Using multiple applications with FMP7

[Chimes]

Hello,

I'm trying to finish this database for processing orders for my little bookstore. All of my data is in Filemaker, but I make heavy use of other applications like UPS Worldship and Endicia's Dazzle. Currently, the process is quite unweildly because we are opening several programs and importing and exporting all over the place. I'm looking for a way to automate almost completely.

I looked into the DDE script option, but I'm having a hard time finding the actual service name, topic and command for the applications I use. (Their tech support will not help with this either.) Is there an easier way to do this? It seems like it would be a fairly common issue that has a solution out there somewhere. I'm open to scripting, plugins, additional applications, learning relatively easy programming languages, whatever needs to be done.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[email protected]

[Fitch]

I'm more of a Mac guy, but if you search the forums for "batch" -- be sure to change the date range to look for older posts -- you'll find some ideas such as this thread.