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
Chapter 3
Customizing database solutions
You can use FileMaker Pro Advanced to customize your solutions
beyond what is possible with FileMaker Pro. You can:
1 add tooltips to provide information about layout objects
1 copy and paste fields for use within the same file or other database files
1 copy or import existing tables into your database file
1 create custom functions for use anywhere within a file
1 create custom menus
1 create custom layout themes
Important Except for adding tooltips, you must have full access
privileges to customize database solutions.
Note See Help for detailed, comprehensive information and step-by-
step procedures about using FileMaker Pro Advanced.
Adding tooltips
Add tooltips to provide information about layout objects. In Layout
mode, select the object and choose Format menu > Set Tooltip.
For more information about adding tooltips, see Help.
Copying or importing field and table schemas
You can copy or import field and table schemas within a file or to other
database files.
With FileMaker Pro Advanced, you can consolidate tables from a
multi-file solution into one file. There are two methods for
consolidating solutions:
1 Copy table schemas — Open source files to select and copy the
tables you want. Then, paste the table schemas into the destination file.
1 Import table schemas — Import table schemas directly into the
destination file. You can import just the schemas or import data with
a single schema. (To import the data with a single schema, choose File
menu
> Import Records > File.)
For more information about copying or importing fields and tables,
see Help.
Tooltip
To Do this
Copy a field schema Choose File menu > Manage > Database > Fields tab.
Select the field from the list, then click Copy. Data is not
copied.
Copy a table schema Open the file that contains the table you want to copy.
Choose File menu > Manage > Database > Tables tab.
Select the table from the list, then click Copy.
Import a table schema Open the file into which you want to import a table.
Choose File menu > Manage > Database > Tables tab.
Click Import. Select the source file and table, and click OK.