FMPug Newsletter 2007: Edition 3 (March)

Is it just me or do you find yourself working later now that it is lighter? Yes folks, the clocks went forward yesterday - did you update your server clock times for those backup schedules?

And of course, St Patrick's day is almost upon us. So I need to dust off my shamrock and lick my way through a good pint of Guinness!

If this is your first newsletter, I welcome you. These newsletters are designed to give you a quick overview of the goings-on at FMPug and maybe sway some of you off the fence to join. If you've been contemplating joining our family...come on down! It really is good on this side and I promise not to bite!

Membership is available to anyone, anywhere

(local group not required). Join here

Kismet

FMPug Editor

A Little Back (& Forward) Magic

FMPug is proud to bring you breaking news!

One of the most difficult things to script when building a database is the way your users navigate around it. Back in the day you could create simple navigation scripts to change between layouts, but tabs changed all that. Now you change from one layout to another, losing focus on the last active tab. If only we had a way to capture where the user had been, moving back and forth between the locations. Heck, if we could remember the last tab we were on too, wouldn't that be fantastic?!

Well, thanks to our very good friends at Seedcode, it's all within the realm of the possible! FMPug is extremely pleased to announce the new developer template from our friends at Seedcode — BackMagic.

BackMagic allows you to quickly and easily add a new dimension to your FileMaker solution navigation -- following you no matter how you navigate, remembering the layout, frontmost tab, and status area state. Even better, it’s easy to add to exiting solutions!

We invite you to stop by the Seedcode site, download this amazing tool and while there do us a favor and thank John Sindelar for providing this and other fantastic services.

John, kudos -- five (5) Paws as always, my man!

And best of all...it's FREE!

FileMaker Feature Requests

We had no idea the response we'd receive when launching the FileMaker Feature Requests on FMPug. Honestly, we were half-expecting a few requests to trickle-in here and there. But to our absolute amazement, the response has been tremendous!

153 Requests Posted

3500+ Votes Recorded

Have you voted and/or posted your requests?

Everybody has their opinion....go on, share yours today.

The caliber of requests is absolutely amazing. They truly are illustrative of the fact that our members and visitors have seriously contemplated how to take the FileMaker product to the next level. The requests cover the gamut from Accessibility, to Web and everything in-between. On that note, we want to take a minute to personally thank each and every participant -- thank you for lending us your thoughts, and your voice!

Here are a few that caught our eye here at FMPug HQ.

Composite Layouts

Ability to create a "background" and "foreground" layout, then specify the layout you are looking at should use the composite from a background & foreground layouts.

This would allow you to create your navigational elements on the background layout and also apply changes all in one place. The result would be all layouts using this background (layout) would be affected.

Average rating: from 87 votes

Show variables on layout

Ability to add variables to layouts. This would avoid having to add calculated fields to the data tables and deliver a cleaner design and better separation between data and user interface.

Average rating: from 64 votes

SetField[by Calculation,"whatever"]

It is tedious having to sift through the list of table occurrences and fields every time a field set step is used.

Instead, simply use a calculation as we do already for selecting a layout, variable, and even a field repetition.

Average rating: from 59 votes

Perform Script (By calculation)

Be able to have a scripts run from other scripts based on calculation to retrieve the script name.

Average rating: from 30 votes

So if you haven't been by lately, we invite you to check out the FileMaker Feature Request page. For all our members out there, the site can hide items you have previously voted on, simply log-in to access member-only features.

Going to DevCon?

It is time to start thinking about DevCon again and we have decided to launch our DevCon poll a bit earlier this year.

Last year's poll was a terrific (and eye opening) success and we're looking to rally the troops again in 2007. It only takes two minutes, so stop by the FMPug homepage and let us know if you are going to be sharing in all the joys and splendor of DevCon this year.

Speaking of DevCon, if you choose the "I am SO there...is it here yet?" option we have something for all you Mac OSX people.

Get your widget on,

Pug style!

