course is based around building a useful tool for launching other FileMaker solutions. By creating a launcher file, which provides full control over launching your other FileMaker solutions, you'll be treated to a variety of lessons around the various aspects of a successful FileMaker solution. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

Working with simple lists of values is one of the most fundamental aspects of building software. FileMaker, like any other development environment, often requires working with lists of values, whether it's a global field used as a relationship key or multiple selections made from a checkbox widget. In this video, I'll present a number of custom functions that provide common and practical operations for handling lists of values. These functions can be copied and pasted directly into your FileMaker solution, offering a wide range of benefits. Functions covered in this video: ValueExists ValuePosition ValuesExtract ValuesNotInList ValuesWalk ValuesWrap ValueToggle We'll…

As any FileMaker solution grows, it's inevitable that errors will creep in as methods and scripts are updated with newer features. And with every new script you add, you're also introducing new opportunities for errors. For the longest time, we've relied on the Pause on Error checkbox to invoke the debugger when an error occurs. While useful, the constant pop-up of the debugger can quickly interrupt your development "flow" — and honestly, it gets a bit annoying. Starting with FileMaker 18, we gained a new script step called Set Error Logging. When used effectively within your script call stack, this step can be a powerful tool. By integrating it properly, you can captur…

One of the fundamental methods for loading a found set of records in FileMaker has traditionally been storing and using the key values of a selected set of records. With the powerful Go To Related Record script step, you can easily load any number of records. This can be achieved through either a global field relationship or a standard schema relationship. However, with the established method, if you want to store and reload a found set, you need a few additional elements: a Summary field (low overhead) and a dedicated relationship, which is always going to be required. With the introduction of the new GetRecordIDsFromFoundSet() function in FileMaker 2025 (v22), this pr…

Aside from the welcome user interface refresh in FileMaker 2025, a valuable enhancement has been made to the existing grouping feature. This update encourages greater use of grouped layout objects and helps reduce the number of layout-based calculations, a point of frustration with the previous limitation. Prior to FileMaker 22, if you applied either a button action (now discouraged) or a hide calculation, you had to ungroup the object before adding anything new to the group. This often caused problems: if you forgot to copy the calculation before ungrouping, you risked losing it and then had to reapply it after regrouping. With the new enhancement, you can now add or r…

Becoming familiar with all of FileMaker’s possible technology integrations can take many years. Often, the learning process happens as a side effect of solving a specific need. While you can use almost any other programming language alongside FileMaker, the built-in features can be a breath of fresh air, especially if you haven’t tried them before. In this video, I take a look at the GetLiveText feature, introduced in version 19.5, which is supported on both macOS and iOS. If you’re using FileMaker Go or working with a large number of images, the GetLiveText functions can prove very useful. Even if your deployment is primarily on Windows, a single Mac can serve as a pro…

One of the greatest advantages of FileMaker's built-in charting tool is its immediate access to aggregated data. This is especially useful when you don't need highly customized charts. If you do require full visual control, using a Web Viewer with JavaScript typically offers much greater flexibility. The downside to that approach, however, is the development time required to extract the data from FileMaker and format it for use in JavaScript. Fortunately, with the help of AI, that process has been significantly streamlined. Still, if you’d prefer to avoid the longer JavaScript route, FileMaker’s native charts have a lot to offer. While not particularly difficult to use, …

One of the powerful new features in recent versions of FileMaker Pro is the Open Quickly feature. While it initially had issues with giving users too much access, those concerns have been resolved through updated privilege settings. In this short video, I focus on a few things you can do with the Open Quickly feature. From jumping to fields several tables away to managing multiple layouts while working on your design, adopting the Open Quickly feature can significantly speed up your development process. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

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 from the end user. You could also use multiple layouts or even a clever single layout with multiple sub-summary parts. With just two simple scripts and a few convenient techniques…

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?" Second, FileMaker’s data transfer over the network is essentially all or nothing because every field in a table must be transferred. I've seen solutions with literally thousands of fi…

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. FMIndent, released by the well-respected Debi Fuchs from Aptworks, is a winner! Adapting Perl code Debi created 20 years prior, we now have access to an OS-level tool that can form…

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 others, is they offer really nice structures like forEach(). Well, we can have the same thing too! Things may not be as ideal as they are in those languages, but we can definitely …

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 solved, then make sure to spend a bit of time with this technique and video. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

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 when you stop and ask yourself if there's a better way to manage the growing list of settings. In this video, I showcase an effective method for managing solution settings. By combin…

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 the next challenge is to make your data work the way you want to work. In this week's video, I focus on a topic related to solution architecture. It's presented in the form of usin…

Even to this day, after providing FileMaker-related technical education for many years, I still see solutions with less-than-optimal structure and storage. When it comes to graphics, “all things add up.” The cumulative cost of data or technical debt often comes back to bite you when you’re trying to refactor an old solution to meet modern standards. This video showcases what I know about storing and using graphics within your FileMaker layouts. If you’re unaware of how large images impact performance, you might end up needing to update them in a million different places - unless you know the trick for better storage. For example, not realizing that you’ve added a 4MB ima…

