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Our Library of Videos
Spend enough time within FileMaker, and you want to accomplish things as fast as possible. This even includes the trivial task of simply opening the files you're developing.
Typically, a solution is delivered with some level of security on it. That is, using the Account and Privileges to lock down what people can and can't do. While using the Relogin script step is useful for testing out different accounts with different levels of access, it's always great to save even more time when you're developing the files.
In this video, I take a walk through the process I use to open solutions within a state where they're ready for me to develop. This makes it easy to simply provide the file or host it within FileMaker Server without the worry, because I know I'm the only one with the keys for convenient master access.
FileMaker 10 offers a ton of new functionality using Script Triggers. It's enough to make the mind wander and start envisioning all the cool drag-n-drop features you can now add to your solutions.
You start down the path of adding in this cool new functionality, then you realize... FileMaker doesn't have a full event model implementation. Any object you drop onto doesn't know anything about the object which was first clicked.
Thinking to yourself, you say "There's got to be a way. FileMaker can always find a way to make it happen." Then you hear it. "True, it can be done". You spin around to see where the voice came from and no one is there. You pause, as you wonder where the mysterious voice came from. "Oh, that's right, it's Matt Petrowsky reminding me that most things can be done in FileMaker."
All fiction aside, here the facts is in all it's glory, the fundamentals needed for the closest thing to true drag-n-drop in FileMaker!
While at Devcon 2009, I spent a bit of time with Honza Koudelka - founder of 24U Software. He gave me a run down of what their new plug-in offered to businesses with a heavy use of modern phone systems.
If interconnecting FileMaker with a PBX system is high on your list of must have features, then 24U has what you're looking for.
There always seems to be some type of improvement in how you can help a user get from point A to point B. With new features in FileMaker, come new techniques.
In this video, I showcase a fun technique which makes the default FileMaker Find mode more user friendly. A user can choose which fields to search and the familiar feel of the current layout being used is maintained.
If you're always looking for a better way to make things easier for your users, then check this one out!
Live sub-summaries is a very nice addition to FileMaker 10. Without having to enter into Preview mode, you can now see live summary data within any form which includes sub-summary parts when sorted on the specified summary field.
Using this feature, it's possible to create a wide array of powerful methods to help users find the data they are looking for. One example of this, is an ever decreasing set of results based on what's selected within the list view.
This FileMaker tutorial video will show you how to use live sub-summaries and a unique scripting method in order to offer a powerful user filtering solution to your database!
FileMaker flexibility is completely transparent to any new user of FileMaker. Add a new field, script, layout, table or value list and you're free to rename that element at any time. It won't matter if you do, because FileMaker is using ID values to track all the objects. This happens behind the scenes.
However, if you become even slightly better at creating FileMaker solutions, you quickly dive into the power-user functions like SetFieldByName (new in FMP 10), GetField, Evaluate and others. One of the biggest gottchas can hit you in the form of passing a 'hard-coded' value within a Script Parameter.
Once you 'hard-code' any string as a reference to a FileMaker object, you can't easily rename it. Enter the use of the internal ID value instead of the name. This can be done today and is easier than you may have previously thought!
Fields are pretty much the lowest level object you can manage in a FileMaker database. Without fields, you're not going to store much data.
When it comes to fields, there are many features you can set. Some of them are pretty obvious, others require a bit of creativity.
In this video, I walk through a variety of native and configured features which you can add to fields. While FileMaker does not offer a fully object-aware layout, there are some tricks you can employ to make your solution do the things you envision.
It doesn't matter how advanced you become as a FileMaker user/developer, there are still those times when you find yourself puzzling over how to accomplish a certain feature or data structure.
In this video, I introduce and solve a problem which was sent in by a subscriber. The solution provides some valuable insight into any situation where multiple criteria is required in order to satisfy the desired results. The problem sounds simple enough to solve, at least when you read it - here it is.
"A vacationing member of a time share collective, who will have multiple vacations over time (booked through your solution) wishes to find a property which matches certain criteria. It should offer X, Y & Z amenities and also meet other criteria such as location and availability."
How would you solve this problem if is was your project? How many tables? How many relationships are used? Remember, thinking critically is a skill which will help you keep your FileMaker gears turning effectively!
In the world of text-based development (php, python, javascript, etc.), there are many tools created to make the development process easier and more efficient. In the world of FileMaker, the number of tools isn't quite as great. This is primarily because FileMaker is the tool.
If FileMaker Inc. doesn't add syntax highlighting to the calculation dialog box, or let you choose which font you use for editing a calculation, then you're pretty much out of luck - unless... you use the powerful Evaluate() function and simply make your own editor which will provide the features you seek.
In this video, I show off my own method of editing code when working on a FileMaker solution. I also provide many other tips and techniques for making the development portion of your FileMaker projects more efficient.
If you have your own development tips, then please leave them as comments below!
Presenting information in FileMaker can be very simple. Just drag some fields to the current layout, arrange them as desired and away you go. Throw in some tab panels and you can really clean things up.
But, what happens when your data structure doesn't accommodate this type of free form design. Maybe you need to anticipate data growth or use a design which is a bit more flexible.
Well, you can't get much more flexible than using a Web Viewer. The browser, HTML and CSS are not going anywhere. The benefit to us is that FileMaker integrated web viewers.
If you'd like to take full advantage of web viewers, then you'll need to become a bit more comfortable with Javascript. Or do you? Actually, you may only need to know how to integrate code which has already been created. In fact, in this video I show you how I simply took some code from the jQuery Tools site and realized some instant benefits within my FileMaker web viewer's data display. Watch this video to be inspired by what is out there right now!