Developer’s Guide

Preparing files for a custom solution 3-3
1 Do you want users to be able to modify the database?
Although many menu commands are unavailable in a runtime
application, users can still access the menu commands by opening
your runtime database solution files in FileMaker Pro. (For a
complete list of available menu commands, see appendix A, “Feature
comparison of the runtime application and FileMaker Pro.” )
If you do not want users to modify your files, you can create
passwords to prevent them from opening the files in FileMaker Pro.
(See “Protecting your runtime database solution files” on
page 3-14.)
You can also make your files permanently unmodifiable by selecting
the Permanently prevent modification of database structure option in the
Developer Tool. (See “Removing design access to your databases”
on page 2-11.)
1 Will this be a cross-platform runtime database solution?
For advice on handling fonts, graphics, and general cross-platform
issues, see “Design tips for cross-platform solutions” on page 3-10 .
1 How will you provide updates for your users?
Plan ahead for the time you may want to update your runtime
database solution files. You can make the process easier for users by
providing scripts in your primary file to export their data and import
it into the updated solution. See “Importing data into an upgraded
runtime database solution” on page 3-17 for an overview.
1 Will your users be printing reports or other information from your
runtime database solution?
It’s a good idea to set document margins in FileMaker Pro if your
runtime database solution will be printed from a variety of printers.
See “Specifying page margins” in chapter 7 of the FileMaker Pro 5
User’s Guide or see FileMaker Pro Help.
Opening files in Kiosk mode
FileMaker Pro database files that have been customized for Kiosk
mode by the Developer Tool will not automatically open in Kiosk
mode unless they are:
1 opened by a runtime application
1 opened by a password that is set with no access privileges to the
Entire File, Design Layouts, Edit Scripts, or Define Value Lists
This makes it possible for you to modify the databases using the
menus in FileMaker Pro even after the databases have been
converted to Kiosk mode.
For information about creating blank passwords so that your users
don’t need to provide one, see chapter 9, “Protecting databases with
passwords and groups” in the FileMaker Pro 5 User’s Guide.
Leave these
privileges
deselected to
activate Kiosk
mode