When tackling the task of updating a UI/UX look and feel, it can quickly become overwhelming — especially if you have hundreds of layouts and countless individual styles, some in use and others deprecated. While designing a new solution from scratch allows you to take advantage of modern best practices, many existing solutions have simply relied on the Default style and applied it across numerous layouts. The goal of this video is to demonstrate how you can achieve an updated look without disrupting the existing one. If you recognize that style names are the key and plan for the migration, you can accomplish several objectives: 1. Eliminate the use of the Default style…

Continuing from a previous video that introduced the Execute FileMaker Data API script step, this video explores the remaining CRUD operations added in FileMaker 21+. With the create, update, duplicate, and delete actions, we can now leverage more stateless data operations thanks to direct write access to tables. This video walks through the new write capabilities of the Execute FileMaker Data API script step. Along the way, we’ll also share tips and tricks for writing Custom Functions and explore how to take advantage of CRUD options using plug-ins, such as the popular MBS plug-in. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

The Execute FileMaker Data API script step has been around for quite a few years. It was introduced in FileMaker 19, around 2020. If you haven't used it, you may be manually creating JSON for your records when you don’t need to — FileMaker can do this for you. I covered this script step in a video in 2021, explaining how the REST/Data API functionality translates into internal use. While some features perform better than the Execute Data API step — ExecuteSQL() being one of them — it requires additional work to convert a SQL response into the standard JSON format. If you're working with an external API, you’ll likely need to provide JSON. However, if you can simply rema…

Every development task involves both what you know and what you don’t. The key to achieving the desired outcome often lies in learning what you don’t yet understand. That’s exactly what we’ll explore in this video – how to collect data from related tables for use in various ways. If you haven’t used the GetNthRecord() function before, this video provides a perfect example of one of its applications. When combined with the While() function, you can build virtually any data structure to help you achieve your desired solution. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

One of the best feelings when developing is making new discoveries and finding solutions to common problems you didn’t know how to solve before. In this week’s video, I present an overarching solution for managing the layout state of any layout within your application. I also introduce a highly useful method for both managing and executing a universal sort on any field present in the layout. The combination of managing the layout state with the introduction of a universal sorting script will significantly reduce the number of scripts you need, while also guiding you toward providing a more rewarding user experience. Once you become comfortable using JSON to manage a wide…

The first and most common way you'll likely use JSON within your FileMaker solution - should you choose to adopt it for this purpose - is as your primary method for passing script parameters. If you haven’t done so yet, it is highly recommended that you use JSON for script parameters. Not only does this provide an opportunity to become thoroughly familiar with the format, but it also helps you understand the most common method of transmitting data when working with nearly any internet-based API. JSON is not only easy to read when formatted but also quite efficient compared to formats like XML. Using it as your default method for passing script parameters is a straightfo…

Designing layouts in FileMaker is one of my favorite aspects of the platform. The ability to simply drag and position elements exactly where you want them feels akin to being a painter, free to use any tools and materials you choose. FileMaker strikes a remarkable balance between the creative and technical sides of development. Like all things, achieving the desired results requires knowing a few tricks. Whether it's about stacking objects efficiently or minimizing their number, it's up to the designer or developer to bring the vision to life. In this video, I showcase a few adjustments I made to an example file I downloaded. This file, likely created to explore the new…

Capturing external data directly into FileMaker has always been a bit of challenge due to the variety of technologies required to set everything up. In the past, XML and PHP were commonly used, taking advantage of direct integrations available in FileMaker Server. Even earlier, during the "wild west" days of FileMaker, some systems remarkably relied on AppleScript to facilitate data exchange. Claris, then operating as FileMaker, Inc., provided libraries and methods to enable these connections. Over time, the rise of JavaScript introduced Node.js, which FileMaker Server eventually adopted for certain functionalities. This led to the introduction of the FileMaker Data API…

One of the great things about being a developer is finding flow. It’s that feeling when you’re cranking out code, accomplishing one task after another, and time seems to fade into the background - you’re in the zone. However, a few things can really disrupt your flow, and one of the biggest culprits is your development environment. If your syntax highlighting doesn’t work, or your environment slows you down, productivity takes a hit. That’s why one of the best things any coder can do is optimize their development environment for efficiency. In FileMaker, there’s no traditional “code editor” per se. Instead, there’s a dialog box called the Calculation dialog box - someti…

When incorporating graphic design into your FileMaker solution, you might either be the sole designer or collaborate with someone to enhance the user experience. Regardless of your role, it's always beneficial to understand how to effectively use colors within your solution. You can, obviously, make straightforward choices, such as simple selections of colors from the built-in color picker. But, there are additional tips and techniques that can significantly enhance your ability to use colors strategically, helping you achieve your ultimate design goals. Whatever your objectives may be, understanding the best practices for selecting, applying, and implementing colors in…

Taking advantage of JavaScript within FileMaker is a crucial skill that can significantly enhance your solutions. Relying solely on native FileMaker capabilities can be limiting, as certain tasks are more effectively handled with JavaScript. Using a Web Viewer to execute JavaScript comes with nuances. For instance, when a JavaScript process takes longer than a few milliseconds, providing a visually appealing progress indicator can greatly improve the user experience. This is where the concept of a dedicated Web Viewer comes into play. I refer to this implementation as Web Workers. While it’s possible to use multiple Web Workers, in most cases, a single primary Web Worker…

