first format file

October 18, 200223 yr

I am just starting to get into learning CDML, after successfully posting a database on the web with IWP and finding the limitations. I have spent all evening trying to wrap my brain around how CDML works. (To little success!)

Hopefully this isn't *too* dumb a question: I'm a little confused as to which format file will appear first when a visitor enters the website. I have my HTML page set up as a default for the web companion, but I'm not sure about the "name and path" of the format file to link to. How does one usually start this? I'd like the database/format file to first display a list of all the names in the database, but I'm not sure how to go about that.

Also, I'm a little baffled as to how the FM database integrates with the HTML format files. As it is now, IWP shows my database as it was designed. Is this not the case with CWP?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

October 18, 200223 yr

OK, here is how it all works:

1. Query the database with either a URL or Form:

URL:

http://address:port/FMPro?-db=mydb.fp5&-lay=mylayout&-format=myfmt.html&-findall

Form:

</form>

2. The Format file (myfmt.html):

<html><head></head><body>

Field1 Field2 Field3<br>

[FMP-Record]

[FMP-Field:myfield1] [FMP-Field:myfield2] [FMP-Field:myfield3]<br>

[/FMP-Record]

</body></html>

Have the DB shared with "WebCompanion" and the Format file located in the "Web" folder within the Filemaker program folder.

This should get you started.

All the best.

Garry

October 18, 200223 yr

Author

Thanks, Garry.

Let me see if I have this straight. The database will no longer be seen on the web. Instead, the format/HTML files will be what visitors see, and those files will be responsible for showing the data from the database. I can customize those HTML pages as much as a like as long as I don't mess up the CDML tags. Is this correct? (I feel like I need a CDML for Dummies book... :-)

October 18, 200223 yr

Hi, this might be of some help. It's a very basic demo of cdml format pages and a database.

What it really does is to demonstrate how to use Filemaker to create links and get pictures, but it has 'search', 'amend' and 'create' pages and code for stuff like a value-list generated menu which might help to give you a start and show how CDML works at it's most basic. You can use the format pages to get CDML tags and form elements etc.

Instructions to get started are in the 'default.htm' page.

I've attached a .sit file, but I can make a .zip if you have problems with this.

mail me if anything isn't clear.

regards, jeff