If you're like us and enjoy visual reminders, we've put together a fun little widget just for you. The process is really quite simple:

1. Download widget

2. Install widget

3. VOILA! Your personal count down to the days, hours and minutes to the biggest FileMakin' fest there is -- with a cute Pug to boot!

We hope to see many old and new faces this year. Just promise us if you make your way to DevCon this year, you'll swing by the booth and say "Hi". It's always great to put a face to the name!

�

Member Specials

Do you know what gives us the biggest kick here at FMPug HQ? Quite simply, it's the ability to save you a little dosh, moola, wonga, cash-ola, and/or green on valuable products that can enhance your FileMaker development. No matter how you say it, this perk is for every member of FMPug to take full advantage of.

Here are a few of the current discount providers (many more available in the Members' area)

360Works Super Container - Save 25%

SuperContainer lets you do document management and digital asset management using the new Web Viewer feature in FileMaker Pro 8.5, instead of container fields. You can upload, download, view, and resize images and documents using FileMaker Pro client software or with your web browser and Instant Web Publishing

Workgroup License - Normally $195 - FMPug members save $48.75

Enterprise License �- Normally $695 - FMPug members save $173.75

This special ends March 31st, so do not miss out on your chance to use this truly amazing

Visit 360Works

Seedcode Templates - Save 20%

SeedCode offers simple, easy to modify calendars, templates, and small applications for FileMaker Pro users and developers.

All SeedCode templates are completely unlocked and as simple as possible under the hood, letting you easily bolt sophisticated features on to your existing projects.

Don't forget to grab your FREE copy of BackMagic while you are at the site

Visit Seedcode

Scodigo SmartPill PHP Edition - Save 20%

Last month we featured the SmartPill plug-in in our Valentine's newsletter. Did you get your copy yet?

With SmartPill PHP Edition you have all the power of PHP at your fingertips right inside your FileMaker� applications. Here are just a few of the things you can do:

Send and receive email
Send and receive files using FTP
Get URLs (including SSL support)
Read and write to Active or Open Directory with LDAP functions
Communicate with web services
Encrypt and decrypt your data
Execute shell commands and return the results

We are looking for reviews of this product. FMPug members please log into your homepage to register interest in reviewing this product. If selected you will receive a FREE copy of this product upon successful review *

*selected recipients will be notified via email

Visit Scodigo

Productive Computing - Save 20%

Productive Computing have been supporting FMPug and our members since we first started. They have a wide variety of plug-ins that will extend the capabilities of your database solutions. Some of the plug-ins available are;

FMBooks Connector
File Manipulator v2
Address Book Manipulator
Outlook Manipulator
PDF Manipulator

We have several Productive Computing products still available for review . FMPug members please log into your homepage to register interest in reviewing any of the available products. If selected you will receive a FREE copy of the product upon successful review *

*selected recipients will be notified via email

Visit Productive Computing, Inc.

Taking advantage of just one of these discounts will pretty much cover the cost of your annual FMPug membership. After that, it's just gravy!

Vendors - we would love to talk to you

We are always looking for new "bennies" to offer our members and would love to talk to you if....

You sell a FileMaker based plug-in
You sell a solution that you believe would benefit other users or developers

So, if you fall in either of these two categories please get in touch with us at [email protected]. We love to promote our providers, and we'll work to get your product in front of our visitors and members.

OK, so now you are asking - what are "bennies" and why do members want them... and if they are so desirable how can I get in on them? Well, "bennies" are perks of membership -- discounts, networking, free products, Pug-only pricing, giveaways and business exposure are a few of the items that make FMPug membership stand out from the crowd. Put quite simply, bennies are part of the Pug-Perks Package!

�

Well, that just about wraps-up this newsletter for another month.

Don't forget to stop by the web site. And if you are not yet an official "pugger" what are you waiting for? Stop letting others reap all the rewards of membership and start taking some of them for yourself. Join today and get in the mix.

Cheers!

FMPug Quarters team

[email protected]

http://www.fmpug.com