Who doesn't love making their software look great? We all want our solutions to be visually appealing, highly usable, and efficiently streamlined. Along with these desires comes the need to understand the environment so you can easily modify your layout and achieve those objectives. This video covers working in Layout Mode and taking advantage of various tools and keyboard modifiers, which make it very easy to both create and manipulate your layouts. If you've been looking for ways to make your time in Layout Mode more efficient, then watch this video for some great time-saving tips. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

As technology advances and becomes as critical to our digital lives as water is to our physical well-being, we must be keenly aware of whether that "water" is tainted with harmful elements that could harm us. This sentiment applies not only to your health but also to your technological security concerns. For most technical systems, we may be inclined to assume that "big tech" — meaning the creators of the software or technology — will automatically make things safe for us. However, there may be risks that neither the provider nor the user recognizes until they surface. Recently, the FileMaker landscape has been impacted by several critical security findings, making it e…

In the world of programming, there are various concepts you need to understand in order to create software which is both functional and resilient. Maintaining that code may be another challenge, but if you don't learn about exception handling and determining if your processes truly succeed or fail based on expectations, you risk inviting more errors and failures than you might anticipate. In this video, we'll cover several critical aspects of a FileMaker database solution. Yes, FileMaker Pro is intended to be an "easy-to-use" or "low-code" platform. While it certainly presents itself as low code, that's only the beginning. Solving the problem is just the start; learning …

Being more productive when developing in FileMaker is something that will always pay off. You’ll create solutions faster and feel better about how quickly you can solve problems. Due to the unique environment in which we write code, there are concepts other developers have access to that we don’t. We’re not using a standard text editor with modules and plug-ins to extend its functionality. In FileMaker, we rely on a few third-party plug-ins and tools to enhance the development experience. In this video, I’ve invited Robert Naud and Josh Halpern to demonstrate Typinator from Ergonis Software. It’s a powerful tool that can handle all sorts of tasks involving the OS clipbo…

PDFs have become the digital equivalent of what was once printed on paper and will likely remain in use for a long time. They offer an easy way to present structured information, and FileMaker simplifies PDF generation by allowing you to save your layout's design as a PDF. However, there are times when simply exporting FileMaker data to a PDF isn't enough — you may need to populate an existing PDF with data. The challenge can be getting your FileMaker data into a copy of the PDF. While there are external tools and plugins that help with this, there have been few native client-side solutions until recent years. To make this possible, we can leverage FileMaker's Web Viewer…

If you're developing in FileMaker and haven't invested time in learning and using JSON, you're at a significant disadvantage. JSON is not difficult to learn, and it's used in so many areas of modern development that it's crucial to get familiar with it if you haven't already. In this video, I begin with the basics of JSON and its implementation within FileMaker. Once you start using it, you'll find it's valuable for much more than just passing parameters. While passing parameters is one of the most common use cases — allowing you to pass multiple values easily — JSON also supports a wide range of applications, from creating UI features to saving the state of tabs, layout…

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Over the years, I've met a wide range of developers. Just like the variety of clothing styles you'll see at any popular concert, there are potentially just as many different programming styles. The usefulness, however, of development standards is equivalent to the simplicity of a stoplight. If we can all agree on one thing, then that one thing can benefit everyone who uses it. When you consider this statement in light of FileMaker's available Global Variables, it's hard to agree on the decision of whether to use them or not. Maybe you like using a global variable temporarily across scripts — even though some might consider that approach problematic. Maybe you avoid using…

One of FileMaker's most advantageous tools added in recent years is the Button Bar. It was the first way to present dynamic, calculated content directly on the screen. This removed the need for the decades-long practice of adding "yet another unstored calculation field." You can calculate something and render it right on the screen. Then, in FileMaker 20, we got a new layout object called Layout Calculations. While these now provide the same functionality as a Button Bar, they do so without the overhead of unnecessary behind-the-scenes CSS and other extras. However, they are not fully implemented; they don't update any of their calculation references. While this will eve…

FileMaker's script triggers can be problematic if you don't properly test and debug the user interaction flow. Some developers, perhaps even yourself, avoid script triggers for this reason. However, script triggers can be incredibly useful. Unlike JavaScript in the Web Viewer or other environments (anyone remember HyperCard or Adobe Flash?), which have numerous possible events, FileMaker offers a limited set of events called Script Triggers. One of the best aspects of Script Triggers is that they are linked to specific objects, areas, or actions. This differs from writing scripts that must handle various conditions and situations. With Script Triggers, you can make a pa…

Our world of software development is changing rapidly! With AI influencing the way we develop, it becomes increasingly important for developers to become informed about the tools which help them become more efficient. Fortunately, we still live in a world where people have to coordinate and organize code. Even if AI can create near-flawless code in some cases, it doesn't create the ideas. Humans are the creative force. Whether you're using a simple Find & Replace to refactor some functions, or having AI create your next powerful JavaScript for your killer Web Viewer interactions, you still need to know about your available tools. In this video, I walk you through a …

Expanding on a recently released article about Incredibly Easy Menus, which used a Card Window and showcased minimal use of popovers, I've now created a new dedicated setup specifically for use with popovers. Using this method, you can implement the technique and manage your solution-wide popovers from a single location for code. Solution maintenance becomes vastly simplified with this approach. Remember, our goal as developers is to create DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) code. This is exactly what this technique achieves. It creates DRY code for the various popovers you'll be using within your solution. While some degree of context may apply to your popover menus, you can …

JSON, JSON, JSON! If you haven't gotten used to it yet, you'd better start. It's the way you communicate with the web. It's the structure that's winning. XML is too verbose, and .tab and .csv aren't always clear enough. So, what are some of the ways you can create JSON within FileMaker? Here are just a few: 1. Create a calculated field of it. 2. Use ExecuteSQL() to return it. 3. Use Execute FileMaker Data API [ ]. 4. Write a looping script. 5. Or... you can just export it. This last method is often the most optimal for getting your data into the JSON format to meet whatever requirements you may have. You can further modify this JSON using a variety of tools to achi…

While some of the excitement around AI deals with using the technology within your FileMaker solution, it's likely that, as a developer, you should be more excited about how AI changes what you do as a developer. In fact, it's theorized that the occupation of being a developer will be one of the careers most affected by AI. So, what do you do while we wait and see if this is truly the case? Well, you use AI, of course! If you haven't yet dipped your toes into the world of using AI to compose some of the code you need, then make sure not to get left behind. You ABSOLUTELY need to investigate how AI changes how you develop. In my own personal experience, I've likely saved…

If there's one thing you shouldn't ignore from the start of any FileMaker solution, it's the way security is going to factor into your creation. You need to know who the users and groups are and what their access rights are. These access rights are called privilege sets within FileMaker. All too often, security may be an afterthought because most of the fun typically lies in creating solutions to the problems. The real trick is to create the solution to the problem while simultaneously considering how security wraps around that problem. Unfortunately, with FileMaker being such a flexible platform, testing those access rights is not obviously easy. We have one simple way…

Companies release new versions of software all the time. One of the issues we may face as developers is that not everything is documented and the "marketing spin" might not provide all the technical details. In this video I showcase how I go about the process by performing and ad hoc discover of some of the new features in the Claris FileMaker 2024 release. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

Over one's development career, you'll come across a number of people who "think" they know how something really works. You then proceed to show them some of the cool things they can really do, like a "context jump" within FileMaker. You then smile at their surprise, because what they thought was possible isn't even the start of it. If you don't even know about, or truly understand, FileMaker's ability to jump from one context to another, then you're missing a critical piece to the FileMaker puzzle. It's one of the ways you break down a complex solution into a more digestible division of smaller parts. This not only makes the Relationship Graph potentially more understand…

User interface related topics are always exciting when they work really well within FileMaker. Regarding non-modal status updates, e.g. showing the user what happened or is happening, we have a few options we can use. The most simple is to toggle a value which uses a hide calculation to show/hide a given object on the layout and refresh its visibility. When you extend this notion a good bit further, you can come up with one of the most creatives uses of many hide calculations to take advantage of a popover and slider combined to provide a very cool Status Message tool which can be leveraged solution wide. Add some sounds, a gradient, a little shadow, some styled text and…

Spreadsheets really suck!... Long live spreadsheets, they're super useful! This simple contradiction, however, is likely a part of our technological lives for the rest of time. Unless AI removes the need for people to directly interact with data, spreadsheets are likely here to stay. And, for good reason. They're actually super useful! As a software/database developer you need to realize that not everyone intuitively understands the solution you've created. In fact, the learning curve, may just be too painful - at least relative to what they may already know. Most users will tend to default to what they feel comfortable with. In the not so distant past, managing data was…

Just because you can click the Create button to add a new container field doesn't mean you should do it. In fact, you might want to consider never adding a single container field to your main solution's tables. "Really?", you ask. Yes, because there are many advantages to segmenting a solution into multiple distinct parts. Most media, images, video and audio, is considered "heavy data" and that data comes with a big cost. It may be that you're unfamiliar with how you can best structure your data within FileMaker. With images, you're often better served by handling that data in a very specific and dedicated way. This video, and the associated technique file, shows you how…

Providing users with some type of indication about where they are within the current layout is always a nice thing. People don't typically like that feeling of being lost and there are multiple ways to indicate where the user is. A simple header or label is always one of the easiest ways, but, what if you're using disconnected objects. In that case, the navigation itself can often act as the indicator. The combination of either multiple buttons or a Button Bar, with a tab panel or slider is a very common thing within a more complex FileMaker layout. In this video, I walk through the process of adding some navigational indicators to an existing solution which is provided …

There's nothing more fraught with errors than allowing a human to enter a long string of digits. Some people are detail oriented and others less so. Who cares if you transpose the seven and zero right? Well, we developers care, that's who. We need things to be user-friendly, fast and exact. That's what you get with barcodes. Try imagining our modern world without them. It just wouldn't be the same. So, why aren't you using them whenever and wherever you can within FileMaker. Put a barcode on everything. Add them to your documents and scan them to load a specific record. Put them on your assets, add them to your employee badges, go crazy. While FileMaker offers the very…

