This blog post is the first in a three-part series about the FileMaker OData API, highlighting key features that make it an exciting addition to the Claris FileMaker platform.
Continue reading “OData for FileMaker – New Player in an Old Game”Category: FileMaker Server
Using REST and cURL with FileMaker’s Data API
FileMaker 19 introduced a couple of important new features related to using the FileMaker Data API. Here, we’ll cover an overview of the new authorization endpoint, Validate Session, API versioning updates, as well as a new script step, Execute FileMaker Data API.
At the end of this article, you’ll find the demo file for learning more and trying out various REST and cURL functionality with FileMaker’s Data API. Enjoy!
Continue reading “Using REST and cURL with FileMaker’s Data API”Connect FileMaker Server to Oracle Server and Oracle Cloud Using ODBC and TCPS
Posted in Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 18, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Server, Integration, Security
A longtime enterprise client recently asked us to integrate a FileMaker Server with an Oracle server. No problem, right? This task requires some development to optimize the database schema and script the data sync, but using FileMaker and an ODBC driver to connect to Oracle is straightforward.
Continue reading “Connect FileMaker Server to Oracle Server and Oracle Cloud Using ODBC and TCPS”How to enable WebKit and JavaScript debugging in FileMaker Web Viewers
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.
Continue reading “How to enable WebKit and JavaScript debugging in FileMaker Web Viewers”
bBox for FileMaker v0.95 Now Available
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.
Installing the Zabbix 4.2 Monitoring Agent
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”
Imports without Tariffs. Natively, with FileMaker Server.
Posted in FileMaker 18, FileMaker Server, Performance, Techniques
Combining functions, features, or steps in creative new ways can deliver productive results. I was thrilled to discover in FileMaker 18 that the new file-based script steps give us the ability to perform imports natively on FileMaker Server, with no configuration or changes needed.
Continue reading “Imports without Tariffs. Natively, with FileMaker Server.”
Using REST and cURL with FileMaker Server 18’s Data API
Posted in FileMaker 18, FileMaker Data API, FileMaker Server, Integration
Well, here we are again! With the release of FileMaker 18 we get the third version of the FileMaker Data API. This version brings an iterative advancement in features while maintaining the core functionality that was introduced with V1 of the API in FileMaker Server 17.
I’m following suit with an iterative advancement of my previous blog posts about the Data API (here and here).
NOTE: We’ve updated this series of blog posts and demo files to cover FileMaker 19:
Using REST and cURL with FileMaker 19’s Data API Continue reading “Using REST and cURL with FileMaker Server 18’s Data API”
Using Siri with FileMaker, via iOS Shortcuts
“Hey Siri…Ask FileMaker…”
This story started when we explored iOS Shortcuts to the FileMaker Data API. As we continue to automate tasks by mixing together iOS apps, content on mobile devices and web APIs plus FileMaker, let’s add to our workflow using one of the most powerful functions available to iPhone and iPad users: Siri.
Continue reading “Using Siri with FileMaker, via iOS Shortcuts”
Introducing Admin FM – the FileMaker Admin API for Zapier
Introducing Admin FM – the Zapier integration for accessing the FileMaker ® Admin API in an easy, customizable way. Built using Node.js, this version of Admin FM is currently a beta version, but it allows you to access most of the functionality that the FileMaker Admin API allows.
Continue reading “Introducing Admin FM – the FileMaker Admin API for Zapier”
AD-bound macOS systems not authenticating? Restart opendirectoryd
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.
Continue reading “AD-bound macOS systems not authenticating? Restart opendirectoryd”
bBox for FileMaker v0.90 Now Available
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.
FileMaker to Tableau | The Learning Journey
Posted in Data Analytics, FileMaker, FileMaker 17, FileMaker Server, Integration, Tableau FM, Tools & Add-ons
Now that the FileMaker Data API has been officially released (with FileMaker 17), it is time to share an update on Tableau-to-FileMaker integration. I originally wrote about integrating Tableau and FileMaker to create a match made in data heaven. I’ll also be speaking on “FileMaker + Tableau” at FileMaker DevCon 2018.
Continue reading “FileMaker to Tableau | The Learning Journey”
Monitor FileMaker Server XML connectivity with AWS
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.
Continue reading “Monitor FileMaker Server XML connectivity with AWS”
How Transactional is the FileMaker Data API?
I’m always excited each time the FileMaker Platform gets new capabilities. It isn’t just the new features on their own that make things interesting, but what happens to the platform as a whole which provides for some interesting and inspiring innovations. In this case, it is a new way to do transactional record editing in FileMaker. This is the first in a multi-part series on this topic.
Continue reading “How Transactional is the FileMaker Data API?”
Using REST and cURL with FileMaker 17’s Data API
As y’all probably know by now, FileMaker 17 has been released, including the first production edition of FileMaker Server’s Data API. This API was originally released with FileMaker 16, but only as a “beta”, expiring September 2018. As you might expect, the FileMaker 17 Data API introduces significant changes. This means that any applications written against the FM 16 Data API need to be refactored for compatibility with FileMaker 17. And that’s the work we’re here to do!
Continue reading “Using REST and cURL with FileMaker 17’s Data API”
Test Driving The FileMaker Server 17 Admin Console
Posted in FileMaker, FileMaker 17, FileMaker Server, Server Administration
Changes in FMS 17 Admin Console and How We’re Adapting
FileMaker Server 17 introduces a new generation of Admin Console, refreshed, fast, and reliable. If you are familiar with the FileMaker Cloud console, you’ll feel right at home in the new FileMaker Server 17 Admin Console. However, the update also brings some of the biggest changes in administrative functionality in years, perhaps ever.
While FileMaker provides an excellent overview of the differences, here I will highlight changes that affect us most here at Beezwax and some adjustments we’re making to compensate.
Continue reading “Test Driving The FileMaker Server 17 Admin Console”
Azure AD (Active Directory) Authentication with FileMaker
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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Monitoring FileMaker’s CWP Connectivity
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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Logging PSoS Activity: Episode III – Return of the JSON
Posted in All, FileMaker, FileMaker Server, JSON, Logging, Performance, Security
In looking back at our initial approach to logging FileMaker PSoS (Perform Script on Server) activity, I reflect back on a number of times where this has been extremely helpful. If you have come to rely on the benefits of PSoS then you also know some of its challenges — one of the biggest is debugging and monitoring how long sessions take.
Since FileMaker 16 introduced JSON, in new systems we’ve switched over to using JSON as the main way of exchanging data for parameters. Because we also use PSoS in new systems, we updated our method for PSoS Logging and this blog entry talks about the changes we made there and also restates the usefulness of this log.
Continue reading “Logging PSoS Activity: Episode III – Return of the JSON”