jwmickelson

Very cool! I agree they should be updated more like this in 15+ I actually would prefer them to be a darker, more saturated, red for these breakpoints in FMP. The tone of your orange is still very close to the underlying grey from a contrast perspective (try the squint test to see what I mean). Orange is also a type of pale red, and thus red/green color deficient eye will not see the difference as well... a darker red would provide the contrast that would make such breakpoints obvious to everyone -- I think script beakpoints should really stand out Great stuff

quote: Originally posted by ErikErikPolkaMan: We are trying to embed mp3 files in our database of music recordings. We know how to put .wav files into it, but we have not figured out how to put mp3's in it. The people I have talked to either do not know how to do it, or if it can be done. Has anyone ever done this sort of thing? -Erik Keilholtz Arhoolie Records Sorry to say that you cannot embed .mp3 files. On the PC, you can embed .wav's and on the Mac you can embed .aiff. I have not heard any mention of .mp3 support pending from FileMaker Pro. On a lighter side, I think we could reasonably expect the FileMaker guys to at least entertain the idea of .mp3's for embedding due to the file size bonuses as well as the cross-platform playability. I will not be supprised when Version 6.0 does comes out , and it has .mp3 support, because this will provide an embeddable cross platform audio file format within FileMaker. OK, so that sounds fun, but you have a need right now! I would suggest getting familiar with the 'Send Message' script step on the PC platform ('Send AppleEvent', on Mac) which allows you to activate and execute a file (ie .mp3 file) via a calculation field (including file path info). Now, you must remember this is the same as double clicking on the .mp3, so if you do not have any .mp3 players loaded, it'l be a no go! But hopefully it will work for you ! Hope this helps... FYI this script step is in the Misc. section of script steps at the bottom of the list. BTW, I didn't suggest the Open URL script step, because I'm not sure how the current run of the mill web browser will handle the .mp3, I think it'll try to download it, but you could also check this out. IMHO, Jonathan

[ August 20, 2001: Message edited by: Jonathan Mickelson ]

quote: yes I have the problem is the movie isn't ready at the time of the database creation. The database file is made then a movie is encoded and put in a location on a web/ filemaker server. The movie takes about 30 min to encode and finish and we don't want the operator to have to wait around to add it to the record, can file maker look for a file on a share and then import the file? I have the exact same problem. No, not without judicious use of FileMaker Plug-ins can you have FMPro watch a folder. But I have been quite successfull using the 'Send AppleEvent' on Mac and 'Send Message' on PC to send the document to QT directly. Try this out with both documents and applications, because the use is slightly different. Use a Status(CurrentPlatform) function to point to the necessary step and then impliment the following: The PC version is by far the simplest, because if QT is loaded all you need to do is have a calculation that has the path to the file and run the document and the OS will handle opening it in QT. The Mac is more complicated because you need to register the QT application in the 'Send AppleEvent ', and if I'm not mistaken you must do this on each Mac computer. But who knows, the idea is this is an alternate solution to the 'Send URL' script step (which definately has it's uses!) Play with it and you just may get what you want! Much luck and brain juice! Jonathan

LiveOak is correct. In fact, for image storage and display, especially in cross-platform environs, FileMaker is the easiest database on the market. As an alternative to buying, try down-loading a trial version of File Maker Pro 5.5 at www.filemaker.com and create a sample database. It will be limited to 50 records, but it should give you a good idea of it's ease of use. INMHO, FileMaker ease of use Vs. Access is like 3-1. Hope that helps.