When FileMaker simply can't do what's needed natively, you resort to pulling out the old web viewer and just doing it there. Yes, learning JavaScript may be something you're resistant to - or - maybe you've fully embraced the maximum extent of the power we have access to. Either way, there are many things JavaScript can do better and all we need is to move the data back and forth between the web viewer and our fields. When it comes to a truly natural feeling of drag and drop with lists, your only option is the web viewer and JavaScript. Fortunately, using a library named Sortable, we can easily support a very natural drag and drop experience. Sortable provide an extremel…

It's always interesting to measure the metrics of how long something takes. Adding automation to a process not only saves time, but makes it less mentally taxing. This increases the sense of accomplishment and can make the process itself more gratifying. I remember being at an amusement park and showing my kids how to measure the amount of time they might be in line by counting the amount of time it took between each time a roller coaster pulled in and how many people it accommodated. By then counting how many people were in line before them, they would know approximately how long they would be waiting. This same type of thought process can be applied to any routine tas…

Global fields in FileMaker Pro are a staple of how you define what your user interface can do. Without global fields, your ability to present variable scenarios of data is almost impossible - or - at least, unrealistic. You would be limited to using calculated fields and/or extra data fields, and this can make things really slow, REALLY quick. Global fields are the linchpin to makings things work well, as desired and efficiently within your FileMaker UI. Without knowing how to take advantage of global fields, your UI/UX abilities suffer. In this video, we take a look at some of the most critical uses for global fields for common core functionality. From creating related…

Living the 100% FileMaker native life is certainly possible, but can be seriously limiting when it comes to all the things possible with various other technologies. JavaScript, as one of the predominant languages used across the Internet and beyond, is quickly becoming a must-know for every serious FileMaker developer. In this video I showcase using the MBS plug-in in order to take advantage of the VERY WIDE world of JavaScript libraries and doing it without the Web Viewer. FileMaker's Web Viewer, while providing a full runtime WebKit engine, is a bit of a liability in certain situations. Because of the Web Viewer's caching, especially if your script does any moving arou…

Thank goodness JSON was implemented within FileMaker. Without it, we would still be using a variety of other methods for handling multiple parameters within a FileMaker script. Using JSON, we now get the double-sided benefit of 1) having an efficient serialization of key/value pairs as inbound parameters and 2) it just happens to be the standard which most of the rest of world is using for a large chunk of how things interoperate. In this video, and the technique file, I'll showcase a few examples of how you can receive and work with inbound parameters when using JSON as the method for handling them. We discuss script results, clean-reading code and the final example pro…

Once you've repeated the same thing within FileMaker more than a dozen times, you often realize you should really be using a Utility script. A utility script is something which allows you to focus more on the unique solution and less on the routine things you end up doing over and over again. In this video we take a look at 10 killer utility scripts. These vary from a simple copy field routine to a very useful related record creation routine. Do you find yourself often needing to toggle values within number and text fields? Probably, and there are utility scripts for that! Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

When it comes to using mapping technologies within FileMaker, you've most likely heard about using Google Maps API within a web viewer. Maybe you even know about Bing Maps, Mapbox or even the popular OpenStreetMap.org. The biggest issue with all of these mapping APIs is you'll have to first understand the API in order to achieve your desired result, and then you'll have to jump through the hurdles of authentication as well. It's not as easy as a simple plug-n-play solution. While authentication isn't really that big of a deal, it's not as simple as pointing to a layout object, then having a map instantly appear on screen where you can immediately start interacting with i…

Having created recent videos about accessing APIs via REST, and extracting the free JSON data as well, it would be a glaring omission if I didn't address our need to manipulate the JSON FileMaker provides us with. Yes, the work to put your FileMaker data into structured JSON has already been done. But, the JSON you need for your designated API is always going to be different than that. Fortunately, we have access to the amazingly powerful and fast JavaScript engine built into each and every Web Viewer. What we need to capitalize on are the free open source libraries which help us get the results we need. JSONata is a long standing powerhouse when it comes to manipulatin…

Traditionally, performance in computing has revolved around the optimization of bits and bytes — how many can be saved and how efficiently a task can be accomplished. This principle dates back to the era of computers with only a handful of kilobytes of memory, where maximizing efficiency was critical. Fast forward to today, and the same principle holds true. Despite various ways of achieving the same outcome, the ultimate question end-users continue to ask is: 'Can you make it go faster?' Enter Perform Script on Server (PSOS), a realm where speed becomes almost a certainty. Here, actions occur where the data is stored, eliminating unnecessary back-and-forth between clien…

When it comes to programming, there's always more to learn and share. If you've worked with REST APIs in the past, then you may have already devised your perfect system. If not, then this video will showcase a freely available script which you might want to consider first before trying to solve the problem yourself. In our ever expanding world of coding to standards and systems, many of which have existed for decades, it's always prudent to see if you can beg, borrow and... Ok, don't steal... code which already does the trick. When it comes to HTTP's REST implementation we've already got all the code necessary. Thanks to a great community contribution by Todd Geist, you…

