Tips to Work with FileMaker Pro 13

As an efficient relational database application, FileMaker Pro is used by enterprises in cross-platform environments. FileMaker Pro 13 further comes with several new features to help programmers in creating a variety of custom business solutions for various devices. Along with new design, development and security features, the latest version of the relational database application also comes with several features to rapidly create applications for iPhone and iPad. However, it is important for new users to understand some tips and tricks to work with FileMaker Pro 13 more efficiently.

Tips for Designing Custom Solutions in FileMaker Pro 13

Understand Different Ways to Create a File

FileMaker Pro allows you to create databases in a number of ways. You can create a new file from the scratch or create a new file by importing data from another application. FileMaker allows you to import data stored as XML, Microsoft Excel and Tab-Separated Text (.tab or .txt). Likewise, you also have option to convert an older version of FileMaker Pro file. Also, you can create the file using Starter Solutions (templates). When you understand different ways to create a new file, it will be easier for you to decide the most appropriate method for creating a new file.

Use Field Picker to Define Database Fields

After crating the new database, you can use the Field Picker dialog box to define the fields in simple and quick way. The dialog box can also be used for adding or changing fields for an existing layout. Once you define the fields using Field Picker, they will be added to the Manage Database dialog box. However, you use the Field Picker to define fields for the current layout of the current table in FileMaker Pro. The dialog box will allow you to decide the field configuration through options like labels and field placement.

Use Field Picker to Control Fields

In addition to creating new fields, the Field Picker dialog box can also be used for deleting and modifying existing fields. While in Layout Mode you can always access the dialog box by clicking on the “Field Picker” button displayed in the status toolbar. After selecting one or more fields, you can simply right-click or control-click on them and select the Delete Field option. Likewise, you can choose the field type by choosing the new field type from the list. You can further choose the Field Options after right-clicking on the specific theme.

Use Themes to Make the Database Solution Look Professional

FileMaker Pro 13 allows you to use themes to provide professional look to the business solution. As a collection of coordinated styles, a theme allows you to easily define various attributes of the layout including color, font, background, parts and objects. You can further use the theme to provide a consistent look to both layouts and reports. The theme can be further changed for a layout in the Layout mode. You also have option to save the theme in a new name after incorporating desired changes. You must know how to use and manipulate themes to make your application look more professional.

Keep the Layout and Navigation Simple

Along with making the layout look professional, it is also important to keep it simple. You must make it a practice to avoid adding additional fields and objects to the layout. Likewise, you need to remove the fields and layout objects that will be used by the users rarely. If it is required to use secondary fields and layout objects, you can consider removing them from the main layout. You can move the secondary fields to another layout, or separate them using tab panels or slide panels. While designing the solution, you must keep the navigation option simple and fast. The users must be able to navigate without putting any extra time and effort. Instead of using buttons, you can consider using icons to covey the information to users without labeling.

While creating custom business solutions using FileMaker Pro 13, the developers must not forget to avail styles, custom themes and layout enhancements. The new features will help them in improving the application’s look, feel and performance without writing longer lines of code while doing FileMaker development.

We provide FileMaker database development service. If you would like to hire Filemaker developers for your database development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

FileMaker Development best practices

Nowadays many organizations make use of FileMaker for creating custom solutions without giving extra time and effort. It is convenient to use as it allows the users to modify the database by simply dragging the new elements into screens, forms or layouts. Furthermore, the current version of the FileMaker is powered with new capabilities that help users to access the data across a variety of mobiles and other conventional devices.

Following certain guidelines as well as carrying out certain practices will result in getting accessible and robust solutions with the FileMaker 13.

Layout Mode to be More Accessible

The design of the layout of FileMaker solution determines to a great extent the accessibility of the same. With the help of the Accessibility Inspector, the programmers will be able to connect the field labels to the active field. Moreover, with this feature one can simply use the Layout button instead of the Status bar to get enhanced control and accessibility.

Optimization of Search Capabilities of the Application

Optimizing the FileMaker search capabilities goes a long way in increasing the accessibility of the FileMaker solution. Herein, each of the fields requires to be described properly in an unambiguous as well as clear manner for the purpose of enhancing the search capabilities of the FileMaker solution. As users access database in recent times from varied number of devices like laptops, computers, tablets, Smartphones, etc. it thus becomes extremely important that the solution finds the related data on the basis of particular search keywords entered by the users to display the results of the search faster. At instances of the data fields being properly identified along with results being clearly read out, the solution finds it easier to display the data.

