Filemaker without the menus...

[gareth2210]

I am developing something for schools and the 'kiosk mode' would be perfect (no distracting menus etc) but kids will need to copy stuff from the app into Word or some other program (the app is a kind of dictionary). So, I want a way to remove all the FMPro menu items in my runtime version so that no-one can play with File, edit, view and etc. Is this possible? Please say it is ... and tell me how!

TIA

gareth

[Lee Smith]

Do a search for these Keywords. [color:"blue"] +menu +plugin +secure and you will get several threads on this topic. here is a recent one that might help.Click Here

HTH

Lee

[SteveB]

There are at least 2 choices: One is Dacons Menu Control from Dacons International, which I use. The other is from New Millenium and is called Secure FM with Menu Control. I would suggest that you create a runtime, and give up on the kiosk, which I always found to be a major pain unless your solution is very simple. Either of these products will give you what you want, and should be easy to implement given that you've already created navigation for the kiosk.

Steve

[Lee Smith]

Hi Steve,

Did you look at the link I provided?

It was your post to the last time this question was asked.

Lee

[SteveB]

Nope, but I should have.

Steve

[Reed]

Another thing you can do to allow users to access other programs from kiosk mode is to use applescript (or send message in Windows) to bring other programs to the foreground. I've used this in solutions where access to the rest of the computer should be restricted to only those items that are specifically accessible through FMP.

Although in your case, that doesn't sound like the goal, so a plugin is necessary to remove menu items. Although access privileges can be used to remove users' access to almost all menu items in a runtime. (Except the Quit menu item)

[tomp]

I've redeveloped an FM6 solution in FM7. I used kiosk mode in FM6 for my runtime solution, but one of my user complaints has been inability to minimize. I'm willing to try Dacons Menu Control or Secure FM with Menu Control instead of kiosk. I've never worked with plugins before. I've downloaded both but don't know how to 'install' a plugin and can't find any help on how to do this.

How do I install plugins??

TIA

[SteveB]

I don't know if the use of plugins is the same in v7 as it was in v6, but here's how to do it in v6. You'll need to copy the plugin to Filemaker's System folder. If you create a runtime or kiosk, you'll also need to put the plugin into your solution's System folder. Restart Filemaker and go to the Application Preferences tab (used to be under the Edit menu. The last tab is the 'Plugins'. Make sure the plugin is checked on the menu.

Steve

[gareth2210]

First of all ... sorry for not replying sooner to say "thanks". My first FMPro project is now out there and people are saying nice things. I feel warm and valued : )

And the solution (for me) was the Dacons plugin.

Thanks again, it's good to know thatthere are people out there who know stuff and help newbies like me (who doesn't!)

ta

gareth