Category: FileMaker Server

A fast, flexible Tableau Connector for FileMaker

by Vincenzo Menanno
Posted in All, Claris Development, Data Analytics, FileMaker, FileMaker 18, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Data API, FileMaker Server, Integration, Performance, Tableau, Tableau FM, Techniques, Tools & Add-ons

Building a custom Tableau® Connector for Claris® FileMaker® enables faster, more reliable and more flexible connections between Tableau and FileMaker datasources, compared with the legacy Web Data Connector.

For a number of Beezwax client projects, we’ve installed and deployed a Tableau Connector (aka “TACO”) for FileMaker. The TACO was built using the Tableau Connector SDK (provided by Tableau) to connect to datasources on FileMaker Server. The TACO method uses JDBC rather than the FileMaker Data API for the connection between FileMaker and Tableau, and in our testing the performance of data extracts was up to 10 times faster.

Continue reading “A fast, flexible Tableau Connector for FileMaker” →

The Value and Benefits of Transactions with Claris FileMaker

by Beezwax Team
Posted in All, Claris Development, Events, FileMaker, FileMaker 18, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Server, Performance, Techniques

Let’s talk about Claris® FileMaker® and transactions! Vincenzo Menanno discusses what transactions are, how they relate to FileMaker data operations (creating, updating, and deleting records), database normalization, and how to use transactional concepts to improve FileMaker performance, especially over a wide area network (WAN).

Continue reading “The Value and Benefits of Transactions with Claris FileMaker” →

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” →

FileMaker Performance on Apple M1 | Astounding!

by Vincenzo Menanno
Posted in Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Server, News, Performance, Server Administration, Tableau FM, Testing

When the Apple silicon Macs with M1 chips came out, I read and watched many of the reviews. Most of them had great things to say about the promise of Apple’s new M1 chip…I was impressed. When I finally received my Apple M1 MacBook Pro, and started to use it…I was amazed.

Back in 2020, FileMaker Pro 19.2 wasn’t optimized yet for Apple silicon processors, but ran fine under Rosetta emulation. On my M1 MacBook Pro, it already felt much faster than running FileMaker “natively” on an Intel-based MacBook…I was astonished.

Today, I’m running the just-released Claris FileMaker® 19.3, with native support for Apple’s M1 chip, on a new MacBook Pro. It is, in a word: Astounding!

Continue reading “FileMaker Performance on Apple M1 | Astounding!” →

InspectorPro 7.2 for FileMaker – Faster on M1!

by Vincenzo Menanno
Posted in All, Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server, InspectorPro, Performance, Tools & Add-ons

Everything about the M1 Apple silicon leaves you simply delighted and surprised. It’s like the first time you drive a super-charged Tesla and feel the rush of powerful acceleration OR I imagine it’s like when Han Solo first blasts the Falcon into light speed: it must be experienced to be believed.

Continue reading “InspectorPro 7.2 for FileMaker – Faster on M1!” →

OData for FileMaker – Examples, Tips and Nuances

by Steve Senft-Herrera
Posted in All, Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Data API, FileMaker Server, Integration, Techniques

This blog post is the second of a three-part series about the FileMaker OData API, introducing a demo file with more than 40 examples plus helpful tips, along with Q&A. Part one of the series highlighted some of the key features of the API which make it an exciting addition to the FileMaker platform. As a follow-up, this post will cover the basics and dig into the nuances of using OData with Claris FileMaker.

Continue reading “OData for FileMaker – Examples, Tips and Nuances” →

OData for FileMaker – New Player in an Old Game

by Steve Senft-Herrera
Posted in Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 19, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Data API, FileMaker Server, Integration, Techniques

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” →

Using REST and cURL with FileMaker’s Data API

by Beezwax Team
Posted in Claris Development, FileMaker, FileMaker 19, FileMaker 2023, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Data API, FileMaker Server, Integration

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

by Christopher Edwards
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

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.

Continue reading “How to enable WebKit and JavaScript debugging in FileMaker Web Viewers” →

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.

Continue reading “bBox for FileMaker v0.95 Now Available” →

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” →

Imports without Tariffs. Natively, with FileMaker Server.

by Vincenzo Menanno
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

by Darren Burgess
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

by Fabio Bosisio
Posted in All, FileMaker, FileMaker 17, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Data API, FileMaker Server, Integration, Mobile Development, Techniques

“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

by Brendan Pierce
Posted in All, FileMaker, FileMaker 17, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server, Integration, Server Administration, Tools & Add-ons

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

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.

Continue reading “AD-bound macOS systems not authenticating? Restart opendirectoryd” →

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” →

FileMaker to Tableau | The Learning Journey

by Vincenzo Menanno
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

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.

Continue reading “Monitor FileMaker Server XML connectivity with AWS” →

1 2 3