Author: Simon Brown

bBox v0.99 Integrates Claris FileMaker with JavaScript, Python 3 and Supports M1 Apple Silicon

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, bBox, Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Server, Integration, JavaScript, Node.js, Python, Tools & Add-ons

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.99 for Claris® FileMaker® on macOS and Linux with new NodeJS and Python 3 integration, and M1 Apple silicon support for GraphicsMagick image processing and JQ JSON parsing functions.

About bBox Plug-in For FileMaker

bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend Claris FileMaker solutions to easily use macOS and Linux code libraries and functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, C/C++, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Also included is a demo file with more than 210 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

bBox is available on macOS and Linux, and runs with either FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Server. Here’s what FileMaker Magazine had to say about bBox version 0.99:

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bBox for FileMaker v0.98 with M1, GraphicsMagick & Sips

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, bBox, Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 18, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Server, Tools & Add-ons

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.98, with with new image file functions and M1/Apple Silicon support.

bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend FileMaker solutions to easily use code libraries and macOS-based functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, C/C++, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Also included is a demo file that has over 220 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

Some of the changes in version 0.98 are:

  • M1/Apple Silicon binary
  • Ubuntu compatible version (in addition to CentOS)
  • updated to libxml2 version 2.9.12
  • added bBox_GraphicsMagick function & script step
  • added bBox_Sips function & script step
  • modifications to several functions & script steps to add parameters
  • fixed template text used in several functions & script steps to better describe parameters
  • limit POSIX commands to 3 cores
  • new mode to combine stderr with stdout

Continue reading “bBox for FileMaker v0.98 with M1, GraphicsMagick & Sips” →

bBox for FileMaker v0.96 with JSON processing, Python 3 and more

by Simon Brown
Posted in bBox, FileMaker, FileMaker 18, FileMaker 19, Python, Ruby, Tools & Add-ons

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.96, with JSON processing via jq, Python 3 compile/run,  and improvements supporting Zsh, cURL and Ruby.

bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend FileMaker solutions to easily use code libraries and macOS-based functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, C/C++, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Also included is a demo file that has over 210 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

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Setting FileMaker’s startup file from CLI

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 18, FileMaker 19, Techniques

We had a client that was upgrading their system to FileMaker 18. They had already pushed new FileMaker Pro clients out to their user’s desktops. But now that the upgraded system was ready, how could they give users a quick and easy way to launch right into the new database system?

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How to enable WebKit and JavaScript debugging in FileMaker Web Viewers

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 17, FileMaker 18, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Server, Integration, JavaScript, Techniques, Testing, Web Development

FileMaker supports bidirectional communication between a web viewer and data or scripts. So, you may find yourself doing more development using plenty of web code and JavaScript integrations.

If you’re having difficulty getting your HTML, CSS, or JavaScript to render in a FileMaker web viewer, there’s a great way to help inspect and fix it. You just need to know the hidden option to enable WebKit debugging in FileMaker web viewers.

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Use External Directory AD Group for FileMaker Admin Console Access on macOS

by Simon Brown
Posted in Claris Development, FileMaker, Server Administration, System Administration

Besides using its own internal accounts, FileMaker Server supports centrally managed authentication using directory systems such as Active Directory. Using these systems can help control access to both FileMaker Server’s admin console and database files.

If you are using directory bound servers already, you’ll often want to add access to a FileMaker Server’s console using directory groups instead of adding in specific users. Previously this was easily done with either Workgroup Manager (no longer supported on macOS), or the Server application (still viable, but just in a vestigial form).

Here I’ll show how you can do the same thing using the dscl command.

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bBox for FileMaker v0.95 Now Available

by Simon Brown
Posted in bBox, FileMaker, FileMaker 18, FileMaker Server, Integration, JavaScript, Python, Tools & Add-ons, Unix

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.95. bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend FileMaker solutions to easily use code libraries and macOS-based functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Also included is a demo file that has over 210 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

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Installing the Zabbix 4.2 Monitoring Agent

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, FileMaker, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server, Monitoring, System Administration

On our FileMaker Cloud for AWS servers, which are currently CentOS 7.6 based, we are typically installing the Zabbix monitoring agent. With one exception, installing the Zabbix agent is a relatively quick and easy procedure.

Although not required, installing the agent allows gathering more data on your servers than a Zabbix server alone.