Enhancement of Code Readability

FileMaker at present do not provide the developers with a code editor that is comprehensive. It, thereby, leads to the event of missing out the convenient options of writing clean and structured code by the developers. The programmers however have the option to access the external editors and snippets as well as various tools for keyword expansion. To enhance the readability of the code, it is important for the writers to write codes that are cohesive, which are able to be encapsulated and can be used repeated number of times without going through any hassle. The programmers are also required to actively handle probable errors without making use of additional dependencies apart from including grouping conventions that are strongly named.

Optimizing the Images

Optimizing images is another best practice for effective custom FileMaker development. The developers need to be careful enough to avoid the use of images as well as uninformative and functionless decorative objects at the time of designing the layout. Furthermore each of the text objects is to be spelled correctly in order to be easily read and understood by the reader reading the screen to optimize the use of images.

Improve the look & feel of the application

Working on the look as well as feel of the FileMaker solution is another recommended practice that results in enhancing the accessibility level of the same. Optimizing the layout by the application of high contrast themes is an easy way to enhance the look of the same. The developers should make sure that the document window of the application gives the users the option of increasing its Zoom level. Further, avoiding animation portals, tab control and videos helps greatly in making the solution work quicker. The application can further be enhanced to prompt the designers using the FileMaker solution for the next course of action with the help of the custom dialog box which can again be used to give out error alerts.

Option of List View Layout

Programmers have the option of choosing from both Table View Layouts and List View Layouts during the creation of the FileMaker solutions. However, the accessibility of the same can be enhanced only by the use of the latter that is the List View layout and hiding the former- the Table view layout. Moreover, in this context the programmers need to make use of field objects in place of the merge text at the time of working with List View Layout.

It is important to note that each of the updated versions of the FileMaker comes with new features as well as several enhanced capabilities to make the work faster and easier. The developer, thus, requires following the best practices with respect to the features of the latest version of database application.

We provide Filemaker database development services. If you would like to hire filemaker developers for your database development needs, please visit Mindfire Solutions.

What is new in FmPro Migrator 7.34

FmPro Migrator 7.34, that converts FileMaker databases into LiveCode, had been launched during the RunRevLive conference. David Simpson, a developer has introduced the new version over his FmPro Migrator software at the RunRevLive.14 conference in San Diego, which will be taking place this week or so. This particular software is going to transform FileMaker data into LiveCode programming language, additionally the latest version includes extended functions and also great flexibility. FmPro Migrator 7.34 is actually enhanced for the LiveCode 7, the new version of the app-creating language, it is an open source edition occurred after the successful Kickstarter venture which started in the year 2013. The previous 3 versions of FileMaker Pro 11, FileMaker Pro 12 and FileMaker Pro 13 all are compatible.

Now it has included support for changing FileMaker Pro Advanced 12 & FileMaker Pro Advanced 13 files to a LiveCode application stack file. Included support for transforming FileMaker 12 & FileMaker 13 script steps to LiveCode scripts. Moreover, enhanced the conversion of earlier script steps. FileMaker Tab Controls now are supported two levels deep while FileMaker 12 layout process. The new DataGrid object by LiveCode 6.5.2 is included in LiveCode template stack embedded in FmPro Migrator. Diagonal line objects now are created with a polygon object, to draw the object much more accurately than the earlierrectangle object. Included one new resizeStack handler in order to resize automatically the enclosing object group to offer the auto feature of scrollbars. This particular handler also is called every time the Layout Menu used to change among cards. Enhanced support for the FileMaker scrip steps with script parameters allotted to keys on layouts. The script steps consist of: Go to Layout, Perform Script, Open URL, Show Custom Dialog & Go to Record/Request/Page, Save Records as PDF, Save Records as Excel. Included cursor changing code to every layout object with the attached script step.

FmPro Migrator 7.34 will enable developers to function over 2 layers at the same time, and it also has brought, among the different additional features, even more accurate drawing of the objects. Databases could be saved to Excel & PDF files. Understanding the value of the LiveCode 7 developing cycle, Simpson stated regarding the latest platform and the software, he has really been constantly testing FmPro Migrator with the LiveCode 7 releases ever since 2014. He further said that his app at present appears to be razor-sharp on the Mac OS X along with Windows Hi-DPI displays, enhancing the professional appearance of FmPro Migrator.

In fact, it will be professionals who actually can expect to benefit more with the usage of FileMaker on their business plans. A FileMaker database is the perfect tool in order to collate & keep a record of all of the details a business requirements, from the internal organizational information to the sales data. Professional FileMaker developers could create this type of databases for the businesses of different sizes, enabling them to evaluate all the relevant statistics. Other organizations could possibly prefer to work with their personal databases, doing FileMaker training would be a good choice for those. Certified trainers could educate an organization’s staff, a way to create and sustain their databases, providing their enterprises instant access to their information, as well as a great advantage in the competition. You can get in touch with a custom filemaker development company who can help you develop database application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker database services. If you would like to hire filemaker expert for your database development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

How has Filemaker helped Streamline AEBs operations ?

The AEB (Alabama Eye Bank) has been serving people of corneal loss of vision find vision. Since the AEB being the only Eye Bank in Alabama, they are available round the clock. Tom Cattell, VP of Information Services at Alabama Eye Bank, has informed that FileMaker enables a programmer or savvy end-user in order to get database apps functioning within a quick time. He said, a lot of his development requires automating workflows in accordance with paper or even Excel spreadsheets. These are usually small systems having a short amount of data. Therefore he is interested to get a FileMaker system which deals with a complex and also critical workflow. Alabama Eye Bank has got an application that records the development of the donated corneas. The program was explained in the FileMaker’s customer stories pages. Which explanation goes back a few years, and Tom was curious to learn about the present condition of the application. FileMaker is currently on version 13. Solutions developed in FileMaker Pro 12 also 13 could be implemented on MS windows, Macintoshes, or iPhone and iPad.

 

 

Although FileMaker 13 is the latest version of FileMaker, AEB is currently using FileMaker 12, because their audit log (FMDataGuard) which tracks converts to records and fields is of 32 bit therefore does not go with FM13. He work on FM13 for the development and also for the iPhone & iPad applications. He is working currently in changing to a different audit log so that they could get to the FileMaker 13 as soon as possible. They host FileMaker server on to a Windows 2008 virtualized server. All their clients are Mac and all of their servers are virtualized Windows servers and they are all on their local network. They have been using FileMaker ever since 1998 and made use of Macs even before that, therefore it was not a big deal to change over to FileMaker Go and begin with iPads and iPhones. At the time when Tom stated with Alabama Eye Bank in the year 2007, they had a smaller sized database produced in the FileMaker 6. His very first task was to upgrading them to FileMaker 9 that took three months time. Thereafter, they have more then double the databases and make use of that in almost all parts of their work. Their supply module that was produced around a year before had been mainly created with the local consultants, among whom developed the interface for their present databases.

 

The entire procedure starts when hospital contacts a death to their Donor Service Center (DSC). The Donor Service Center inputs the information into the Referrals tab of the database. When they get permission from a next of family member and they pass on their medical social queries, they mark the referral as the donor and then pass it to the Recovery Coordinator. They bring an iPad, downloads the donor information in it and then go to the hospital. In the hospital they enter many pages of chart info and carry out the procedure. On return they synchronize the data in the iPad to the AEB FileMaker server and then label on vials which store corneas with labels which print right after the data is uploaded. After that, the technical staff at AEB continues on the procedure in ensuring the corneas are safe and good in quality for the transplant. Then the hospital prepare them for the operations which are added in AEB FileMaker hosted page through surgery schedulers all over Alabama, the country and also around the globe. They dispatch digital statements via FileMaker and transfer the same data to the QuickBooks for AEB accounting.

 

FileMaker is additionally included in the Alabama Eye Bank’s HR’s section. Which manages staff benefits, especially time off, vacations and also sick leaves. Along with FileMaker, Tom has generated several statements to help the management in order to keep a pulse for the eye bank’s regular operations.

 

You can get in touch with a custom filemaker development company who can help you develop database application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

 

We provide filemaker development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our filemaker certified developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

How different businesses use FileMaker Go app

In an article, Jason R. Rich, an Phone and iPad user & an author of over 55 books analyzed current FileMaker Pro 13 database management application and discovers the way different businesses use FileMaker Go app to provide secure access to the database content on an iPhone or iPad. Any size of business, posses custom iPhone or iPad app created can be a high-end and time-consuming task. Usually more affordable, flexible, and effective option is to build the custom database with FileMaker Pro 13 and give staff accessibility to it through an iOS mobile using FileMaker Go application. FileMaker’s primary attraction, is mainly for smaller businesses, is the ability to quickly and affordably make customized and branded solutions for the handing a varied number of activities.

