What is CDML and how can I find out what they are?

[Vaughan]

CDML tags are used to create custom html format files which FileMaker Pro's Web Companion uses to share your databases over the WWW. The custom format files are used as "templates" to control how the web pages appear and much more.

CDML was first introduced with FileMaker Pro version 4. The CDML codes used with FileMaker Pro 5 are identical to those of FMP4 but FMP5 includes several new codes to extend the functionality.

The definitive information about CDML codes is probably FileMaker's own CDML Reference. The CDML Reference is a list of all of the codes with syntax and basic usage examples. It is not a tutorial, but a complete concise reference.

The CDML Reference is in the form of a FileMaker Pro database, with simple navigation and a search interface designed for efficient on-screen browsing. Most people may find it more convenient as a printed document: to print the reference open the CDML Reference file, click on the "CDML Tag Index" tab and select an item to view it. Now choose Print from the File menu and print all the records, but be aware that it runs to well over 110 pages!

If you have FileMaker Pro 4.0 or 4.1, the CDML reference is installed in the "Web Tools" folder inside the "FileMaker Pro" folder on your computer's hard disk. If it isn't there, look for it on the original installation CD-ROM disk or perform a custom install.

The FMP5 version of the CDML reference has only shipped with the Developer edition of FMP5. However, FMP Forum contributor "tomrt" advises that the FMP5 CDML Reference is now avaliable from the FileMaker Inc web site:

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/hqx/cdml_web_tools.zip

Thanks "tomrt"... and thanks FileMaker Inc for making this valuable and important resource freely available to all FileMaker Pro 5 users.