Developer’s Guide

iv Developer’s Guide
Chapter 3
Preparing files for a custom solution
About the Relational Example
3-1
General steps for preparing your solution files
3-2
Issues to consider before creating a runtime database solution
3-2
Opening files in Kiosk mode
3-3
Design tips for navigating in Kiosk mode
3-4
Emulating menu commands and window controls 3-4
Centering a database window in the Kiosk screen
3-4
Creating startup scripts
3-5
Using button image samples
3-5
Documenting your database solution
3-6
Creating an About layout
3-7
Creating a custom Help layout or file
3-8
Providing What’s This? Help (Windows)
3-9
Including printed documentation
3-9
Design tips for cross-platform solutions 3-10
Creating a consistent appearance
3-10
Simulating outline and shadow text styles
3-10
Using common character sets
3-11
Designing text layouts for cross-platform solutions
3-11
Using a common color palette
3-12
Using graphics in cross-platform solutions
3-12
Using QuickTime movies in cross-platform solutions
3-12
Showing the status bar in Windows
3-13
Using separate scripts for printing 3-13
Using the Status (CurrentPlatform) function
3-13
Creating platform-specific scripts
3-14
Protecting your runtime database solution files
3-14
Setting a default password
3-14
Your responsibilities as a developer
3-15
Testing before and after creating your solution
3-16
Converting and upgrading solution files 3-16
Importing data into an upgraded runtime
database solution
3-17
Chapter 4
Distributing FileMaker Pro runtime database solutions
Organizing your runtime database solution components
4-1
Generated DLL files for Windows runtime
database solutions
4-2
System files for Windows solutions
4-2
Solution Extras files for Mac OS solutions
4-3
FileMaker Extensions files for Mac OS solutions
4-3
Including a license agreement
4-4
Choosing the distribution method
4-4
Requirements for distributing on floppy disks
4-4
Using a custom installation program
4-5
Using a compression utility program
4-5
What your users need
4-5
Requirements for your runtime solution (Windows)
4-5
Requirements for your runtime solution (Mac OS)
4-5
Sharing your solution over a network
4-5
Documenting the installation procedures
4-6
Starting your runtime database solution
4-6
Recovering damaged files
4-7
Distributing updates to your runtime database solution
4-7
Chapter 5
Creating custom layout themes
Modifying a FileMaker Pro theme
5-1
Basic requirements for a theme file
5-3
Minimum required XML elements for themes
5-3
Removing elements from a theme file
5-4
XML elements for layout parts
5-4
XML elements for text
5-5
Description of XML elements and their theme attributes
5-5
Table of multi-line elements
5-5
Table of single-line elements
5-6
Valid values for theme attributes
5-7