Developer’s Guide

iv Developer’s Guide
Using scripts to control your solution
2-5
Creating startup scripts
2-5
Centering a database window in the Kiosk screen
2-5
Emulating menu commands and window controls
2-6
Creating dynamic buttons
2-6
Protecting your database solution files
2-6
Providing user documentation
2-7
Creating an About layout
2-8
Creating a custom Help layout or file
2-9
Providing What’s This? Help (Windows)
2-10
Including printed documentation
2-10
Design tips for cross-platform solutions
2-11
Creating a consistent appearance
2-11
Simulating outline and shadow text styles
2-11
Using common character sets
2-12
Designing text layouts for cross-platform solutions
2-12
Using a common color palette
2-13
Using graphics in cross-platform solutions
2-13
Using QuickTime movies in cross-platform solutions
2-13
Showing the status bar in Windows
2-14
Using separate scripts for printing
2-14
Using the Status (CurrentPlatform) function
2-14
Creating platform-specific scripts
2-15
Your responsibilities as a developer
2-15
Testing before and after creating your solution
2-16
Converting and upgrading solution files
2-16
Importing data into an upgraded runtime database
solution
2-17
Chapter 3
Creating custom layout themes
Modifying a FileMaker Pro theme
3-1
Basic requirements for a theme file
3-3
Minimum required XML elements for themes
3-3
Removing elements from a theme file
3-4
XML elements for layout parts
3-4
XML elements for text
3-5
Description of XML elements and their theme attributes
3-5
Table of multi-line elements
3-5
Table of single-line elements
3-6
Valid values for theme attributes
3-7
Specifying default values for themes
3-9
Finding values for patterns and colors
3-9
Adding comments to your document
3-10
Checking your theme document for errors
3-11
Chapter 4
Using the FileMaker Developer Tool
About the solution examples
4-1
Using the FileMaker Developer Tool
4-1
Binding your databases into a runtime database solution
4-6
Procedure for binding files
4-6
Specifying a runtime solution name and binding key
4-7
Assigning a three-character filename extension
4-8
Binding files for cross-platform solutions
4-9
Modifying bound runtime files
4-9
Creating Kiosk-mode solutions
4-9
Renaming your databases
4-10
Procedure for renaming files
4-10
Choosing filenames for your database solution
4-10
Removing design access to your databases
4-10
Steps for preventing database modification
4-11
Customizing the About, Help, and Scripts menus
4-11
Adding a custom script to an About menu command
4-11
Adding a custom Help script command to the
Help menu
4-12
Renaming the Scripts menu
4-13
Adding the FileMaker Pro extension to database filenames
4-14