Status Messages Enhanced
User interface related topics are always exciting when they work really well within FileMaker. Regarding non-modal status updates, e.g. showing the user what happened or is happening, we have a few options we can use. The most simple is to toggle a value which uses a hide calculation to show/hide a given object on the layout and refresh its visibility.
When you extend this notion a good bit further, you can come up with one of the most creatives uses of many hide calculations to take advantage of a popover and slider combined to provide a very cool Status Message tool which can be leveraged solution wide. Add some sounds, a gradient, a little shadow, some styled text and things go from your basic meh to STELLAR!
In the technique and video for this particular topic I showcase the use of a variety of features in FileMaker which compliment your humble hide calculation. The easy-to-copy-paste Status Message script folder and layout object means you have a world class non-modal notification method within your file in very short time. To add to this, I've included some conversions I've made of some super valuable SVG spinners which make the solution just that much more valuable!
Comments
Glitches when hosted or accessed via WebDirect
Hi Matt - Just a couple of quick comments. I tested hosting this file on a FM Server (Windows Server 2019) and accessing it via my Mac (running Sonoma 14.5).
- The sounds effects are glitchy when displaying any of the messages. The message will show, but then the sound will play several seconds later. On the ones that show and then disappear, the message will have already gone away before the sound plays.
- On WebDirect, I don't get any sound effects, but I expected that,
- On WebDirect, displaying any of the messages is not very smooth. Every thing kind of jerks around.
Did you by chance test on WebDirect? If so, did you see the issues I mentioned?
What about the sound effects when the dB is hosted and you access it via FM Pro client?
Regards,
Doug
Sound Files Not Staying Loaded upon restart
What do I need to do to make sure the sound files remain loaded in the container upon restart. I have successfully implemented this except upon restart my sound files are no longer in the container like your file is. I am running this on a server and accessing it by my iMac, MacBook Pro, and iPad. Do I need to load these everytime upon startup. Your example file keeps them loaded without copying on restart. Any ideas?