9780789748478

The new FileMaker 12 allows you to build unparalleled databases for a wide variety of devices, from Windows and Mac desktops to iPhones and iPad. With 10 million registered customers, FileMaker's users are "average Joes" who are knowledge workers, subject matter experts, and business users from all walks of life. The community extends well beyond the pool of professional software developers. FileMaker's legendary ease-of-use has led to its wide adoption and has allowed non-programmers an avenue into creating sophisticated software solutions. FileMaker 12 Developer's Referencewill serve to help bridge the gaps in these people's understanding of FileMaker's hundreds of calculation functions, script steps, and operations. They know FileMaker, they've used it for years, but they need a quick reference, immediately accessible while not interrupting their work on screen. There is no other book like this on the market. All FileMaker books include information on calculation formulas, scripting, etc., but none have expressly focused on giving readers one simple thing: a quick reference to be used in conjunction with their programming efforts. Some books teach, others explain, still others explore specific in-depth topics. This book will appeal to the entire FileMaker Pro community and be a great extension of their library. This edition is updated for the many new features coming with FileMaker 12, including the product's design functionality and the file format, and a new section dedicated to FileMaker Go, which is the iOS client.

Bob Bowers is CEO of Soliant Consulting, a 50-person firm that specializes in custom

database and web application development. He is a recipient of the FileMaker Excellence

Award and has co-authored seven books on FileMaker Pro development. In 2008 he was

inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. After graduating summa

cum laude in Music and English from Wabash College, Bob earned a master’s degree in

Musicology from the University of Chicago. Bob is also a proud dad of two young children,

an avid banjo player, and an accomplished woodworker.

Dawn Heady, a Senior Technical Project Lead for Soliant Consulting, has 20-plus years of

FileMaker solution architecting experience during which time she’s also been a successful

business owner, served as a CIO in the credit restoration industry, and as Vice President of

a company specializing in FileMaker plug-ins. She is an authorized FileMaker Training

Series instructor, a regular speaker at the annual FileMaker Developer Conference and

FileMaker webinars, and a contributor to the FileMaker Newsletter. In 2004 FileMaker

selected Dawn as a FileMaker 7 Idol finalist for her Interface-RAD solution. Dawn is an

avid fan of the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Fever, loves to dote on her grandchildren,

and is learning to sail her small wooden boat, Boxy Lady, which was handcrafted by her

loving husband.

Steve Lane, Chief Technology Officer of Soliant Consulting, served as Special Projects

Developer at Scott Foreman, a leading K–6 Educational publisher. He has written for

FileMaker Advisor magazine, and co-authored six books on FileMaker Pro. He has led training

classes in FileMaker technologies all over the country and is authorized to teach the

FileMaker Training Series. He regularly speaks at the annual FileMaker Developer

Conference where in 2003 he was awarded the FileMaker Excellence Award for “pushing

the boundaries of FileMaker Pro.” When not writing about technology, Steve is likely to

be found being chased about by his children or grumbling over the fingerings of J. S.

Bach. Or just grumbling.

Scott Love, Chief Operating Officer of Soliant Consulting, served at Ziff-Davis Interactive

as an online managing editor, served at Apple Computer as its web publishing technology

evangelist, and led the technical marketing team at Macromedia. He has written dozens

of feature and review articles on database and Internet/web topics for a wide range of

computer publications including MacWorld magazine and FileMaker Advisor. He has coauthored

four books: Special Edition Using FileMaker 7, Special Edition Using FileMaker 8,

FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference, and FileMaker 9 Developer Reference. He is

also the producer for Grem Legends, an arcade game on the iOS App Store, and has written

a technical brief on FileMaker Go. He is an authorized FileMaker Training Series

instructor and a regular speaker at the FileMaker Developer Conference. In 2006 he was

awarded the FileMaker Excellence Award “for developing outstanding technical and training

resources for FileMaker.” Scott lives in the California Bay Area, where his penchant for

gardening can be indulged year round.

Introduction: Welcome to FileMaker 12 Developer Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

How This Book Is Organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Part I: FileMaker Specifications . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Part II: Layout Tools & Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Part III: Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Part IV: Script Steps & Triggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Part V: FileMaker Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .3

Part VI: FileMaker Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Part VII: Quick Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Part VIII: Other Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Special Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Typographic Conventions Used in This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Key Combinations and Menu Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Typographic Conventions Used for FileMaker Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Who Should Use This Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Part I: FileMaker Specifications

1 FileMaker 12 Product Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

FileMaker Pro 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

FileMaker Pro 12 Advanced . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .7

FileMaker Server 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

FileMaker Server 12 Advanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

FileMaker Go 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

FileMaker Go 12 for iPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

2 FileMaker 12 New Features . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

New File Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .11

FileMaker Pro/Advanced 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Enhanced Container Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Enhanced Charting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Advanced Window Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Plug-in Updating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

ExecuteSQL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

And More… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

FileMaker Server/Advanced 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Improved WAN Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

64-bit Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Rewritten Web Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .17

Backup Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Managed Container Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Progressive Media Download . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Group Start Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

FileMaker Go/Go for iPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Multitasking Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Improved Media Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Export Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Location Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

3 Specifications and Storage Limits . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Knowing Your Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

