Check out options for FileMaker JavaScript Integration

[MonkeybreadSoftware]

The just released FileMaker version 19 brings some welcome additions to use JavaScript with web viewer. You can now use a script step Perform JavaScript in Web Viewer to run JavaScript within the web viewer on the current layout.

In MBS FileMaker Plugin, we have our own WebView.RunJavaScript function since version 1.3 from July 2007. That function has been upgraded as WebView.Evaluate end of last year for version 10.0 of our plugin to provide results back on MacOS, Windows and iOS.

The built-in functionality has an advantage the plugin can't provide, which is is having it work in FileMaker Go or Web Direct. But you first need to upgrade everything to FileMaker version 19.

As usual we expect that the majority of the FileMaker developers will be happy with the built-in functionality, but if you need more, our plugin can provide additional features. Here is a table to compare features between MBS FileMaker Plugin and FileMaker's built-in functions.

Feature	Platform	FileMaker 19	MBS FileMaker Plugin
Required FileMaker version		FileMaker 19 and newer	FileMaker 19, 18, 17 and older
Run JavaScript in web viewer	FileMaker MacOS	Yes	Yes
	FileMaker Windows	Yes	Yes
	iOS with FileMaker Go	Yes	No plugin on FileMaker Go
	iOS with SDK	Yes	Yes
	Web Direct	Yes	No, plugin has no access to browser with Web Direct
Run JavaScript without Web Viewer	FileMaker MacOS	No	Yes, see JavaScript or JavaScriptMac functions
	FileMaker Windows	No	Yes, see JavaScript Functions
	iOS with FileMaker Go	No	No plugin on FileMaker Go
	iOS with SDK	No	Yes, see JavaScript or JavaScriptMac functions
	Web Direct	No	Yes, see JavaScript Functions
	Server Scripting	No	Yes, see JavaScript Functions
Returns result from JS directly	FileMaker MacOS	No	Yes, with WebView.Evaluate, JavaScriptMac or JavaScript functions
	FileMaker Windows	No	Yes, with WebView.Evaluate or JavaScript functions
	iOS with FileMaker Go	No	No plugin on FileMaker Go
	iOS with SDK	No	Yes, with WebView.Evaluate, JavaScriptMac or JavaScript functions
	Web Direct	No	No, plugin has no access to browser with Web Direct
	Server Scripting	No	Yes, see JavaScript Functions
Trigger script via FMP URL		Yes	Yes
Trigger script from JavaScript	FileMaker MacOS	Yes	Yes, via WebView.AddScriptMessageHandler
	FileMaker Windows	Yes	No, WebView.InstallCallback broke with newer IE versions. ServerSocketfunctions may work.
	iOS with FileMaker Go	Yes	No plugin on FileMaker Go
	iOS with SDK	Yes	Yes, via WebView.AddScriptMessageHandler
	Web Direct	Yes	No
Pass file name for script:		No, always current file.	Yes
Available via Script Step		Yes	Yes
Available as Function		No	Yes
Available for Custom Functions		No	Yes
Data Types for parameter or return value		Text only	Text, Boolean, Number or JSON.
Set Webviewer to be silent		No	Yes, for Windows, see WebView.SetSilent
Run JavaScript synchronously		No	Yes
Run JavaScript asynchronously		Yes	Yes, for MacOS & iOS via option for WebView.RunJavaScript function
Works in runtimes		No	Yes

Let us know if you have a correction or addition for the table above. 
Please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions.