Development Guide
Table Of Contents
- Chapter 1 Introducing FileMaker Pro Advanced
- Chapter 2 Creating database solutions
- Chapter 3 Customizing database solutions
- Chapter 4 Debugging, analyzing, and optimizing files
- Chapter 5 Developing third-party FileMaker plug-ins
- About external functions
- About the example plug-in
- Installing, enabling, and configuring the example plug-in
- Description of the FMExample plug-in’s external functions
- Using the example plug-in
- Customizing the plug-in example
- Requirements for writing external function plug-ins
- FileMaker messages sent to the plug-in
- Avoiding potential Mac OS X resource conflicts
- Providing documentation for your plug-in
- Appendix A Feature comparison of the runtime application with FileMaker Pro
- Index
14 FileMaker Pro Advanced Development Guide
Choosing a distribution method
After you have organized the files that comprise your solution, you
need to decide how your users will install them. You can distribute
your bundled solution on a CD-ROM, over a network, or via the
internet. In order to run your runtime database solution, your users
will need the same minimum equipment and software required by the
FileMaker Pro Advanced application. See the Installation and New
Features Guide for FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced.
Using a custom installation program
You should use a custom installation program to package your
runtime solution for installation by users. Configuring a custom
installation application to automatically install runtime database
solution files may require more engineering than using a compression
utility, but will help to ensure that your users do not have difficulties
installing your runtime solution.
Here are some custom installation applications you might want to use:
1 MindVision Installer VISE
1 InstallShield MultiPlatform
1 MacInstallerBuilder
Using a compression utility program
If your runtime database solution is not complex and you have
confidence in the technical experience of your end users, you might
consider a compression utility program rather than a custom
installation program. To compress files, use a utility such as:
1 WinZip for Windows
1 StuffIt Deluxe
Sharing solutions over a network
Users cannot share your runtime database solution over a network
unless they access the files using FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Pro
Advanced installed on their machines. You must have a master
password to enable or change network access to the file. For optimal
performance, you can host the solution files using FileMaker Server.
For information about the FileMaker Server and FileMaker Pro
products, and information about volume license sales, see the
FileMaker website at www.filemaker.com.
Recovering damaged files
Power failures, hardware problems, or other factors can damage a
FileMaker database file. If your database solution becomes damaged,
your users will need to recover the damaged file. When the runtime
application discovers a damaged file, a dialog box appears, telling the
user to contact the developer. Even if the dialog box does not appear,
files can become corrupted and exhibit erratic behavior.
For information about recovering runtime files, see Help.
Creating an About layout
For runtime database solutions, the FileMaker Pro Advanced license
specifies that you must create an About layout that provides
information for your users on how to contact you for technical
support. FileMaker uses the About layout to distinguish databases
created by developers using FileMaker Pro Advanced rather than
users of FileMaker Pro.
For more information about what is required to appear in the About
layout for runtime database solutions, see
“Your responsibilities as a
developer” on page 7.