I am reluctantly about to incorporate a plugin into my solution. But since I must, I would like FMP to be able to install it on any machine that does not have it.

So here are the required steps.

1. check for pluin (do a version check)

2. if error, export zipped plugin from container field, into FMP extension folder.

3. trigger apple script to unzip file.

Then I would have a message for the user to quit and restart app.

Has anyone seen a solution such as this?

Read up on the features of FM Server. I think it's called auto-update.

The thing is I do not have access to the server. So here is what I came up with.

- the plugin is stored, zip format in a container field.

- the following script runs at startup.

* Set Variable [ $$zip; Value:zippScript_Version ]

* If [ $$zip= "?" ]

* Show Custom Dialog [ Message: "A plugin needs to be installed for application to run properly. Once installed, you will need to relaunch Filemaker Pro."; Buttons: “OK” ]

* Set Variable [ $$ext; Value:Get(FileMakerPath) & "Extensions/zippit.zip" ]

* New Window [ Height: 10; Width: 10 ]

* Go to Layout [ “file” (file) ]

* Export Field Contents [ file::file; “$$ext”; Automatically open ]

* Close Window [ Current Window ]

* Show Custom Dialog [ Message: "Plugin install sucessfull, you can relaunch Filemaker Pro."; Buttons: “Quit” ]

* Exit Application

* End If