Using FileMaker Go on an iOS mobile allows to obtained information and shared from anywhere regardless it requires manually entering information with a mobile’s touchscreen and virtual key-board, capturing signatures on touchscreen, capturing images with one of the mobile’s in-built cameras, or even scanning bar-codes. FileMaker Go app could even access and show data from the centralized database, or even give customized states on iPhone or iPad’s display. While FileMaker Go is utilized, things are operated through a secure server, then FileMaker platform provides absolute control in who’s got accessibility to whatever data. Subsequently, it wasn’t so simple to automate a variety of tasks and be sure that everybody within an organization or on the team have access to the particular information they require, whenever they want that. FileMaker has evolved this database management strategy completely, providing single database to be custom created then firmly used by computers, Macs, and iOS mobile devices, or even any browser.

 

FileMaker, being an organization, is a part of the Apple. The FileMaker database development system has existed from 1998, and it has sold over 20 million copies all around the world for PCs and Macs. Current version of FileMaker Pro, that was introduced in the month of Dec. 2013, signifies an important development within the platform, with better focus on user friendliness, flexible design, and mobile and also online integration. FileMaker Pro 13 provides over fifty additional features, such as major progress on their database design tools that need much less training to utilize than before. The capability to use FileMaker databases from another location with an iPhone or an iPad has enabled employers to visualize and apply completely new methods where this database platform could be used to obtain and share information. By the month of Feb. 2014, over a million FileMaker Go app copies were downloaded through the App Store to get used along with FileMaker Pro 13. FileMaker Pro 13 remains a complicated application which has a learning curve linked to it. When a custom database solution is made, it may be accessed and utilized by anybody easily and practically without training.

 

FileMaker Pro 13 contains 16 ready-to-go templates which can be fully customized to fulfill an organization’s preferred database-related wants. With one of those templates accelerates the process. Then again, someone that knows utilizing the FileMaker platform can simply just as easily make a completely customized and extremely complex database application from the beginning with the latest variety of tools which is provided. Through FileMaker’s in-built design tools, the moment data is brought to the FileMaker platform, customized solutions in showing and working with data, with a computer, an online-based FileMaker application, or perhaps an iOS mobile device (with FileMaker Go app) is an easy task which is really as simple as filling in or perhaps reading a form. When a custom database solution is formed with FileMaker Pro 13, it could be uploaded on cloud-based FileMaker Server, and grow into an online-based application which is secure then again could be accessed from anywhere. The FileMaker Go app could be used to access and can manage the database from anyplace with an iPhone or an iPad. Since new data is entered, the whole database gets updated immediately, therefore everybody are constantly working with the most updated data, regardless of whether they are sitting at his or her desk, working at home, visiting clients, or maybe doing work in the field.

 

We provide custom filemaker development services. If you would like to hire expert filemaker developers for your database development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Some Techniques to Develop Accessible Solutions in FileMaker

Most of the enterprises at present use FileMaker (FM), for creating various customized solutions for their clients as it helps them develop these solutions without much of an effort and wastage of too much of time. This particular relational database application that works on multiple platforms helps the users in updating and modifying their database by simply dragging the new elements into the screens, forms, or layout. The FM version that is being used at present by the users comes up with a string of value added features that help the data to be accessible to the users on a wide variety of mobile as well as conventional devices. However, here it should be mentioned that the programmers need to consider as well as implement a few practices that are considered best in the industry, for developing various robust as well as accessible solutions with the help of FM 13, the present version of FileMaker.

 Enhancing the Readability of the Code

One of the few drawbacks of FM is that it at present is unable to provide a comprehensive code editor that would have been pretty handy for the developers. Hence, when it comes to writing clean or structured codes, the application is seriously short of options and this is a concern for the developers. This is notwithstanding the fact that they have the option of using external editors or snippets along with a string of keyword expansion features as well as tools that come to their aid. As it is always important to write unified codes so that they can be encapsulated or reused without any problem whatsoever, they need to have an option of using grouping conventions that are strongly named. This will help them to handle all the potential errors, without inviting additional dependencies.

Improving the accessibility of the Layout Mode

The accessibility of various FM solutions is very much dependant on the design of the layout. The developers have the option of connecting the field labels with an active field with the use of Accessibility Inspector. The field labels are generally read by screen readers and hence it is imperative that buttons or navigational options are included within the tab order. Furthermore, each and every button needs to have simple as well as short text labels so that the screen reader is able to read the text label of each of the buttons and there is no need to add a title or an extra label to the text of the buttons.

