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 to approach the situation of handling images. It also addresses the display of those images. For the sake of images, you certainly need to see the image for the value it provides. However, you rarely need to transfer the full image which was capture or imported.
Watch this video in order to gain a full understanding of how it may be best to both store and view your images within a FileMaker solution.
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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 for free by Soliant Consulting. There's a lot to learn with regards to object management, some object naming and related trickery and making that disconnected situation between buttons and panels a connected one which will facilitate navigation that clearly indicates where you are within the layout.
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Learn how to seamlessly integrate Claris FileMaker with Stripe for powerful online invoicing solutions. We dive into the details on how to harness the full potential of combining FileMaker features with Stripe's online payment capabilities to build a more efficient invoicing solution. Includes sample file and video.
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If you have been thinking about moving from — or have been getting influenced to move from — QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online, then make sure you know if you can and what potential costs are involved.
QuickBooks Features – Be Aware of the Differences
QuickBooks Desktop offers more features than QuickBooks Online. Before you consider migrating, it is crucial to ensure that the features you are currently using with QuickBooks Desktop are available in the Online versions. Below are just a few of the features that are currently NOT available in QuickBooks Online.
Billing Rate Levels Bin Locations Custom Fields in Lists Customer Groups Customer Messages (Customer & Vendor Profile Lists) Discounts Inventory Sites Item Estimates vs Actuals Job Types (Customer & Vendor Profile Lists) Leads Other Charges Other Names Price Levels Reminders Sales Orders Sales Reps (Customer & Vendor Profile Lists) Ship Via (Customer & Vendor Profile Lists) Statement Charges Vehicles (Customer & Vendor Profile Lists) Vendor Types (Customer & Vendor Profile Lists For a complete comparison between QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online, you can access the list in Intuit’s knowledge base.
If you are not using any of the features above and want to make the move, please reach out to us at [email protected].
FileMaker to QuickBooks Integration Scripting Differences
QuickBooks Desktop scripting is not identical to scripting for QuickBooks Online. You will want to carefully plan the migration with your developer and give yourself adequate time to review, convert, or add scripts for your existing functionality to work seamlessly.
Upcoming Changes with QuickBooks Desktop
Some of our clients have contacted us wondering about all the upcoming changes Intuit has announced regarding the discontinuation of some QuickBooks Desktop versions, and whether or not they will be forced to move to QuickBooks Online. 
While we can’t predict what the future holds, the answer for today is no. Some versions of QuickBooks Desktop will be discontinued for new purchases however existing users who are on subscription will still be able to renew their subscriptions as normal and still receive security updates, product updates, and support. QuickBooks Enterprise will remain as the primary QuickBooks Desktop option for new subscriptions and is not impacted by this change. 
If at some future date you are unable to continue with the QuickBooks Desktop version you are currently using, you can always switch over to QuickBooks Enterprise and in doing so your system will require NO scripting changes to your existing FileMaker to QuickBooks Desktop integration.
For more information about the most recent announcements from Intuit about QuickBooks Desktop, you can review it on the Intuit website.
If you need some help deciding on the best option for you, our team can help.
Contact Us QuickBooks Integration Products and Services Available from PCI
FM Books Connector – QuickBooks Desktop plug-in FM Books Connector Online – QuickBooks Online plug-in QuickBooks Hosting – FileMaker and QuickBooks hosting service Core CRM Pro – FileMaker CRM pre-configured with QuickBooks integration Connect FileMaker to QuickBooks Desktop – Do-it-yourself training course Connect FileMaker to QuickBooks Online – Do-it-yourself training course Hire our team to help! We have certified FileMaker developers available to create a secure and streamlined accounting process. 
Other products and services we offer:
What can PCI do for you? – overview of our services Health Assessment – a comprehensive report on the condition of
your FileMaker system and server 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. Solutions – customizable, scalable, and free CRM template 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 – online video training courses for
beginner to advanced users and developers The post What to Know Before Moving to QuickBooks Online appeared first on Productive Computing, Inc..
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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 convenient Insert from Device script step for scanning barcodes within FileMaker Go, there's no native implementation for creating barcodes. Over the years, many developers have solved the issue of barcodes in many different ways. You can find plug-ins, simple fonts, FileMaker add-ons (which can be frustrating to modify) and straight-up Custom Functions which will create a barcode. By far, the most straight-forward implementation is going to be the easiest to manage and maintain and, in my opinion, that's using a simple JavaScript library which will create the most optimized format possible - an SVG. That's what this video addresses. The cleanest implementation I can think of. It's both portable and minimalistic. Need to create barcodes? You'll learn all the details in this video.
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