More script-triggering plugins
by Michael Gaslowitz
Are you bummed the zippScript plugin is no longer available, and that the script-triggering functionality in FileMaker 10, while awesome, does not work on all layout objects? Try using these plugins instead:
- ScriptMaster from 360Works
- DoScript from myFMbutler
- EventScript from Software for Humans
All of these plugins are free, and compatible with FileMaker 10.
March 22, 2009 • Plugin • 1 Comment
To all current and future subscribers…
by Michael Gaslowitz
If you currently subscribe to A FileMaker Blog, and are reading this post in a feed reader, I successfully configured Feedburner to generate the feed- without breaking anything.
If you have no idea what any of this is about, take a minute to learn about feed readers, and subscribe today.
March 14, 2009 • News, RSS • Comments Off
AFB Wordle
by Michael Gaslowitz
Image courtesy of Wordle.
February 6, 2009 • FileMaker • Comments Off
AppleScript your FileMaker Pro Advanced Menus
by Michael Gaslowitz
The Data Viewer and the Script Debugger are staples in every FileMaker developer’s toolkit, yet there is no built-in keyboard shortcut or script step for either one of them. With four lines of AppleScript, these menus are now within reach:
tell application "FileMaker Pro Advanced" activate do menu menu item "Data Viewer" of menu "Tools" end tell
tell application "FileMaker Pro Advanced" activate do menu menu item "Script Debugger" of menu "Tools" end tell
To install, we could copy/paste these scripts into a Custom Menu that uses the Perform AppleScript script step (and of course a keyboard shortcut), but that would require us to do that for every database file we create. A better option would be to use a system-wide keyboard shortcut application like Quicksilver, FastScripts, or the built-in Keyboard System Preference.
If you run into problems, make sure your computer is configured properly.
January 31, 2009 • AppleScript, FileMaker, Toolkit • 2 Comments
Shameless Self-Promotion
by Michael Gaslowitz
360Works is now selling a Portfolio License that covers all of their products for the low, low cost of $1,995.
The Portfolio License entitles everyone to Enterprise versions of all of 360Works’ products, (SuperContainer fans, this means you), and allows for unlimited use within a single organization regardless of the number of users or locations. Deployment on FileMaker Server and through Web Publishing is included.
Current owners of 360Works products can apply the cost of previous purchases towards the cost (not to exceed 80%) of the Portfolio License.
December 18, 2008 • FileMaker, News, Plugin, Toolkit • Comments Off
Now a FileMaker 8 & 9 Certified Developer
by Michael Gaslowitz
Go get certified today.
December 13, 2008 • FileMaker, News • Comments Off
Video: Reorder Fields and Scripts
by Michael Gaslowitz
This post demonstrates how to reorder multiple fields and scripts using the following keyboard shortcuts: Command (on a Mac)/Control (on a PC), with the up and down arrows.
iPod Download (2.0 MB)
Download ReorderFieldsAndScripts.zip
November 9, 2008 • FileMaker, Podcast, Toolkit • Comments Off
Support this site when you shop at Amazon.com
by Michael Gaslowitz
Whether you are in the market for a book on web publishing, or a machine to run your installation of FileMaker Server 9, consider making your next purchase through this site’s Amazon store. Just select the items you would like to buy, and when you are ready, your order will be transfered to Amazon for purchasing. Go ahead, buy your database something nice today.
November 2, 2008 • News • Comments Off
Michael is headed to 360Works
by Michael Gaslowitz
On Monday I start a new job as a FileMaker Developer for 360Works. For the unaware, 360Works does some amazing things, and I am very excited to start working with Jesse Barnum and his crew.
A FileMaker Blog will still be updated, so check back regularly for new posts. Thanks to everyone for watching, as it no doubt contributed to this amazing opportunity.
September 14, 2008 • News • Comments Off
Windows Users May Snarl
by Michael Gaslowitz
If you liked the post where I integrated Growl into FileMaker, but wondered if it could work on Windows, you might want to take a look at Snarl.
Like Growl on Mac OS X, Snarl displays on-screen notifications in Windows, and with the help of the command-line utility Snarl_CMD.exe, Snarl can be integrated to work with your FileMaker solutions as a custom function.
Below is an outline of what I would do if I was using Windows. I apologize for not including a sample file this time, but I do not have access to a Windows machine, and I do not want to post a file that does not work.
The Custom Function
Since Snarl_CMD.exe accepts parameters as follows:
Snarl_CMD.exe snShowMessage TIME TITLE BODY [iconPATH]
/*
TIME is the time the message should be displayed in seconds
(0 means forever/sticky),
TITLE and BODY are the texts which should be displayed, and
iconPath is the windows path for an icon to be displayed in
the notifcation:
"C:\my\path\img.png" or "\\server\path\on\server\img.png"
*/
the Snarl custom function will look something like this:
Snarl ( Time; Title; Body; Path ) "Snarl_CMD.exe snShowMessage" & Quote ( Time ) & Quote ( Title ) & Quote ( Body ) & Quote ( Path )
The External Function
The Snarl custom function gets passed into the built-in FileMaker function Set Variable, but since Snarl_CMD.exe is a shell script, it requires a plugin to be executed. ScriptMaster from 360Works is a free one, and it can do a whole lot more than execute shell scripts.
To configure ScriptMaster, set a variable in your startup script with the following value:
RegisterGroovy( "RunShellScript( shellScript )" ; "Process process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec( shellScript );¶ String processResult = process.getInputStream().getText();¶ process.waitFor();¶ exitValue = process.exitValue();¶ return processResult;" )
You have now created an external function for this solution:
RunShellScript ( shellScript )
The Script
Now it is time to put everything together in a Set Variable script step:
Set Variable [ RunShellScript( Snarl ( "Time" ; "Title" ; "Body" ; "Icon Path" ) ) ]
Hopefully it works. Leave a comment and let me know!
August 12, 2008 • Custom Function, FileMaker, Plugin, Scripting • 4 Comments
