Testing is a crucial part of building reliable FileMaker solutions, whether you're a freelancer or a citizen developer. This guide explores smart testing strategies, from applying the "Zero, One, Many" rule to leveraging FileMaker’s Script Debugger for efficient troubleshooting. Learn how to think like a user, anticipate errors, and implement best practices that will make your applications more robust, user-friendly, and scalable. Includes demo file and video. Testing Your Work in Claris FileMaker
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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.
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A big thanks to  Richard Carlton for hosting multiple members of the Proof+Geist team on his FMTV podcast during Claris Engage 2025. Check out the conversations and the short demos surrounding multiple free-to-try or fully free tools for FileMaker development.  FMLayoutLens and FMPerception with Dave Ramsey In this conversation, Dave Ramsey discusses FMLayoutLens and FMPerception. […]
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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 combining popular FileMaker techniques, we can consolidate, present, and manage settings in a highly streamlined way. Whether your solution is decades old or a brand new build, there is always something new to learn about handling data. We will look at how to combine JSON with solution settings and how easy it can be to simplify the process.
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Using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini can significantly streamline your development process and enhance problem-solving capabilities. But to effectively leverage AI, it’s important to understand foundational AI terminology.
This blog introduces you to the essential terminology you’ll need to make sense of how AI works and how it can improve your FileMaker development efforts.
AI terms you should know
Machine Learning (ML): A subset of AI that enables systems to learn from data and improve without being explicitly programmed. Natural Language Processing (NLP): The field of AI focused on enabling machines to understand and interact with human language. Large Language Models (LLM): AI models like GPT that have been trained on massive datasets to generate human-like text. Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT): A specific type of LLM used for generating text-based responses. Tokens: Units of text data used by AI models to process and generate responses. Prompt/Prompt Engineering: The practice of designing input queries to achieve the desired output from an AI model. API Key: A unique identifier used to authenticate and interact with an AI model. DDL (Data Definition Language): SQL commands used to define and modify the structure of a database. Embeddings: Numerical representations of text used for capturing semantic meaning in searches or comparisons. JSON: A data format used for structuring data exchanges between systems, like FileMaker and AI models. Vectors: Numerical arrays used to represent words or text, helping AI models understand relationships between data. Cosine Similarity: A measure used to evaluate the similarity between two vectors, often applied in text comparison tasks. Semantic Search: A search technique used by AI to understand the meaning behind words and provide more relevant search results. Understanding these terms will not only help you integrate AI into your FileMaker solutions but also enable you to work with AI more effectively in a range of applications.
Watch the Video! Learn more about using AI with FileMaker
Now that you’re familiar with some essential AI terminology, you might be wondering how to practically apply these concepts within your FileMaker solutions. Our AI Essentials for FileMaker Developers course is specifically designed to help you do just that.
In the course, you’ll explore these terms in depth and discover hands-on techniques to integrate powerful AI technologies into your workflow. Whether you’re just starting your journey with AI or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll find clear, step-by-step instruction tailored specifically to FileMaker developers.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
How to apply prompt engineering techniques to improve AI accuracy and performance. The difference between Consumer AI and Developer AI. Practical ways to leverage AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and more. Methods for enhancing search capabilities through semantic search and embeddings. By taking this course, you’ll not only deepen your understanding of AI fundamentals but also gain the confidence and practical experience needed to implement smarter, more efficient FileMaker solutions right away.
Ready to learn more and see how AI can transform your FileMaker development?
Enroll in the course Other products and services Productive Computing, Inc. offers:
What can PCI do for you? – Overview Video of Productive Computing Services Consulting and Development – services billed by the hour Maintenance and Support – services billed monthly Packaged Services – flat fee for Health Assessment, Server Installation, etc. Plug-ins – tools to integrate with QuickBooks, Outlook, Google, etc. Core CRM Pro – customizable and scalable CRM built on FileMaker Claris and FileMaker Licensing – discounts on new seats and renewals FileMaker and QuickBooks Hosting – options to host your files in the cloud Productive Computing University – free and paid online video training courses for beginner to advanced users and developers
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