FileMaker Go 13 ® Development Guide
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Contents Chapter 1 Setting up databases for FileMaker Go Sharing FileMaker Pro files with FileMaker Go clients Enabling FileMaker network sharing Hosting files with FileMaker Server overview 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 Features not supported in FileMaker Go Behavior differences Modes Sorting Date and time pickers Custom m
Chapter 3 Designing databases for FileMaker Go Designing layouts Tips for designing layouts and fields Screen dimensions Choosing fonts Text styles Keyboards for text, number, date, time, and timestamp fields Considerations for data entry on an iOS device Considerations for performance on an iOS device Container fields Layouts Script triggers External keyboards Web viewers Chapter 4 Protecting databases in FileMaker Go Opening files protected with passwords Logging in after multitasking Using the fmreau
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 an iOS 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.
Chapter 1 | Setting up databases for FileMaker Go 6 Network Sharing on Allow network access Settings to enable network sharing for FileMaker Go clients Hosting files with FileMaker Server overview Before you share FileMaker Pro database files, prepare the files for hosting. Here is an overview of the process used to host files with FileMaker Server. 1. In FileMaker Pro, edit the accounts and privilege sets that clients will use for shared access (for example, Access via FileMaker Network). 2.
Chapter 1 | Setting up databases for FileMaker Go 7 Connecting to databases After you share and host a file, you can connect to it as a client in FileMaker Go. For information on connecting to databases, see FileMaker Go Help. Hosts Recent Tap Add Host to add a host Add Host Device Hosts Tap a host name to select a hosted file Host 1 Host 2 Host 3 Connecting to a hosted database in FileMaker Go Devices connect to hosted databases like any other client, using the fmapp extended privilege.
Chapter 1 | Setting up databases for FileMaker Go 8 1 Routine backups are strongly recommended for any document stored on a computer or iOS device. For information about backing up FileMaker Pro databases, see FileMaker Pro Help. Recent Files Recent Host 1 Device Hosts Remote file (with host name) Local transferred file Host 2 Host 3 FMServer_Sample Host 3 Getting Started 3.
Chapter 1 | Setting up databases for FileMaker Go 9 1 import from a remote source into a remote database 1 import from a local source into a local database 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.
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 11 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 12 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. Encrypted files (FileMaker Pro Advanced) You can’t enable or disable file encryption in FileMaker Go.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 13 1 When you switch to another app, FileMaker Go enters a suspended state, and scripts are also suspended. When you return to FileMaker Go, the app and scripts resume from where they left off. For hosted files, if any of the records in the data set that a script is acting on were modified while FileMaker Go was suspended, the script aborts. If none of the records were modified, the script continues.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 14 Save Records as Snapshot Link script step The snapshot link includes the current found set of record IDs, including the layout, view, sort order, mode, and toolbar visibility. If you don’t specify the output file path for the Save Records as Snapshot Link script step, FileMaker Go uses the name of the file to save the snapshot link file.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro 15 1 By default, when you run script steps, FileMaker Go creates a new output file. If you continue running the script, a number is added to the end of each filename. For example, the first time you run the Save Records as PDF script step for a sample file, the output filename is sample.pdf. The second time you run the script, the filename will be sample 1.pdf.
Chapter 2 | Differences between FileMaker Go and FileMaker Pro Category Script step Open Menu Item script steps 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Records script steps Open Edit Saved Finds Open File Options Open Manage Containers Open Manage Database Open Manage Data Sources Open Manage Layouts Open Manage Scripts Open Manage Themes Open Manage Value Lists Open Find/Replace Open Sharing Upload to FileMaker Server 1 Import Records (import between FileMaker files is supported) 1 Export Records (.csv, .dbf, .
Chapter 3 Designing databases for FileMaker Go This chapter explains what to consider when designing a database that will be used on an iOS device.
Chapter 3 | Designing databases for FileMaker Go 18 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 19 Layouts Make several layouts with a minimum number of objects instead of one layout with many objects. For information about designing layouts, see “Tips for designing layouts and fields” on page 17. Script triggers To improve performance, use uncomplicated scripts in script triggers. External keyboards Some keystrokes behave differently on external keyboards.
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 Important: Set a passcode so that iOS data protection is enabled 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.
