where do you start to learn CDML

[pbucc]

hi there. i have some solutions that need to be on the net. the problem is... no scripts work. how does one go about learning how to create pages to pull info from the database. i know html i just don't know where to start. do i use cdml or lasso? are there any books? this is just a vent i guess. for those of you that know how, i ask you were did you start? what should i have (books, programs) to get going?

thank you for the ear

Peter Bucciarelli

[The Bridge]

I learned CDML primarily through trial-and-error.

There's an online reference database at www.sawco.com/FMPRO. There is also a pdf out there with all of the v.4 CDML tags, which is my primary reference, but I downloaded it so long ago that I can't remember where I found it. Try doing a search for "CDML Reference" on Altavista or something. Having said that, the same information can be found in the FileMaker Developer manual, if you have it.

Also, as wonderful as FMForums is, you might like to try the FMWebTalk mailing list. I believe you can sign up at www.filemakerworld.com. I have found it invaluable.

Good luck!

[ December 12, 2001: Message edited by: The Bridge ]

[pbucc]

i have the tags. i just want to know if there is anything like a book to help out the proccess. things like how to call a database, does the database need to be open? we use files on a intranet, can i use them via a browser? this is what i am looking for.

Thank you for your Reply.

Peter Bucciarelli

[The Bridge]

quote:

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Originally posted by pbucc:

i have the tags. i just want to know if there is anything like a book to help out the proccess.

---

There's always Database Publishing with FileMaker Pro on the Web by Maria Langer, ISBN 0-201-69665-7, but you may want to flip through it before plunking down $40+ Canuckian. I personally didn't find it that valuable.

I do highly recommend subscribing to FMWebTalk, and I mean no disrespect to the excellent people here. It has simply been the most valuable resource I've encountered on the 'net re: web publishing with FileMaker.

As for your queries: yes, the database must be open in FileMaker (and Web Companion plug-in enabled) in order to serve the data, and yes, this can be done over a LAN. It can even be done on a solitary computer using HTTP://localhost/etc...

Quick tutorial: You can call FileMaker either through a link or a form.

Links must comprise at least the following: http://<host_ip>/FMPro?-DB=<database_name>&-Format=<format_filename>&-Lay=<Layout_Name>&-<Action_Tag>

Forms must comprise at least the following:

<form name="formname" method="Post" action="FMPro">

<input type="hidden" name="-DB" value="<database_name>">

<input type="hidden" name="-Format" value="<Format_filename>">

<input type="hidden" name="-Lay" value="<Layout_name>">

<input type="Submit" name="-<Action_Tag>" value="Submit_Button_Label">

</form>

Hope this helps!

[ December 12, 2001: Message edited by: The Bridge ]

[ December 12, 2001: Message edited by: The Bridge ]

[Keith M. Davie]

The Bridge wrote:

Forms must comprise at least the following:

<form name="formname" method="Post" action="FMPro">

Actually, name="formname" is not required for html/cdml integration. If you are using JavaScript you may find that useful, or not, depending on what you are doing.

Similarly

<input type="hidden" name="-Lay" value="<Layout_name>">

may not be necessary. If you have just one layout it does not need to be named.

On the other hand, if you have more than one layout, you are strongly advised to designate one layout specifically for your web application.

[pbucc]

Ok i will try to create a simple solution and try it out. now the fmweb talk. what is the link? it it the one on filemaker world? if it is it's down and has been for a while.

[The Bridge]

Keith is quite right, the formname and -Lay tags are not absolutely necessary, but I've found that establishing such practices early on saved me a lot of headaches down the road.

To subscribe to FMWebTalk, send e-mail to [email protected]

That should do the trick.

[pbucc]

Do you know of any sites that work with filemaker? this way i can view the source and et ideas from there.

[Keith M. Davie]

Actually you have a great resource right here. If you will take the time to go back a year or so and read through the threads you will find quite a bit of useful code as well as pertinent discussion. Yeah, there are a lot of threads, and many of them go nowhere for what you are doing. And yeah, it will take you time, but no matter what you do it all takes time. I started by reading Langer's book cover to cover before I tried anything. It was a help, though it left a lot to be desired. The examples which came with FM (I was using version 4.0 at the time) were (and remain) very poor examples. Additionally you will become aware that some of the cdml tags just don't work the way FMI tells you they will work. Start with being very cautious about the -script tags. The ScriptMaker engine is single-threaded and the web is not. Huge problems loom. Then there are the tags which work only when used with JavaScript, even though FMI says you need only html.

[pbucc]

Thanks for the help.

i have already ordered the book and i have started a small and easy DB and i will go from there

[Anatoli]

quote:

---

Originally posted by pbucc:

Do you know of any sites that work with filemaker? this way i can view the source and et ideas from there.

---

Actually you can't. You will see only HTML and not the CDML tags. WebCompanion is evaluating the CDML and compiles just pure HTML page from that.

[jenn]

Thanks for starting this thread, pbucc. And of course, thanks to all those who have replied to the question in the first place.

I know I am taking lots of notes from this thread - and I'd bet I'm not the only one doing it!

If you have any more tips other than the ones mentioned above, PLEASE keep 'em comin'!!!

[Anatoli]

My favorite one:

This I do recommend to all programmers:

Start with single layout with single field.

When this works OK, add more fields by ONLY copy/paste and never try to write manually something.

That way I am working very fast and I never had typo. I've learned this from my mistake. I've inherited database and it didn’t work in CDML. It took me 2 hours, that the author of the database named one field "Name " instead "Name". Because I've just typed that as "Name", FM/WC didn't work at all. When I did the copy I've discovered the space