FileMaker solutions don't really care where your data comes from. They've long had the ability to reach out into ODBC & SQL sources of data. So long as the connection is fast and stable, users really don't know, or care, where the data is hosted. With the addition of Claris Studio, data can even be hosted within a NoSQL database such as MongoDB - although we can't, as of yet, structure any of the data other than through the Claris Studio interface. This also means you can use the same External Data Sources feature to split up your single solution into as many files as desired. It's a perfect tool for segmenting out complex systems such that smaller sub-systems are b…

When it comes to designing a FileMaker layout, there are always subtle tips and tricks that might not be immediately apparent. Whether it's leveraging a graphic to replace multiple layout objects or finding innovative ways to present information in a navigational portal, the possibilities are quite wide. Regardless of the current state of your layouts, this video unveils various tricks that can further optimize them. Whether your aim is to create layouts with lower maintenance and maximum efficiency, you're bound to discover valuable tips to make this a reality. Tune in to explore these insights and elevate the design of your FileMaker layouts. Click the title or link t…

Coding software solutions offers the fascinating realization that there are always multiple pathways to achieve the same goal. Sometimes the methods we're familiar with may not be the most optimal, prompting us to expand our knowledge to explore alternative approaches. This video explores precisely that theme - the comparison between older and newer methods of accomplishing the same task. The advantage lies in the fact that newer methods often come with additional features or benefits. This is particularly true when it comes to obtaining the current record data as a JSON object. Historically, we've relied on ExecuteSQL to extract field names and values from the current r…

In Part 2 of our exploration of Smart Solution Architecture, we delve into the fascinating aspects of structuring your FileMaker solution. While the 'common' method of structuring a FileMaker solution might be the simplest, it doesn't necessarily guarantee optimal performance. As the development of your solution evolves, increased complexity naturally accumulates a few 'cobwebs' and you may encounter potential slowdowns. In order to avoid or diminish this, you'll want to be aware of all the possiblities. If your goal is to craft a solution that seamlessly blends aesthetics, performance, and ease of maintenance, the FileMaker development environment offers a wealth of po…

FileMaker development is an exhilarating journey which empowers you with the ability to have complete control over the data you want to manage and manipulate. Yet, at times, it can be a test of patience as you strive to achieve the desired results - especially as you're learning. The good news is that, in the vast majority of cases, what you aim to accomplish is not only feasible but likely easier (and faster) to accomplish than in many other development environments. Although I may be a bit biased, I can unequivocally affirm that FileMaker's environment frequently delivers outcomes that go beyond mere acceptability for your software requirements. The challenge with File…

While younger generations of Internet users are increasingly adopting communication tools like Discord, it's challenging to envision a future devoid of at least one distinctive means of communication - email. Could a world without email imply that government agencies, utility providers, and other entities transmit messages based on your DNA sequence, linked to your registered devices? The possibilities are intriguing. But for the present moment, email remains a crucial part of our digital landscape. The transition toward a paperless society is still underway and is likely to persist for many decades to come. So, the key question is, have you seamlessly integrated HTML e…

When embarking on your journey with FileMaker, you encounter the wonderfully visual tool known as the Relationship Graph, which grants you the ability to visually comprehend the intricate interconnections within a complex solution. In fact, the relationships used to link table occurrences in FileMaker are fundamentally akin to those in SQL. FileMaker essentially offers a visual representation of what would otherwise be a textual definition of a SQL statement. The key distinction lies in the fact that SQL operates within the realm of text and only executes when required. Conversely, the Relationship Graph in FileMaker is persistent and is continually assessed by FileMaker…

One of the primary reasons developers cherish FileMaker is the freedom it offers to unleash their creativity within Form and List views. You have the power to craft virtually any type of software you can envision. However, when it comes to Table View, it might seem like you're merely replicating what most end users overuse - spreadsheets. Table View was likely introduced to ease the transition for spreadsheet users into the world of databases. Nevertheless, a well-structured data model renders a spreadsheet-like view of data as useless. Despite this, the inclusion of Table View comes with some concealed features that can significantly enhance your development process as …

In the world of FileMaker solutions, it's almost inevitable that a solution will experience significant growth during the initial stages, followed by a transition to the everyday pace of normal use. When developing those initial features, one of your key objectives should be to emphasize reuse and repurposing. As is often the case, the less you have to manage, the easier it becomes to maintain and update your solution. There's less to re-learn, and your scripts, layouts, calculations, and other elements are more straightforward to locate and update. However, if you tend to create numerous one-off duplicates within your code, you may end up with a collection of disparate …

Despite the FileMaker platform being several decades old, the original design of Layout mode and the ability for developers to harness existing tools to either mimic operating systems like iOS or craft entirely unique user interfaces remain monumental advantages for those who opt for this platform. One of the most significant additions to the Claris/FileMaker platform was the introduction of Card Windows. I remember creating some of the initial videos showcasing this feature; the capacity to exercise complete control over a rendered window was an immensely valuable advancement in FileMaker development. Granted, there are areas where this feature could be refined to enha…

Even when discussing seemingly mundane topics like Default Fields, there are always valuable insights to uncover. This video offers an exploration of the default fields I consistently incorporate into every table I create. While you might be familiar with or have utilized some of these fields, there could still be a surprise or two in store. For those who are relatively new to Claris/FileMaker development, this video holds significance. Learning about core techniques for data loading and effortlessly achieving desired results is crucial. Whether it involves displaying a count of related records or utilizing the internal Record ID for various UI functionalities, understan…