Optimization of the Images

Using images during designing layouts needs to be totally avoided by the developers. Likewise, they need to avoid decorative objects in the event of absence of relevant functions or information. The Accessibility Inspector functionality provides them the option of describing the images in the respective container fields. However, there should be an option that will help them to spell each and every text object accurately, so that they can be read and understood properly by the screen reader. The presence of a pop-up menu instead of a drop down menu can also come in handy and effective.

List View Layout

This is another option that may come in handy. As the developers create FM solutions, they can choose from the List View option as well as from the Table View option of layout. However, when it comes to enhancing the solution accessibility, they can use the List View option of layout while hiding the other option. This needs to be changed and they should have the option of using field objects instead of merging texts, while they are working with the List View layout.

Now when it comes to improving the accessibility, the following things can be done in the Layout mode.

1. The current solutions can be enhanced by adding a particular layout that is designed for accessibility

2. Windows OS can be used as this will simplify the Windows, hide the status toolbar besides using various layout buttons, for providing the required controls

3. Buttons and navigation controls can be included in the tab order

4. All the buttons contain text labels along with naming conventions that are short, simple to understand and consistent.

5. Use of images on layouts needs to be minimized

6. The existing tooltips need to be copied and pasted into the Accessibility Inspector Title Field.

You can get in touch with a custom filemaker development company who can help you develop database application that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide filemaker application development services. If you would like to hire filemaker developer for your database development needs, please contact Mindfire Solutions.

Online Businesses Boom With Custom FileMaker Solutions

Technology has taken a new turn, progressing at a faster pace. The latest developments in technology can be seen and felt in many industries, be it Healthcare, Communication, Business and Education. So much is happening in the world of the web these days, especially in terms of commercial activity at all levels, all industries are planning to get online and reach to millions of users through web.

Plenty of sites know that FileMaker is a software solution they can rely on to help them handle a wide range of tasks on their web site, but what many do not yet know is that a custom FileMaker solution is possible for them which can really help them integrate all sorts of valuable 3rd party services without doing development from scratch. FileMaker database development hence has picked up steam to create highly customizable cross-platform database solutions. Now that developers are rising to the top which truly understand all of the capabilities that FileMaker can bring to the table, much more efficient, sensible and powerful solutions are being developed which can greatly enhance any web site’s ability to do business. It was developed by Apple in 1992 and since then serving millions of web users worldwide.

FileMaker with its custom work is of the highest value in this case because a business really does need its site to be in top form if they are going to present the customer with the easiest shopping experience that is required to earn sales online today. With new versions and releases FileMaker supports multitasking, improved media integration, export of data to multiple formats, enhanced container-fields and allows users to modify the database by dragging new elements into the layouts, screens or forms. With FileMaker design attractive and useful printed reports can be generated. FileMaker’s new-layout wizard tries to make things easy, the layout design is too important to be done on automatic.

A wide variety of tasks can be handled well in FileMaker:

• Digital media data can be organized well, it can easily track tasks and projects, check inventory and much more.

• It provides 16 built-in Starter Solutions — professionally designed templates customized for your iPad, iPhone and desktop as well.

• Collect and organize documents, music, images, and more. Includes version history tracking for content management system.

• Managing inventory levels of products and supplies. Track category, value, last order date and more.

• It generates customized invoices, allowing users to record, manage and print neat invoices with customer details etc.

• The FileMaker user interface makes it so that these smaller business users, with little to no financial resources, can start a database of their own without having to invest too much money or effort.

• Creating dynamic charts of your FileMaker data are now easier than ever.

• It is user friendly and all kinds of users will love to use FileMaker.

• FileMaker to offer its mobile solution for free in the Apple iTunes Store. Customers and developers can now more easily test and deploy mobile database solutions.

• Brings new features making your mobile solution more versatile and powerful: users can now record video and audio directly into container fields and export data. New location functions now allow developers to rapidly create location-aware mobile database applications.

• This function is context independent, so data can be queried regardless of what layout/table occurrence you are in.

• This level of outsourcing can do a great deal for a business venture that is very much attuned to the profit potential of excellent custom software solutions.

FileMaker is an excellent choice for all kinds of organizations which deal with a perfect complement of features and power. It delivers the ability to automatically update and deploy plug-ins to clients across the network. This high-performance relational database engine accelerates FileMaker operations over a network both by increasing the speed of database operations and by allowing up to 250 simultaneous guests per server-while hosting up to 125 database files.These capabilities make it an excellent choice for departments and workgroups in any size business.

We provide filemaker development services. If you would like to know what makes us expert filemaker developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.