Continue reading “Installing the Zabbix 4.2 Monitoring Agent” →

bBox for FileMaker v0.93 Now Available

by Simon Brown
Posted in bBox, FileMaker, Integration, JavaScript, Python, Tools & Add-ons

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.93, including new FileMaker script steps and web viewer functions. bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend FileMaker solutions to easily use code libraries and macOS-based functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Also included is a demo file that has over 210 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

Continue reading “bBox for FileMaker v0.93 Now Available” →

AD-bound macOS systems not authenticating? Restart opendirectoryd

by Simon Brown
Posted in FileMaker, FileMaker Server, Security, Server Administration

We support quite a few macOS systems that are bound to an AD (Active Directory) domain. Occasionally, one, two, or perhaps several would lose the ability to authenticate users with AD credentials. Often this was with one of the FileMaker Servers, where external authentication was being used for either user access or FMS Admin Console access. I’ve explored ways to fix this, without restarting or disrupting other services.

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bBox for FileMaker v0.90 Now Available

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, bBox, FileMaker, FileMaker Server, Integration, JavaScript, Python, Tools & Add-ons

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.90. bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend FileMaker solutions to easily use code libraries and macOS-based functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Included is a demo file that has over 200 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

Continue reading “bBox for FileMaker v0.90 Now Available” →

Monitor FileMaker Server XML connectivity with AWS

by Simon Brown
Posted in FileMaker, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server, Monitoring, Server Administration

If you have a FileMaker server that you want to ensure high availability, Amazon’s AWS Route 53 service has some functionality that you’ll want to know about. For this post, I’m going to show how you can set up monitoring and alarms for the XML interface on FileMaker Server.

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Overcoming TLS Frustrations with Python and macOS Sierra

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, bBox, Python

The short version of this is that you probably want to upgrade to High Sierra (macOS 10.13) if you need to do much of anything with the built-in macOS version of Python and any network tasks.
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Azure AD (Active Directory) Authentication with FileMaker

by Simon Brown
Posted in FileMaker, FileMaker 16, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server, Security, Server Administration

In addition to the more typical external authentication methods, FileMaker supports client authentication using OAuth accounts from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. In this instance, I needed to set up a FileMaker Cloud server to use a company’s directory accounts, which were hosted at Azure. In order to set this up I hit a couple of minor complications, which I’m going to cover here.

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Working with FileMaker Cloud Backups Using SSH

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, FileMaker, FileMaker Cloud, Server Administration

Recently, I needed to revert a database file hosted on a FileMaker Cloud 16 server. Due to a problem I was having with the Download function however I had to take a different route from the usual method.

Continue reading “Working with FileMaker Cloud Backups Using SSH” →

Monitoring FileMaker’s CWP Connectivity

by Simon Brown
Posted in FileMaker, FileMaker 16, FileMaker Server, Monitoring, Server Administration

I needed to set up some monitoring for FileMaker Server that made moderately heavy use of the XML interface for Custom Web Publishing (CWP). The server was mostly working well, but was due for a rebuild, or at the least, an upgrade, but the client wanted to squeeze out one more season before we did this.
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Creating Your Own SSL Certificates For FileMaker

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, FileMaker, FileMaker 16, Security, Server Administration

Typically, you buy an SSL certificate for a server from a SSL vendor. However, some companies may decide that they want to issue their own SSL certificates. Often this is because the domain is only used internally, and most vendors don’t easily allow (if at all) the signing of server certificates for non-public domains. Additionally, issuing your own certificates can remove complications caused by the certificate verification process used by most vendors, and there are no fees needed for each certificate.

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bBox 0.88 for FileMaker Now Available

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, bBox, JavaScript, Python, Tools & Add-ons

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.88. bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend FileMaker solutions to easily use code libraries and macOS-based functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Included is a demo file that has over 180 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

Continue reading “bBox 0.88 for FileMaker Now Available” →

bBox for FileMaker v0.86 Now Available

by Simon Brown
Posted in All, bBox, FileMaker, Integration, JavaScript, Tools & Add-ons

We are pleased to release bBox version 0.86. bBox is a free utility plug-in to extend FileMaker solutions to easily use code libraries and macOS-based functions from Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, AppleScript, Bash/sh, XPath, and SQLite. Included is a demo file that has over 180 examples of how you can put bBox functions to work for you.

Continue reading “bBox for FileMaker v0.86 Now Available” →

Removing port 80 and 443 conflict with macOS Server 5

by Simon Brown
Posted in FileMaker, FileMaker Server, Server Administration

Apple’s macOS Server 5.x has a rather different Apache configuration compared to the core macOS setup or those used in previous versions of Server. In particular, an instance of Apache is used as a proxy to any ‘backend’ copies of Apache. Here’s how to work around this…

Continue reading “Removing port 80 and 443 conflict with macOS Server 5” →

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