Creating an External Java-based widget that interacts with Filemaker

[ddrew_ssm]

I was recently asked if I could write code for a Java-based program that would allow our company's employees to track time for our various projects through this small, simple program that would interact with our Filemaker databases. Before I begin trying, I wanted to ask some experts:

1) Am I reinventing the wheel? Is there something already out there along these same lines?

2) If there's no #1, Where might I obtain the API that would allow external comminique between Java and FMP? Anyone know of some good resources?

Thanks for your help. I hope to receive some responses.

[mr_vodka]

Well if your files are on FileMaker Server Advanced, you can always use ODBC.

[Vaughan]

"I was recently asked if I could write code for a Java-based program that would allow our company's employees to track time for our various projects through this small, simple program that would interact with our Filemaker databases."

There are *heaps* of project/job/time tracking database solutions around, ranging from the basic (most likely free or very $cheap) to the sophisticated ($$expensive).

Because job process are all different, job tracking systems usually always need customising to fit the business, otherwise the business needs to change to fit the software.

What does the Java program need to do that cannot be done natively in FMP?

[ddrew_ssm]

It's not a matter necessarily of what FMP can do. We have a fairly in-depth job tracking system in place through FMP. The situation is this:

For our current FMP setup, in order for one to start time tracking for a job, they have to search for the correct job number, go into the job's production category, go into the time tracking category, select the category of tracking that's being done, and click the start button. For a single job, they might have to do this 4 or 5 times. It's somewhat inconvenient in its current iteration.

This "widget"-like app I'm looking for (or looking to make) would sit on the user's desktop and show a list of currently active jobs, and all one would need to do is click on the job that they want, and click the go (or stop) buttons. It's definitely very specific in its function, but it'd save its users loads of time.

[Vaughan]

"This "widget"-like app I'm looking for (or looking to make) would sit on the user's desktop and show a list of currently active jobs, and all one would need to do is click on the job that they want, and click the go (or stop) buttons."

I cannot see a reason why this could not be done with FMP itself. Click a button to find active jobs, get shown a list view. It could even appear in a separate window; a separate file if desired (though I could see no advantage to a separate file).

To me this is an interface issue, not a technology issue.