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 5
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Developing third-party FileMaker plug-ins 35
To install a plug-in, drag the plug-in file into the Extensions folder
inside the FileMaker
Pro Advanced folder. In Windows, the plug-in
extension must be .fmx. In Mac OS
X, the plug-in extension must be
.fmplugin.
To enable a plug-in:
1. Open the Preferences dialog box.
Windows: Choose Edit menu > Preferences.
Mac OS X: Choose FileMaker Pro Advanced application menu >
Preferences.
2. Click the Plug-Ins tab.
3. Select the plug-in in the list.
A plug-in will appear in the list if it’s installed in the correct folder
inside the FileMaker
Pro Advanced application folder.
To configure a plug-in:
1. Select the plug-in in the Preferences dialog box.
2. Click Configure.
The Configure button is only available when the sixth character in the
option string of the selected plug-in is “Y.” See
“Option string syntax”
on page 38.
3. Follow instructions in the configuration dialog box to
configure the plug-in.
4. Click OK.
Description of the FMExample plug-in’s
external
functions
The FMExample plug-in provided in the Microsoft Visual C++ and
Apple Xcode example projects adds the following external functions
to FileMaker
Pro, FileMaker Pro Advanced, FileMaker Server, and
FileMaker
Server Advanced.
Select a plug-in to enable it
Plug-in description
text is defined in a
resource string
Function’s name
and parameter Description of external function
XMpl_Add
(number1; number2)
Adds number1 and number2 together and returns
the result. The function is the same as the plus
operator in the calculation engine.
XMpl_Append
(textToAppend ...)
Takes a multiple list of parameters, concatenates
them, and returns the result. The function is the
same as the ampersand operator in the calculation
engine.
XMpl_Evaluate
(calcToEvaluate)
Takes a simple or complex calculation, evaluates
the calculation, and returns the result. Any
calculation supported by FileMaker can be passed
to this function. The function is identical to the
Evaluate function in the calculation engine.
XMpl_NumToWords
(number)
Returns a number in bank check format. For
example 44.345 returns Forty-Four Dollars and 34
Cents. All digits beyond the second decimal place
and any alphabetical characters are ignored.