FileMaker DevCon 2019 Review – Anything is Possible
In this blog we’ll unpack a lot of the exciting changes announced and provide as much of the info as we can, so that even if you weren’t able to be at DevCon, you’ll be in the know.
JSON Update Array Element Improvement
Today we’re going to look at a custom function, JSON.UpdateArrayElement, written to circumvent a problem you may encounter when using JSONSetElement.
Improved Email Functionality In FileMaker 18
Our clients appreciate how easy it is to integrate email distributions within their FileMaker workflows. But, they almost always want to send HTML formatted email messages. This makes perfect sense because who among us has sent plain text email messages in the last fifteen years? Almost everyone includes some sort of signature or other fancy elements in their emails.
Peregrine Improves their Business with fmIgnite and fmFlare
Many of their services focus on capture and release, passive deterrence, and environmental modifications. Their pest control service technicians service the communities where they live, primarily in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
LuminFire Provides Matching Grants to Nonprofit Organizations
To that end LuminFire financially supports several nonprofits every year by creating technology that helps them fulfill their mission better and more efficiently. We do this through a matching grant program.
Retailer Backcountry Access Uses BrilliantSync to create a Robust WordPress & WooCommerce based e-commerce Platform integrated with their FileMaker CRM/ERP
For years, Backcountry Access (BCA) has used a custom FileMaker solution as a CRM to assist with efficient operations. BCA had a custom eCommerce solution written in PHP that was used to run the backend of their eCommerce website via the FileMaker Custom Web Publishing XML gateway — including inventory, products, and orders. As the company and orders grew, it put a strain on their custom solution and FileMaker server. Unable able to handle the load spikes during busy traffic seasons and special events, FileMaker becoming unresponsive was becoming an issue that needed a solution. This was especially a concern around the critical black Friday sales period when the FileMaker server often crashed multiple times causing lost sales.
AWS Corretto: A Brilliant solution to the FileMaker and Java Licensing Question
OpenJDK was offered by FileMaker as an option for those not wanting to pay a commercial licensing fee to Oracle, but many businesses are reluctant to install software with no official support in production systems (many still do and just don’t realize they do, but that’s another blog post).
Integrating HubSpot and FileMaker with fmFlare
Most of the time, it doesn’t make financial sense to reinvent the wheel. Here are some of the helpful features in Hubspot for sales and marketing that might not make sense to build into a custom FileMaker solution:
Tracking leads as they view pages on your website
Tracking emails and consolidating under contacts
Setting up meetings when your calendar is open
Tracking web analytics
Getting company marketing information such as annual revenue, owner, number of employees, etc.
(most of these functions require customer interaction with a web site)
Connect FileMaker to Domo via BrilliantSync
Domo allows you connect to many different types of data sources using pre-built Data Connectors for services such as SalesForce, QuickBooks Online, Amazon Web Services, Oracle, MySQL, Dropbox, Google Drive, HubSpot, and many others. In fact, Domo has well over 600 different data connectors!
FileMaker Leader in Low-Code Space
“FileMaker, an Apple subsidiary, continues its journey from tool to platform.FileMaker declined to participate in our assessment but is a Leader in our analysis. The 30-year-old vendor avoids association with low-code , positioning itself instead as a “workplace innovation platform.” Labels aside, FileMaker provides strong low-code tooling for database development, reporting, application change management, security and identity management, and content. The vendor also provides many features to help AD&D pros support and participate in software projects. These strengths reflect a mature product with a massive customer base and an effective strategy.”
Checking Backup Status
Automated backups help to protect data without having to think too much about it. Occasionally, however, unexpected issues or oversights can interfere with the backup – and some may not always trigger an obvious alert.
WordPress Integration with FileMaker Presentation
Demos various integration projects where WordPress websites and WooCommerce share information with FileMaker (the two platforms talk to each other), and ideas on how we made it happen.
FileMaker Templates and Starter Solutions
At the recent FMPUG-MN (FileMaker Pro User Group Minnesota) Meetup, Tim Cimbura discussed FileMaker templates and starter solutions.
FileMaker and Java Licensing with Oracle
As of February 2019, Oracle changed their licensing model to now require paid licenses in order to use Java in business and production capacities. The Java update started prompting people concerning this in April 2019. In the long term, FileMaker is getting rid of Java, but for now, FileMaker uses Java in three areas:
FileMaker 16 and earlier admin console; FileMaker 17 and newer do not require it
Custom Web Publishing (CWP)
WebDirect
Building a Super Slick Search UI
So, what does FileMaker offer in the way of searching? Well there is find mode obviously. Great power, but perhaps a little unintuitive for the average user, especially in this day of age where websites provide pretty commonplace design patterns for searching. Quickfind is a much nicer alternative, combining an automated ‘find mode’ search of sorts, with a single search box making it easier for users to search.
FileMaker Terminology
Within every industry there’s a certain terminology used to express how things work and how to accomplish things. FileMaker is obviously no different.
Elemental
Elemental is a free product that provides UI resources to incorporate into FileMaker solutions to improve user experience with better visual design and user interface. Includes Avatars, Placeholders, SVG Icons,
FileMaker 18: Sending HTML Email with SMTP and cURL
In this article we’ll review how sending mail using SMTP and cURL in FileMaker 18 works and go through several examples. We’ve also built a robust demo file you can download for free and use to dig into this functionality in more detail, and we’ll discuss some of its capabilities here. Finally, we’ll look at how this new feature compares to some alternatives for sending mail from your FileMaker app.
FileMaker IoT Notifications with Thor’s Hammer
We’ve recently been adding lots of notifications to our customer’s calendars: sending emails and SMS alerts when milestones are approaching or when team members are assigned new projects. But notifications tend to get lost on your phone, so we decided it was time to level up our notification game with some FileMaker IoT.
FileMaker DevCon 2019: Gaylord Palms Resort Preview
The Gaylord is managed by the Marriott resorts so you can get points for future vacations by being a Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Member. Be sure to sign up and make sure they know your rewards number on the reservation to get point credits for future vacation stays. As a rewards member, you also get free in-room speedy Wifi that you login it using your room number and last name.