Filemaker Open Source Scripting Developement

[ryangrg]

That way people can add the features they want and filemaker won't have to pay for it. Also, as you improve your programing skills you can move on to a hire level of development. :yay:

[comment]

Not sure what you mean by "Open Source Scripting Developement". Features CAN be added through the plugin architecture.

[Vaughan]

... as you improve your programing skills you can move on to a hire level of development

Yes, I like the sound of that. :

We should all strive to achieve our hire purpose in life.

[comment]

I thought it meant a level where you will be hired?

[fseipel]

The Filemaker scripting language does not maintain a high level of abstraction/portability/atomism between the script and database. This makes re-using code more difficult.

The first step towards fixing this, IMHO, would be an option for a conventional text editor to edit the scripts. The ability to pass multiple script parameters without a lot of hassle, would also be a great improvement.

Basic intelligence in the script editor, would also help; if a script refers to fields not in a database, then changing the first reference, should give the option to fix all successive references. Requiring a $450 product (FMPA) even to edit custom functions, and have a basic debugger, is exorbitant; Access 2010 currently runs $125 and affords interopability between all the office apps, allows generation of custom functions, and includes basic debugging. Granted, it can't generate Mac runtimes, but VBA is faster and more powerful than Scriptmaker.

The plugin architecture allows extension, but requires plugins be installed on each client, and that plugins be written for both Mac and PC platforms. It would be great to see FM integrate Java into the product as an alternative scripting language. That would add cross-platform extensibility out of the box.

[ryangrg]

Oh, these kind of comments happen when you can't do what you want directly. I'm very happy with what can be done with Applescript anyhow. And I suppose Applescript gave me that jump start to a "hire" level of development anyhow.

[El_Pablo]

This request has been made since, at least, version 2!