Discovering ways to make software faster and more efficient brings a great amount of joy to developers. The reason behind this is simple: with enough experience, you come to realize that straightforward and simple code is much easier to maintain than complex and hard-to-maintain code. Self-contained code with fewer dependencies is both easier to understand and refactor. In this video, I share one of my all-time favorite functions in Claris/FileMaker development, the Custom Function named CustomList. Although this function has served me well, it has now been surpassed in terms of speed and optimization by a newer method - the ValuesWalk function. This video demonstrates h…

If you don't pay close attention to the fields you add to your record load in Claris/FileMaker, you might end up facing a transfer penalty, especially when dealing with container data. In many cases, your end users may not require the data from heavy multi-megabyte container fields. Nevertheless, every time the record data is loaded, that large container data gets included as part of the transfer. Unlike SQL or a document database, where you can request only the necessary data, FileMaker provides the entire record, including all field data. Therefore, it is essential to create a structure which optimizes the utilization of containers. While I have previously covered this…

One of the major challenges that any solution or developer encounters is effectively managing the growth of their solution. As the solution expands, the issue of "dilapidated code" arises. This refers to code that either gets replaced or continues to be used without being updated to leverage the latest enhancements in FileMaker. Consequently, a significant portion of the code may become obsolete over time. One of the most effective solutions to tackle this problem is the use of utility scripts or code that addresses a wide range of use cases. This video showcases the implementation of a commonly used pattern, namely, obtaining user confirmation to ensure that their inten…

Being able to develop and test your solutions within a FileMaker Server environment is the ideal scenario. You can test Perform Script On Server, external binaries, and plug-ins that perform a variety of tasks. Essentially, you can perform all the necessary tasks in a real solution. When you develop your FileMaker solution locally with a single copy of Claris/FileMaker Pro, you not only face limitations in what you can test but also risk the possibility of a crash. While running FileMaker Server on your local machine is a satisfactory solution, the next step is being able to run multiple versions of FileMaker Server without the need for multiple uninstall/install scenari…

One of the most valuable features you can incorporate into your Claris/FileMaker solution is a back button. This feature is deeply ingrained in every individual who has ever used a web browser. It represents the common scenario where your mind recalls the previous location and seeks to return to it. However, the challenge lies in the complexity of your solution's navigation system. Without careful attention to simplifying navigation, there can be an overwhelming number of options that most people struggle to remember. This video focuses on implementing a few relatively simple scripts which can greatly enhance the usability of your solutions. Providing end users with the …

While learning to develop within any environment, it's common to develop habits which keep you within a consistent framework. However, occasionally looking outside of your current framework and observing how others accomplish similar tasks can be both affirming and instructive. You may discover valuable tips and tricks from other developers from which you can adapt to enhance your own practices. This video focuses on script writing and explores various techniques employed by different developers, specifically regarding the documentation and structure of scripts. By examining multiple files and exploring different scripting methods, we can gather helpful insights. Additio…

While Claris International has made little to no changes to the FileMaker code editor (also known as the calculation dialog) in over two decades, there is no need for you to remain stuck in the past. Fortunately, for those of us using a Macintosh for solution development, the MBS (Monkeybread Software) plug-in offers modifications and enhancements to the code editor, which we often spend countless hours working in. This video focuses on utilizing syntax highlighting within FileMaker to provide the best possible coding experience. While I've long installed the MBS plug-in within FileMaker, I rarely took advantage of the full feature set possible with its syntax highlight …

While Claris/FileMaker offers a convenient Duplicate Record menu option, of which there's always a companion script step for most menus, there's more to the equation than simply duplicating your primary record. In fact, in most situations, it is necessary to duplicate both parent and related child records. You will likely need to duplicate a complete set of records to address the entire entity. For example, think of the relationship between Order, Line Items, Ship Address, and so on, in order for a customer to place a duplicate order. To accomplish this, there are various native methods available, often involving multiple GTRR (Go to Related Record) steps. Additionally, …

When you're dealing with any type of web service which doesn't offer an API for data exchange, you'll inevitably end up working with a web form for getting data into that service. Data has to get in via some method and the most common is your standard web form. Maybe you need to interact with a Google Form or some other public form service. While some of these services will provide a standard format such as CSV for pulling data out, there are still those services where you need to popuate a web form using your own data. So, when it comes to moving data in and out of FileMaker, via a web form, you need to use the tools available. The great thing about this situation is t…

When starting out with FileMaker, there's rarely the situation where you receive any "before you get started" advice. This is because working in FileMaker is like picking up a blank canvas and having someone say "Go for it! Paint something." Essentially, you need to know what the tools are, how you use them, what can be accomplished and how certain decisions might affect you. So, when it comes to field indexing, you might not know the default settings could potentially cause your solution to become bigger than it should - without any benefit to performance. While searching an indexed field vs. an unindexed one becomes somewhat obvious - the search may be slower than exp…

