What are the Best Plug Ins?

[Peter Fenner]

There are several plug-ins available for Filemaker - I don't have much experience with plug ins and don't want to go thru a whole trial and error (and cost) escapade.

What are the main plug-ins to consider and where is the best place to buy them? I want to achieve the normal fax, email, dialogue functionality as well as be able to take command of word-processing within FM much more dynamically. Also, are there plug-ins that provide better pop-up menus than FM offers. And finally, what other plug-ins are considered almost essential in developing a professional FM solution.

Thanks!

[LiveOak]

My favorites are:

Email: SMTPit & POP3it

File/Image management: Troi File

Dialogs: Troi Dialog

Charting: XMChart

Menus: MenuControl & FM Secure

Faxing:

Mac Single Line Fax: FaxElite or PageSender

Mac Multiple Line: 4-Sight Fax + FaxIt (not really a plug-in)

PC: I don't like any of them.

Which are "essential" depends upon the needs of the solution.

-bd

[Peter Fenner]

Thanks LiveOak

Is there one website I can go to get these? And what about more control when writing letters within FM - surely there must be something to handle this?

[LiveOak]

SMTPit & POP3it <-- www.smtpit.com, www.pop3it.com

Troi File, Dialogs <-- www.troi.com

XMChart <-- www.x2max.com

Menus: MenuControl & SecureFM <-- www.dacons.net, www.securefm.com

Faxing:

Mac Single Line Fax: FaxElite or PageSender <--- www.faxelite.com, www.smilesoftware.com

Mac Multiple Line: 4-Sight Fax + FaxIt (not really a plug-in) <-- www.4sightfax.com

You can search for plug-in using several criterial at www.filemaker.com

-bd

[CobaltSky]

Hello Peter,

The advice Brent (LiveOak) has offered is excellent as far as it goes. There are a few other suggestions that I'd like to add to his worth list:

are there plug-ins that provide better pop-up menus than FM offers

Yes. You should look at SCRIPTit from CNS - it provides both hierarchical menus and script triggering options.

In fact, if you are serious about extending PMP functionality, you are going to want to consider script triggeering functionality anyway, in which case I'd recommend that you look at any one of the following:

Troi Activator:

http://www.troi.com/software/activatorplugin.html

oAzium Events:

http://wmotion.com/events.html

Comm-Unity Networking Systems:

http://scriptit.cnsplug-ins.com/

...they provide overlapping functionality, so youwill likely only wish to choose one from this group, and given your interest in pop-up menus, SCRIPTit may be the logical place to start.

And finally, what other plug-ins are considered almost essential in developing a professional FM solution.

Aside from those already mentioned herein and by Brett, there are at least three plug-ins which provide core functionality, and which I'd recommend you consider:

WindowUtility - PracticeMaker:

http://www.practicemaker.com/WindowUtility.htm

Troi ClipSave - Troi Automatisering:

http://www.troi.com/software/clipplugin.html

DialogMagic - New Millennium Communications:

http://www.nmci.com/Product_Overview.htm?pid=P62XAGWYVVA6V34XWFP5&-session=dwc:72AE1457F79F341E651D4760F5EE5413

You will find that many plug-ins provide specialised and purpose-focussed functionality - such as email or faxing for instance. There are many additional plug-ins which haven't been mentioned (yet) on this thread, which are related to a single purpose or activity - graphics, creating pdfs, reading barcodes, encryption, file compression/expansion etc etc. They are only essential if you require the specific functionality for which they cater.

By contrast, the plug-ins I've referred to above (and several of those which Brent mentioned) provide broadly based operational extension of FileMaker's capabilities, which you will find you are able to use to good effect in every solution you create.

[Peter Fenner]

Thanks Ray and BRENT

You both have given me a great starting point. And as I plan on being in this forum a lot I can start getting the NAMES right!

[Caroline Cohaset]

Hi all,

While we are on the topic, could any of you suggest what the best plug in would be for entering dates through a pop-up calendar? Something cheap and easy to implement!

Thanks,

Caroline.

[ryanzon]

I suggest you use Calendar Pop Up 3.0.2 by Productive Computing, Inc.

only 75$