FileMaker Go 12 ® Development Guide
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Contents Chapter 1 Setting up databases for FileMaker Go Sharing FileMaker Pro files with FileMaker Go clients Hosting databases in FileMaker Server Hosting databases in FileMaker Pro Connecting to databases About file transfers Transferring a file with container fields that store data externally Importing to and from a transferred file Chapter 2 Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro Unsupported features Behavior differences Modes Sorting Date and time pickers Custom menus (FileMaker Pro Advan
Chapter 4 Protecting databases in FileMaker Go Opening files protected with passwords Logging in after multitasking Using the fmreauthenticate extended privilege Opening files and running scripts using the FMP protocol Suggestions for protecting remote and local files If your files need less security If your files need more security — one user per device If your files need more security — multiple users per device Security tips SSL certificates 20 20 20 21 21 22 22 22 22 23 23
Chapter 1 Setting up databases for FileMaker Go FileMaker® Go lets you work with FileMaker Pro databases on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. You work with data interactively: when you change data on the device, the data is updated on the host computer, and vice versa. You can also transfer a database to the device and work "offline." You create, design, and manage databases in FileMaker Pro on the desktop. On the device, you can add, find, and sort records, as well as perform scripts and other tasks.
Chapter 1 | Setting up databases for FileMaker Go 6 5. For Network access to file, choose All users or Specify users by privilege set. 6. Click OK. Network Sharing on Allow network access Settings to enable network sharing for FileMaker Go clients Connecting to databases After you share and host a file, you connect to it as a client in FileMaker Go.
Chapter 1 | Setting up databases for FileMaker Go 7 About file transfers For information on transferring files to or from a device, see FileMaker Go Help. Keep the following points in mind: 1 When you transfer a file to your device, you are creating a copy of the remote file. Data changes made on your device are not synchronized to the remote file, and vice versa.
Chapter 1 | Setting up databases for FileMaker Go 8 Example 1: Importing from a remote source (Source.fmp12) into a local database (Target.fmp12) 1. Open Source.fmp12 and Target.fmp12 in FileMaker Pro. 2. Create an “Import from Remote” script in Target.fmp12. For example: Import Records [No dialog; “Source.fmp12”;Update existing;Mac Roman] and set up a path to the source file using your machine IP address. For example: fmnet:/192.168.10.10/Source.fmp12 3. Specify the import order. 4. Close Target.fmp12.
Chapter 2 Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro This chapter explains some differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro, as well as some differences between FileMaker Go for iPhone and FileMaker Go for iPad.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 10 Date and time pickers Differences in behavior between FileMaker Go and the desktop include: 1 Seconds or fractions of seconds aren’t available on the time/timestamp picker in FileMaker Go. You can type seconds into the field. Scripted or calculated times will display seconds on the device. 1 On the iPad, the keyboard remains active while the date picker is active.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 11 Snapshot link files When a snapshot link file that was created in Preview mode is opened in FileMaker Go, the file is displayed in Browse mode. Scroll bars in portals When the Show vertical scroll bar option in the FileMaker Pro Portal Setup dialog box is enabled, FileMaker Go users can scroll within a portal using an iOS scroll bar. Scripting and calculations Important Test your solution to ensure your script steps are supported.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 12 Replace Field Contents script step A script using Replace Field Contents can’t prompt users in FileMaker Go to specify the field and data to be replaced. A Replace Field Contents script step with Perform without dialog deselected will not be performed.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 13 Export Field Contents script step FileMaker Pro exports text as UTF-16, but FileMaker Go exports text as UTF-8. Notes 1 By default, the files created by script steps appear in the Files on Device list and are saved in the Documents folder. To save the files in a temporary folder, use the Set Variable script step to create a variable to specify the output file path and filename for the script step.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 14 Unsupported script steps FileMaker Go does not support some script steps. Important Running scripts without handling unsupported script steps appropriately may lead to unintended behavior or data corruption. Returns error code 4 The following script steps return error code 4: Command is unknown. Use Get(LastError) to check for this error code.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro Returns error code 3 The following script steps return error code 3: Command is unavailable. Use Get(LastError) to check for this error code. FileMaker Go does not display an alert for these script steps.
Chapter 3 Designing databases for FileMaker Go This chapter explains what to consider when designing a database that will be used on a device.
Chapter 3 | Designing databases for FileMaker Go 17 Screen dimensions To optimize your design for both portrait and landscape orientation, limit the width of the layout to the screen width for the portrait orientation. This way, users don’t have to scroll right or left to see the data. Try to keep the information that needs to be most visible within the screen dimensions that are shared between portrait and landscape orientations.
Chapter 3 | Designing databases for FileMaker Go 18 Text styles The following text styles are supported in iOS: bold, italic, underline, title case, uppercase, lowercase, word underline (appears as underline), double underline. iOS doesn’t support: highlight, strike through, condense, extend, small caps, superscript, subscript. Considerations for data entry on a device 1 Only fields are supported in the tab order. You can set up Tab and Return, but not Enter, to go to the next field.
Chapter 3 | Designing databases for FileMaker Go 19 External keyboards Some keystrokes behave differently on external keyboards. Functionality Behavior in FileMaker Go Tab key Supported for field types that display the on-screen keyboard. Shift-Tab isn’t supported.
Chapter 4 Protecting databases in FileMaker Go This chapter explains the behavior for opening protected files and logging in after multitasking. It also provides information for keeping your databases secure. Opening files protected with passwords When users try to open a protected file, a dialog prompts them to specify an account and password. FileMaker Go checks the following settings in the specified order to determine how to open a protected file.
Chapter 4 | Protecting databases in FileMaker Go 21 Using the fmreauthenticate extended privilege Use the fmreauthenticate extended privilege to control when users will be required to reauthenticate after not using FileMaker Go for a specified period of time. With this privilege, when FileMaker Go switches to the foreground users must re-enter the account name and password if the specified time limit has elapsed.
Chapter 4 | Protecting databases in FileMaker Go 22 Notes 1 1 1 1 Filenames are case-sensitive. Script names are not case-sensitive. The filename extension .fmp12 is not required. You can define multiple variables in the same FMP protocol. If spaces are needed in a link, replace every space with %20. You can specify the account and password in the address (except when you’re opening hibernated files).
Chapter 4 | Protecting databases in FileMaker Go Security tips To limit unauthorized access: 1 Set a passcode on your device. 1 Use the free Find My iPad or Find My iPhone app. Enable the Remote Passcode Lock and Remote Wipe features for your device. 1 Use the Get(PersistentID) function to help identify devices that access your solutions. Notes 1 FileMaker Go doesn’t work with IPv6 file references or addresses.