External SQL Sources (ESS) Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

4 Field Types and Import/Export Formats . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .27

FileMaker Field Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Number . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .29

Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .30

Timestamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Additional ESS References . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .35

Importing Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

File-Based Data Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Importing Multiple Files at Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Importing from an ODBC Data Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Importing from an XML-Based Data Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Creating New Tables on Import . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .39

Exporting Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Exporting to HTML . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Exporting to FileMaker Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Exporting to Excel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Exporting to XML . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Automatically Opening or Emailing Exported Files . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .40

Part II: Layout Tools & Objects

5 Layout Tools . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .41

About Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

The Layout Setup Dialog . . . . . . .. . . . . . .41

Layout Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Organizing Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

The Inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Position Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Appearance . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .50

Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Additional Object Formatting . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Button Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Conditional Formatting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Script Triggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Accessibility Inspector . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

6 Charting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Creating Charts . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .59

Quick Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

The Chart Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Specifying a Chart’s Data Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Current Found Set — Summarized Groups of Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Current Found Set — Individual Record Data . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Current Record (Delimited Data) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Related Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Chart Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Chart Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Tips for Effective Charting . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .67

7 Other Layout Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Tab Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Formatting a Tab Control . . . . . .. . . . . . .71

Autosizing of Tab Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Other Tab Control Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Portals . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Portal Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Working with Records in a Portal . . . . . . . . . . .75

Autosizing of Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Other Notes About Portals . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Web Viewer . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .77

Setting a Web Viewer via Script . . . . . . . . .79

Other Web Viewer Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Part III: Functions

8 Calculation Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

The Calculation Function Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Calculations: Things to Remember . . . . .. .82

9 Calculation Signatures . . . . . . . . . . .87

Aggregate Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Container Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Date Functions . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .88

Design Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

External Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Financial Functions . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .89

Get Functions . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .90

Logical Functions . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .92

Mobile Functions . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .93

Number Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94

Repeating Functions . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .94

Summary Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Text Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Text Formatting Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Time Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Timestamp Function . . . . . . . .. . . . . .97

Trigonometric Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

10 Calculation Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

11 Custom Function Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .273

The Custom Function Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274

Custom Functions: Things to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . .274

Recursive Techniques . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .276

Part IV: Script Step Reference

12 Scripting Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279

The Manage Scripts Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279

Where Scripts Live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280

Editing or Creating Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281

Organizing Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281

Filtering Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .282

Script Privileges . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .282

Debugging Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .282

Scripting for the Web . . . .. . . . . . . . . .284

Scripting for FileMaker Go . . . . . . . . . . .285

Server Scheduled Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .285

13 Script Triggers . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .287

Setting Script Triggers . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .287

File Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .287

Layout Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288

Object Events . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .289

Activating Script Triggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .290

Timing of Script Triggers . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .291

Scripting for Script Triggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .293

Tab Control Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .294

Instant and Custom Web Publishing . . . . . . . . . . . .294

Script Trigger Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295

14 Script Step Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311

Part V: FileMaker Go

15 FileMaker Go Specifications . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .431

Device Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . .431

FileMaker Go 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .431

FileMaker Go 12 for iPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .431

Differences Between FileMaker Go and Pro . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .432

Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432

Text Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .432

Container Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .433

Interface Feature Differences . . . . . . . . . . . . .433

Export Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .436

Saving Records as PDF . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .436

Script Step Differences . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .437

Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .438

Plug-ins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .439

16 Designing for FileMaker Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .441

File Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .441

Model 1: An Integrated File . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .442

Model 2: A Separate Hosted File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .443

Model 3: A Separate Local File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .444

Model 4: Hybrid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .444

Designing Layouts for FileMaker Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .444

Disabling Pinch-to-Zoom . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .446

Object Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .447

Font Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .447

Other Layout Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .448

Optimizing Workflows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .448

Minimalist Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .449

Server-side Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .451

Export Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .451

Additional Performance Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .452

Deploying Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .452

Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .452

iTunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .452

Web Download . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .453

Container Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .453

Sync Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .453

One-way Synchronization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .454

Two-way Synchronization . . . . . . . . . . .456

Transactional Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457

Portal Transaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457

Text Block Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .458

Security Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .459

Secure Connections to FileMaker Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . .461

Implications of the Background Behavior . . . . . . . . . . .461

Security Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .462

Interacting with Other Apps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463

FileMaker URL Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . .463

Maps and Location . . . . . . .. . . . . .464

Dial Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .466

Part VI: Connectivity

17 FileMaker XML Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .467

URL Syntax for Web Access to FileMaker Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .467

URL Syntax for XML Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .467

URL Syntax for Access to Container Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . .468

FileMaker XML Grammars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .469

Query Parameters for XML URL Requests . . . . . . . . . . . . .472

Query Commands . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .473

Query Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . .474

FileMaker XML Namespaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478

18 FileMaker API for PHP . . . . . . . . . . . . .479

Class Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .479

Classes and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . .480

FileMaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480

FileMaker_Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .487

FileMaker_Command_Add . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .490

FileMaker_Command_CompoundFind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .490

FileMaker_Command_Delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .492

FileMaker_Command_Duplicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .492

FileMaker_Command_Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .493

FileMaker_Command_Find . . . . . . . .

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FileMaker 12 Developers Reference Functions, Scripts, Commands, and Grammars

FileMaker 12 Developers Reference Functions, Scripts, Commands, and Grammars

0789748479

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials