FileMaker: Explore – Tips & Tricks

Upgrade to FileMaker 12 without Worries

FileMaker 12 is here and with it comes a new file format. Follow these simple rules and you should have no issues, only joy.

Select Script Options by First Performing Them Manually

When writing a FileMaker script to perform a find, sort, or export, doing it manually first can save you LOTS of time. Development manager Jeremy Kipling describes one way.

Understanding Line Indentation in Text Fields

How to get word wrapping to indent the second line, and all lines thereafter, for a standard, edit-box text field

Using Custom Extended Privileges

Extended privileges are probably one of the most underused features in FileMaker and at the same time incredibly simple and powerful with regards to enforcing security and access control.

Searching Across Relationships for “Empty” Fields

Sometimes an empty field isn't really empty, but instead means that a related record doesn't exist. Here's how to search for those instances.

Using the Web Viewer as a “Field” in FileMaker Go

Our customer wanted to suppress the virtual keyboard in FileMaker Go when scrolling through a read-only field with many paragraphs of text. The solution? Using a web viewer instead.

Webinar: Maximizing Mobility with FileMaker Go

When developing solutions using FileMaker Go for iPhones and iPads, you'll want to design your workflows and user experience to fit the way people create and consume information on the go. View the webinar with Chad Novotny.

Checking Screen Orientation in FileMaker Go

To check to see whether you are holding your iPhone or iPad in portrait or landscape orientations, use the Get ( WindowContentHeight ) and Get ( WindowContentWidth ) functions

Quick Find, Error Capture, and Omit All

Scripted Quick Find and error 401 can leave seemingly inaccurate results.

Attacked by Old Custom Menus

A reader wants to know why some toolbar buttons are disabled in FileMaker 11, and how to fix them. The culprit? Custom menus.

Double-Check those Calculation Result Types

A reader asks why a calculated full name is being exported as the number 0. The answer is probably that pesky calculation result type.

Portals without Scrollbars

A reader asks how to create a portal paging system -- instead of showing a portal with the scroll bar, buttons take the user to the first, previous, next, and last set of records in the portal -- using filtered portals in FileMaker 11. Senior Developer Jud Wolfskill demonstrates a solution.

Webinar: Advanced Scripting and Calculations

When it comes to FileMaker Pro, calculations and scripts are your tools to "make stuff happen." In this webinar, we explore some techniques for building robust, feature-rich databases with complex calculations, powerful scripted automation, and elegant user interfaces.

Use Conditional Formatting for New Database Functionality

Conditional formatting can be a convenient tool for pointing out new database functionality for your users.

Running Totals in a Portal

Display the running count of records in a portal, and summarize number fields with running totals.

Combinations: Turn Multiple Values into Records

Sometimes you want to convert a field with multiple values (paragraphs) into multiple records, each with one value. What if you have multiple such fields? In this article, we examine a script to take any number of fields and create all manner of combinations for records.

DevCon Webinar: FileMaker and Google Apps

View the recording of Chad Novotny presenting on integrating FileMaker with Google Apps contacts, calendars, and more, and download the sample files to see how it all works.

Geolocation with FileMaker Go

While FileMaker Go can't directly access the iPhone's GPS, you can use a web viewer and Mobile Safari's geolocation features to map your location.

FileMaker Does Sudoku!

We have a bunch of really smart FileMaker developers here at The Support Group who can do some clever stuff with FileMaker. To find out just how clever, our Development Director ran a contest for the entire technical staff to see who could build the fastest Sudoku puzzle solver using FileMaker. This is the result.

Looping Through Records

A reader asks: "What is the best way to create a script that loops through all selected records?"

Creating a Watermark for Multiple Page Reports

Creating a watermark for a report that prints across multiple pages is easy, if you remember that only part of an object needs to be in the header for it to print on every page.

Creating Calendars with Portal Filters

Ever wanted to display event records in a calendar format? Of course you have! And FileMaker Pro 11 makes this so much easier with filtered portals.

Custom Function: EasyDate

FileMaker Pro 11's new OnObjectValidate script trigger provides us with the ability to control and massage data in ways we couldn't before. While this trigger is often thought of as a way of adding additional limitations and restrictions on data entry beyond the built-in validation options, you can also use it to ease and allow more flexible data entry.

Aggregating Filtered Portals

FileMaker 11's filtered portals exist don't really cooperate with aggregate calculations, as those calculations aren't "aware" of the filter. Here's a simple technique to summarize the rows ina filtered portal, using summary fields instead.

Dynamically naming a variable

FileMaker Pro 10 introduced Set Field By Name step, allowing you to use a calculation to choose the field to be edited. But where's Set Variable By Name? Here's how to dynamically name a variable using Let() and Evaluate().

Find the preceding Sunday (or Monday, or…)

When working with dates, it's often useful to be able to find the preceding Sunday. Here's a method for finding any given preceding day of the week.

Knowing when a user is logged in through Instant Web Publishing

Use the Get(ApplicationVersion) function to test for users using Instant Web Publishing.

Printing “Records Being Browsed” by default

You can use FileMaker Pro Advanced's custom menus to set a default for which records to print.

Quick notes on Quick Find

Make sure you understand how FileMaker Pro 11's Quick Find feature works and what fields you're actually searching.

Highlight the active field with conditional formatting

Highlighting the active field with conditional formatting requires the simplest formula in the world, but HOW to use it is not so obvious.

New Functions in FileMaker Pro 11

FileMaker 11 introduces three new functions, but two seem awfully familiar...

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