U.M. (Mac OS)

Table Of Contents
5-24 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
FileMaker Pro can receive Apple events from scripting applications that
are designed to send Apple events, like the AppleScript Script Editor.
Applications can send events to FileMaker Pro to perform many tasks,
including:
1 requesting data from a record or list of records
1 requesting a list of scripts and performing scripts
1 requesting a list of fields and getting data from the fields
1 sorting or finding records
1 placing or modifying data in any record, field, or list of records or
fields
1 switching layouts
1 creating and choosing menu items
1 opening and closing databases
FileMaker Pro can also send commands written in the AppleScript
scripting language. Scripting languages use terms like “open” and
“field” instead of the four-character codes in Apple events. (See
“Defining a script to perform AppleScript commands” on page 5-28.)
Support for Apple events is a technical feature for FileMaker Pro
developers. To learn more about Apple events:
1 open the Apple Events Reference database (included when you install
FileMaker Pro using the Easy Install option). The database contains
a complete description of all FileMaker Pro events and objects,
including examples and usage tips.
1 contact the Apple Programmers and Developers Association
(APDA).
1 read third-party books about Apple events and scripting applications.
1 log into the scripting forums available on many online services.
Keep these points in mind:
1 To determine if an application supports Apple events, refer to the
documentation or the application’s scripting dictionary (called an
AETE resource). You can view the dictionary using the AppleScript
Script Editor.