Development Guide

Contents
Chapter 1
Introducing FileMaker Pro Advanced 5
About this guide 5
Using the FileMaker Pro Advanced documentation 5
Where to find PDF documentation 6
Abiding by the license agreement for runtime solutions 6
Your responsibilities as a developer 7
Chapter 2
Creating database solutions 9
Using the Developer Utilities 9
About creating runtime solutions 11
Converting and upgrading previous solutions 11
Binding the solution 12
Starting runtime database solutions 12
Distributing runtime solutions 13
Organizing solution components 13
Choosing a distribution method 14
Testing before and after creating your solution 15
Distributing updates to runtime database solutions 15
Creating Kiosk solutions 16
Chapter 3
Customizing database solutions 19
Adding tooltips 19
Copying or importing field and table schemas 19
Creating custom functions 20
About custom menus 21
Custom menu example 21
Creating custom menus 22
Creating custom menu items 22
Creating custom menu sets 24
Creating custom layout themes 25
Requirements for theme files 26
Chapter 4
Debugging, analyzing, and optimizing files 27
Debugging scripts 27
Disabling script steps 28
Using the Data Viewer 28
Using the Database Design Report 30
Compressing and optimizing files 31
Chapter 5
Developing third-party FileMaker plug-ins 33
About external functions 33
About the example plug-in 33
Installing, enabling, and configuring the example plug-in 34
Description of the FMExample plug-in’s external functions 35
Using the example plug-in 36
Customizing the plug-in example 37
Customizing the example resources 37
Customizing FMPluginExample.cpp 37
Customizing FMPluginPrefs.cpp 37
Customizing FMPluginFunctions.cpp 37
Requirements for writing external function plug-ins 38
API code files 38
Option string syntax 38
Naming conventions for external functions 39