Developer’s Guide

Binding solution files 2-15
If the three-character extension is not unique, it might cause registry
(Windows) or desktop (Mac OS) conflicts. For example, if you use
the “.fp3” extension and your end users have FileMaker Pro installed
on their hard disks, their FileMaker Pro document icons (and
application icon in the Mac OS) will change to the runtime icons.
Additionally, FileMaker Pro documents will no longer automatically
open the FileMaker Pro application.
If you’ve assigned duplicate extensions, you can return the document
icons to the FileMaker Pro icon in Windows by discarding the
runtime application, opening the FileMaker Pro application, then
restarting the computer. In the Mac OS, discard the runtime
application, and then rebuild the desktop file.
3. Click Next to move to the next panel in the Binder application.
Important Even with different extensions, solution files can still be
opened in the FileMaker Pro application. To prevent end users from
modifying solution files, assign passwords using FileMaker Pro 4.0
Access Privileges.
Tip If your end users want to run your solution files with the
FileMaker Pro 4.0 application, for example, to share solution files over a
network, you can use the Binder application to change their
three-character extension. For example, you can rebind a runtime solution
that uses the “.usr” extension and change the three-character extension to
“.fp3”. The Binder application preserves the internal file specifications
used in relationships and scripts that reference other files.
Note The Binder application can create or modify existing three-character
extensions, but cannot be used to remove an extension from a solution file.
Assigning the extension in Windows
The three-character extension registers your runtime application with
the operating system. The extension is used by Windows to determine
which application starts when you double-click the primary file. The
runtime application adds the extension to all solution filenames during
the binding process.
Important You must specify a three-character extension. Choose an
extension that is unique to your end user’s computer system.