Developer’s Guide

Chapter 7
Distributing FileMaker Pro runtime database solutions
The final steps in developing your FileMaker Pro runtime database
solution are to bundle all of the necessary files together, choose how
you will distribute your solution—for example, on a CD-ROM disc,
over a network, or on floppy disks—and provide your users with
documentation for installing your solution. In addition, your
documentation should include instructions for starting the runtime
application and what to do if a file is damaged.
Organizing your runtime database
solution components
When you bind your database files into a runtime database solution,
the Developer Tool creates a new solution folder and places the
runtime application file and the bound primary and auxiliary
database files inside it. For Windows runtime database solutions
there are also several required Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files
and a What’s This? Help file.
To supplement your runtime database solution, FileMaker
Developer provides additional folders of files that you can include
with your runtime database solutions, which are located in the
FileMaker Developer 6\FileMaker Developer Tool\Runtime Files folder.
Windows solution folder
Runtime application
Bound primary and
auxiliary solution files
DLLs generated during
binding
Fmprt.hlp file generated
during binding
System
Spelling dictionaries
Data and graphics
import filters
Mac OS solution folder
Items are moved into the
user’s System Folder
Extensions
Microsoft OLE
Runtime application
Bound primary and
auxiliary solution files
FileMaker Extensions
Solution Extras
Spelling dictionaries
Data import filters
Example of Windows and Mac OS solution folders for distribution
Copy these files and their folders into your solution folder. When
your users first start the runtime application, the files will either work
immediately, or the runtime application will automatically copy
them into the appropriate folders on the users’ hard disks.
Important These files and folders must not be renamed or moved
from the solution folder. Your users must restart their computers
after copying to the solution folder.
For information about the FMPRT.hlp file that’s generated for
runtime databases on Windows systems, see “Providing What’s
This? Help (Windows)” on page 4-10.
In addition to these runtime files, you will need to provide
installation instructions for your users. See
“Documenting the
installation procedures” on page 7-5.