"No Holding Back FileMaker Blogging"


Navigation:


Support this site by clicking on a sponsor below or becoming a patron!



FileMaker 20 Video Tutorials



Become a patron of this FREE web site!


Recent Blogs:

Window Locking
Window Locking

Everything Changes
Everything Changes

Subsummary Unique Count
Subsummary Unique Count

Scripted Change Log
Scripted Change Log

Abstracted Log
Abstracted Log


Meta-Consulting
Meta-consulting is a service Database Pros offers to help other developers over programming hurdles via GoToMeeting. Email John Mark Osborne or call John Mark at (909) 393-4664 to find out more about this service.


Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Video Training


Quick Tip:

Smart Duplicate
When you duplicate an object, it is offset 9 pixels to the right and 9 pixels down from the original unless you have changed the ruler settings (FileMaker 7 through 11 offset 6 pixels). If you duplicate an object, you can move it (without deselecting it) and duplicate it again, so that the new object is offset the same number of pixels as the first duplicate. This is very useful when trying to create multiple objects that are offset exactly the same distance and when the Arrangement tools aren't sufficient.



Create a Password Management solution!


Fun Stuff:

Claris and FileMaker CEOs
Bill Campbell  1987 to 1995
Guerrino De Luca  1995 to 1997
Dominique Goupil  1997 to 2019
Brad Freitag  2019 to Present



FileMaker 20 Video Tutorials







RSS Feed
Maybe You Missed These
Level: Intermediate
Version: FileMaker 17
Category: General
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
It was almost two years ago that the Philosophy of FileMaker released it's first article. I write new articles almost every two weeks so there's a lot of information to filter at the Philosophy of FileMaker web site. That's why I thought it would be a good idea to talk about my favorite articles from the first year of blogging. You may have missed some of these articles and, if I list my favorites and why they're my favorites, maybe they'll answer long standing questions.

Maybe You Missed These

The Philosophy
The idea behind the Philosophy of FileMaker blog is to think about how and why you are programming FileMaker. The web site focuses on core scripting, calculations and relational design techniques for amateur developers instead of trying to release techniques that push the FileMaker envelope or try to one-up the next FileMaker blog article. The articles below I think are really good representations of this philosophy. I hope you enjoy these articles!

Twelve articles from 2017
Here are twelve of my favorite articles from the first year of the Philosophy of FileMaker web site. I hope you enjoy them!

FileMaker History
Released February 1st, 2017
This article is adapted from an interview with one of the creators of FileMaker, Spec Bowers. Spec delves into why his company chose to create a database and how it works differently than existing database applications on the market. Claris and FileMaker, Inc. have kept true to the roots of FileMaker while adding on a deep set of additional abilities. Knowing the history of FileMaker helps you understand it's core functionality and purpose and allows you to be a better developer.

In Depth Index
Released February 14th, 2017
The index is what makes finds fast! Without it, a database would be far less useful in this information age. Understanding how the index works across different field types as well as other features such as sorting, relationships and validation will help you design better solutions. It will also allow you to efficiently find what you're seeking. Study this article closely as the index is a little tricky.

To Separate or Not
Released February 16th, 2017
I'm not a fan of the separation model, to say the least. This article covers why I think it hinders the development process and why FileMaker was never intended to be programmed in this manner. I also touch on methods for optimizing development such as single and multi-user development practices. Before you choose the separation model, you should read this article!

Trigger Tightrope
Released February 28th, 2017
So many developers use script triggers as a crutch that I felt I had to write this article warning them. Essentially, overindulgence of script triggers creates conflicts. In my development practice, I always look at every possible solution to a problem instead of thinking, "a script trigger could easily solve this issue". Script triggers are so versatile that they can be applied to any solution but they aren't always the best approach.

Ultimate Find
Released March 28th, 2017
I first wrote about find scripts way back in the FileMaker 3.0 days. Since then, a lot has changed. While you may think you know everything there is to know about creating find scripts, I'd be surprised if you didn't pick up a couple nuggets of truth in this article. I cover Allow User Abort, Set Error Capture, Modular Scripting, Loops, Modify Last Find and much, much more.

KISS
Released April 6th, 2017
Every time I see another developer's work, it seems like they have thrown every bell and whistle into the solution. Don't get me wrong, they look great and perform great (if the developer knows what he's doing). This article focuses on what can go wrong and what happens when someone else adopts your solution. Better to keep things simple unless there's a really good reason to complicate it. Otherwise, your client will be sorry they hired you, requiring far more money to make changes down the line.

Compare and Contrast
Released May 23rd, 2017
Comparing and contrasting multiple solutions to the same problem is at the core of the Philosophy of FileMaker. I determine the advantages and disadvantages of every piece of code I place in a FileMaker database I create in order to arrive at a precise and efficient solution. It takes a while to get the knack of it but the long term result is better development work. I highly recommend you adopt this methodology if you are serious about FileMaker development.

Window Naming
Released July 11th, 2017
Every window in every one of my solutions is named in order to promote multiple window usage. Otherwise, the Window menu becomes a sea of numbered windows. Therefore, it was important for me to have an adaptive method for naming windows on the fly. This is probably my least philosophical article but I still think it fits into the whole concept of my web site because it's one of those things most developers don't consider.

Subsummary Sandwich
Released July 25th, 2017
Developers are always trying to circumvent that traditional subsummary report with disastrous results. Once you understand subsummary report versatility, it becomes the most powerful tool in your arsenal. Not only will you find out how to build a proper subsummary report but why it is the best way to aggregate information in a FileMaker database.

Preferences and Options
Released October 24th, 2017
ExecuteSQL is another of those abused features! Developers new to FileMaker but familiar with SQL try to use ExecuteSQL for every solution. This article explains why the feature was added to FileMaker, with a good example on how it solves a problem best suited to this awesome feature. Even if you don't plan on including user preferences in your FileMaker database, this article will teach you how to deploy your own ExecuteSQL solution appropriately.

Wrangling Relationships
Released November 7th, 2017
Selector Connector, Anchor-Buoy, Spider Graph, etc... The list could go on and on and on about different relational schemes. I'm a proponent of anchor-buoy so if you want learn about it, this is the article to read. I also bash Selector Connector quite a bit, especially since the FileMaker 17 Master-Detail Layout feature does away with the need for the cumbersome relational style.

Eating Your Own Dog Food
Released December 5th, 2017
One of my favorite articles since some unnamed company doesn't use FileMaker for all of their database needs, even when it fits perfectly. Shame on them. Well, I'm here to say that I could have used off-the-shelf blog software but instead I used FileMaker. I'm happy I did too! I was able to design a back end that works the way I like to create my blogs. Come find out how I did it!

Year in Review
Let me know in the comments which article(s) you missed and why you liked it. I'd really like to know! Hope you had a happy holiday and are ready for all the great articles for 2019!

Author:
John Mark Osborne
jmo@filemakerpros.com
www.databasepros.com

This blog is completely free. Please support it by clicking on one of the advertisers at the left side of the window or becoming a patron. Thanks so much!

Add Comment:

First Name: *
Last Name:
Email: *
Web Site:
Comment: *
 Email Addresses will not be shared on the web site!