This is a bit tricky, FileMaker Pro has not digned to allow us, the developer, any direct access to references to files. Now you mentioned images, but images tend to be stored in the file and hence are displayable in any platform, so I'm assumming there is the 'Store Reference Only' feature somewhere in here. Macs and PC's handle file paths totally differently, PC's use an absolute path structure and Macs have a similar structure, but based upon the names of volumes etc... One way to simulate these is to us ethe open URL script step where you say something like "C:filepathimage.img" and this can work but you'll need to replace this with the CD paths. I doubt this will solve the problem you described but it has helped me in other instances. As far as I know, there is no way to make the paths of Mac and PC images, when stored as a reference, appear to both when they are on a disk using the same file system. We have a demo CD we make for our software, and we have had to make a dual Mode CD which has both a PC partition of our software and a Mac partition, totally independant from eachother. This may help you, but the CD muct be made on a Mac, because I don't know any PC software that'll burn a Mac partition. I hope this helps, and I'm sure others would benefit greatly from hearing how you solve this problem, so I encourage you to post your solution here! -Luck! Jonathan

Simple? No, I have't used the record locking and hiding features of FileMaker Pro 5.5 much yet, but it sure sounds like that would be the way to go. But using 5 or below, you will probably need to set up some very strict scripting upon login that take users to layouts they have access to and a restrict finds to include records that they should have access to. Usually this is inserted after the user performs a find in your system and you as the developer manually add their access to the find so they only find records they are supposed to. Many developers utilize an interface file that the user works in, using portals (which you as the developer can controll very well). This requires extensive use of calulation fields which incorporate the users privledges in them. I would suggest the FileMaker Pro Scriptology Book and CD, because they have examples on most of this stuff. As you asked, this isn't easy to impliment, but that's the way FileMaker Pro is, it seduces us by it's simplicity until we attack huge undertakings and it spanks our little behinds. But it is ALL possible! Hope this clarifies! -Jonathan

Yes, it is unfortunate but this is the way FileMaker is designed. Set Fields and Goto fields and in fact any reference to a field on a layout, like copy, paste etc... all goto the uppermost and left most field availible. So if you have a layout all with the same field, just displayed differently, the upper left field will be the default one. The trick is, set a tab order for the layout and then use the Goto Field script step with 'Next' selected, the number of times you need to in order to get to the field you want, this will select the pulldown you need. It's very much a pain in the butt, and you need to watch you don't change the tab field order later on, but it will work. P.S. You will run into this with portals as well, Goto Portal Row will default to the upper left most portal, so you should first use Goto Field (::related field in the portal you want) then the Goto Portal Row (First/Last/Next etc..) and then another Goto Field to select the actual field in the portal you need. Good Luck!

My FMPro solution regularly has 50-70 users and is serverd via FMPro Server. Anyone who designs a large database system runs into this problem. Creating one record in a single file that everyone uses for storage of variables is the basic answer. The trick is to not allow users to manually access this single record, use scripts to send data to those variables. Thus, they can't lock the record by leaving their cursor in it. Now, in a multiuser environment, if users are not 'continuously' updating these values, it is not too dificult to use some validation scripting to make sure thay were able to update the record you want: Status(CurrentError) can be used just following an update, such as a set field, to determine if the change occured. When used in tandem with a loop, you may be able to automate this process, where the user waites till the value is reflected in the system. The single most difficult problem to fix is the lag between server and remote clients, where , for some reason, even after a change has been made in field, other users still see the old value for a short period. This has yet to be adequately dealt with, and I have not seen any good answer to this except, to manually insert a delay to certain critical functions and use a second variable to determine whether another user is also performing the same script. IMHO, this single problem gives powerful amunition to people who detract from FileMaker Pro as a robust relational database. I sincerely hope this changes, Jonathan

In the FileMaker Help I ran across this paragraph in the 'match fields used to create a relationship' section. But this seems unheard of to me, read the following (the ending sentances is where it gets interesting) The match field in either (or both) the master file or related file can contain a calculation formula. For example, the formula Unit Price in the match field of the master file establishes a relationship to a record (or records) in the related file whose match field contains the value of the Unit Price field in the current record of the master file. You can also define a calculation formula for the match field to match multiple records. For example, the formula Unit Price < 100.00 in the match field of the master file establishes a relationship to all records in the related file whose match field contains a value less than 100.00. -Copyright

FileMaker now has a new script step called "Execute SQL" which allows you to execute a single SQL function in an SQL datasource. This should theoretically let you send AND receive data, but I have as of yet to get it to work, maybe others can post here about their experiences with pulling info back into FileMaker from SQL. Unless something changes, though, FileMaker will never be a frontend for SQL. quote: Originally posted by ssd: I have heard that fmpro now has an SQL version. Is this true and can someone provide me a url for more info?

