Developer’s Guide

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