Claris International, Inc. released Claris FileMaker 2023 (version 20) of the FileMaker platform on Tue. April 25th 2023. This release, like all previous dot releases, saw just a few major features and some new branding via a new icon. In my opinion, there are primarily three major features in FMP 20 and a VERY large number of both fixes and minor features. I'm calling this one the "move towards enterprise" release. It improves upon its level of support for robust technologies such as ARM support, furthered Linux support and integrates features which will help any organization with more easily tracking critical data. I've created a somewhat lengthy video which provides …

With many native features in Claris/FileMaker, you may end up hitting what you "think" is a brick wall. In this case, I'm referring to the ability of sorting portals. You've only got one checkbox per portal with the options for specifying a selection of fields to sort by. True, you can choose a number of fields to sort by, but, you can't change their order dynamically or allow a user to make any changes to which fields are used. That is, of course, unless you combine a variety of native features which will allow you to accomplish your desired results for sorting portals. In this video, we take a look at a wonderfully great technique for being able to sort any given porta…

While you won't have access to as many visual effects as if you had created a native iOS application, there are still some things you can do and take advantage of with native transitions within FileMaker Go. One of my own recent experiences led to making a dedicated script which enhances the visual appeal of performing a find within a single layout. In order to gain the advantage of FileMaker Go's native layout transitions, you can use a dedicated layout and script to accomplish some really nice transition effects. It's also a good idea to be familiar with how you can use the Set Layout Object Animation script step in conjunction with Popovers and Sliders. This video wi…

Sometimes, it's the little things you learn that make working with Claris/FileMaker so enjoyable. Things like making a Button Bar balanced when hiding segments and not having to use any scripts or extra code (unless desired) to do it. This video presents a great little technique of how you can use a Hide calculation on your button bar segments yet still maintain the same relative button size. With this little bit of know-how, you can easily stack various button bars and provide all kinds of progressive disclosure of various solution features. Add this simple trick to your arsenal of great UI tricks for Claris/FileMaker. Click the title or link to this article to view t…

When you first develop your FileMaker solution you're typically dealing with sample and/or test data. Everything works great. It's fast and efficient and you're guessing users will just love using it. Until you hear feedback like "It takes forever to simply see a list of people to pick from." As you scratch your head wondering why things got slow, it's likely because you didn't think about what's happening on every record of that simple little portal. Your once wonderful complex filter, which was working just fine on the 1,000 records, now chokes to death on the 10,000 records in the real world. You ask yourself "Is there something I can do to make this faster?" and you…

Learning everything you can do with Claris/FileMaker scripts is such a wonderful journey. When you first start using the available script triggers, it often becomes a bit of an issue if you aren't fully aware of all the impacts. This video is an update to older videos which didn't have the insights presented in this video. If you've been using Script Triggers within Claris/FileMaker for some time, then you might want to give this video a watch to see if you're missing any of the latest and greatest know-how dealing with Script Triggers. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

Learning everything you can do with Claris/FileMaker scripts is such a wonderful journey. When you first start using the available script triggers, it often becomes a bit of an issue if you aren't fully aware of all the impacts. This video is an update to older videos which didn't have the insights presented in this video. If you've been using Script Triggers within Claris/FileMaker for some time, then you might want to give this video a watch to see if you're missing any of the latest and greatest know-how dealing with Script Triggers. Click the title or link to this article to view the video. View the full article

Developing software in FileMaker can be such a joy when you're able to solve so many problems so quickly. There is, however, a point where you start to solve so many problems that your solution starts to slow down and you find yourself wondering why. Most commonly, it's the result of cumulative features compounding to make your solution slower and slower. Without careful consideration of the user interface, and how features are presented, it's easy to create a solution which starts to lag over time. In this video, I show how portal filters really work and how to address the issue of a portal used for a very simple selection process. In most cases, your portal is only go…

As any FileMaker developer will tell you, working with a complex layout can be a bit of a hassle. That is, of course, unless you know how to take full advantage of the Object Inspector palette! Did you know, it's possible to edit the calculation of a button bar segment without ever double-clicking on the object itself within the layout? Yes, it's not only possible with Button Bars but with most any layout object. And, the best part is this can be done within a few clicks - saving a lot of time from having to select and move heavily layered layouts. This video will provide you with the insight into how you can not only take maximum advantage of the Object Inspector, but …

One of the biggest downsides of any complex FileMaker solution is the growing number of layouts and layout elements you'll have to manage. If your number of navigation (or general menu) items is both static and large, then you're going to have issues with keeping the solution well updated. Aside from this, you could have additional complexity when it comes to controlling which menu items show under certain circumstances. While there are number of ways to make menu management easier, the best solution for most any code is to maintain it within a singular location. Allowing that code, and singular layouts, to serve your whole solution, and be flexible enough to vary when n…

If you're using Claris/FileMaker for either part-time or full-time development, and you've not installed the MonkeyBread plug-in, then you're doing something wrong. Many of the most desired features for working with code, such as code folding, extended syntax highlighting, variable auto-completion, the ability to search code, line jumping and other convenience features are available for free when you install the MBS (MonkeyBread) plug-in. In this video, I go over all the free features and how to simply install the plug-in. If you've not taken the time to investigate what the plug-in offers then you'll get a great head start by just watching this free video. Click the ti…