I checked out your solution on your site, and I have to say I'm very impressed! I'd have to say that I think that use of your system would usually be by FMPro enthusiasts only, rather than business (i.e. paying customers). I would be very interested in seeeing you develop an area of your web-site, discussing and probably releasing the files that made it all possible. I'd note that this is a great way to establish extreeme credibility in the FMPro industry. I think that showing everyone what you have developed would increase everyone's understanding of the possiblilities availible in FileMaker Pro when linked with some incredible ingenuity! Gratz! Jonathan [ August 13, 2001: Message edited by: Jonathan Mickelson ]

I've tested in my own solution and you are so very right, This IS a problem and thought I've never run into it in my own solution, it could prove VERY problematic to many people. I suggest you HOUND FileMaker to get their input on this... The very nature of copy is used to maintain the user's entered formatting, and Alignment is an integral part of this! Best of luck, chalk another one up to version 6.0 and another $250.00 we'll need to spend. -Jonathan

When performing development tasks on our software in multi-user mode (ie.. hosted from another copy of Filemaker, not server), I often (8 times out of 10) have Filemaker on the hosting computer crash saying: "FileMaker Pro cannot read the disk." or some such. This only seemes to happen when replaces or other data manipulation is initiated on the hosting computer and only when another user is logged into the machine, using the files. It NEVER happens when only one computer is using the files. Because we host all our software on Server for customer installations this doesn't affect us too much, but many consistancy checks sometimes fail and files are messed up, so other people may get really messed up because of this problem. Anyone else run into this? Thanks, Jonathan

Yes, you're on the right track. This is usually due to Firewall ports being blocked. You said that the web server is hosting the files, usually this is either by Server or a standard copy of FileMaker Pro. Both require certain ports to see the files even when the IP is manually entered. The FileMaker Website has info on what ports are necessary. And of course you must be using TCP/IP not other proprietary protocols like AppleTalk etc... Another thing to check would be the Port Mapping feature of your Firewall. Port mapping will allow access to a specific computer to specific ports. Much Luck! Jonathan [ August 13, 2001: Message edited by: Jonathan Mickelson ]

I've played with the trial version of 5.5. and I have one important question. I saw that one of the primary claims to fame for the new version was the ability to have resizable and positionable message windows when the Show Message script step is used. When I used the Trail version I found that when I, as the developer, entered a 6 line message for example, when the user got the message it still defaulted to the old/stupid 4 line message window. Whats worse was there was NO notification that there was more text that was not being displayed. Now, it's true if the user 'knew' there was more text they could resize the window and viola the message would appear in it's entirety, but we all know that relying upon the user to "know" that they should do this is not realistic. I would have expected the message window to appear displaying all the text entered by the developer. Please, tell me I'm wrong and it was just a Trial version issue and the full version impliments this feature as it should have! Thanks, Jonathan

Yes, it will work great. I have a 38 file runtimed Demo Version of my networked software solution running bundled. Only the standard Filemaker 50 file limit applies, I believe.

You should look at VISE Installer, it looks quite nice and will handle registering the new fonts before the user has an opportunity to run your solution. Also, you can make registry entries that will perform font substitutes in FileMaker Pro, look up Filemaker Pro in your windows registry/font substitutes for more info... quote: Originally posted by edjski: What is the procedure for including unique (custom) fonts in a Runtime app? Do the fonts need to be included? Do they need to be put in a "System" folder within the Solution folder? What are the details? Thanks, Ed [ August 13, 2001: Message edited by: Jonathan Mickelson ]

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Creating a Multi-format (PC/MAC) CD is the best way to go. In my experience though, you must create the CD on a mac computer.