User manual

Chapter 10
Creating scripts to automate tasks
FileMaker Pro includes the ScriptMaker
®
feature, which you can use
to automate many tasks, including switching to another layout,
switching to another mode, and finding, sorting, and printing
records.
This chapter tells you how to use ScriptMaker to:
1 plan scripts
1 define scripts
1 define buttons to perform script commands
Note FileMaker Pro scripts are not available when you publish a
database on the Web using FileMaker Pro Web Companion Instant
Web Publishing.
FileMaker Pro has limited support for the ActiveX Automation
(Windows) and AppleScript (Mac OS) and Apple events external
scripting protocols.
Support for ActiveX Automation, Apple events, and AppleScript is
documented in Help. Choose Help menu > Contents and Index, click
the Index tab, and type ActiveX Automation, Apple events, or
AppleScript.
About scripts
A script is a command that tells FileMaker Pro to carry out one
action or a sequence of actions. You perform a script to carry out its
actions. You can choose a script from the Scripts menu or attach a
script to a button.
For example, when you click the Letter button on the Client Entry
layout, a script displays the Letter layout. Then the script switches to
Preview mode and pauses so you can see what the letter looks like
when it prints.
Scripts help you do a job the same way every time. They carry out
simple steps, like changing the printing orientation for envelopes, or
complex tasks, like preparing a large mailing.
Use scripts to combine and automate tasks like:
1 switching to another layout or mode
1 finding, sorting, and printing records
Click to continue the
script—FileMaker Pro
prints the letter, and then
returns to the Client Entry
layout in Browse mode
When you click the Letter
button, FileMaker Pro
performs the Print Letter script
B
uttons on a
l
ayout