New Jersey FileMaker User Group: April Meeting Review

April 27, 2012  |   by Adam Aronson, President and Founder

The New Jersey FileMaker Pro User Group’s April 26, 2012 meeting was held at the Ridgewood Board of Education. Matt O’Dell, Northeast Systems Engineer, was joined by Jason Fiske and Steven Gallagher of FIleMaker Inc., to introduce a packed audience to the new features and benefits introduced in FileMaker 12.

Matt began by reviewing the new themes and starter files, which provide cohesive designs for FileMaker Pro clients, as well as FileMaker Go users on iOS. Brand new design options include gradients, opacity, and rounded corners, “States” allow developers to assign distinct attributes to objects under normal, hover, focus, and pressed conditions. These new tools will help speed up programming and limit developers’ need to leave the FileMaker environment, while providing end-users with useful interface subtleties.

Additional layout-based tools include an array of grids and guides. Stencils support most standard screen sizes, and an explicit right edge eliminates the need for hidden anchor objects. Dynamic guides also help resize and position items uniformly throughout a solution. When multiple objects are resized together, they do so proportionally; text (not just fields) can have borders applied on an edge-by-edge basis, and objects can be filled with an image that is tiled, scaled, or sliced.

FileMaker 12 provides managed media content; there are new options for storing referenced binary data, encrypting external files, and optimizing content access. A range of new controls are available: Manage Containers (file level), storage and validation settings for each field, and inspector settings for containers on layouts. Audio and visual files can be streamed, all pages of a PDF can be viewed from inside FileMaker, and binary data can be dragged into and between containers.

There are several new functions, including ExecuteSQL (to be used with Select statements) and a new function category, Mobile functions, to support mobile devices. A new style of merge symbols supports the full range of Get functions. Scripting additions include support for plug-in control as well as both floating and dialog windows.

Improvements to FileMaker Server include a new 64-bit architecture, more efficient cache flushing, and improved performance overall. The web publishing engine has been completely rewritten. FMS now supports progressive backups, and FMS Advanced offers a Group Start Page.

Executive end-users are bound to appreciate the newest chart features. New chart types and formatting options have been added, and charting is “smarter,” recognizing existing sort orders and anticipating users’ intentions. Now almost anyone can create a chart on the fly – no access to layout mode is required. If a users does have layout, field and script access, a single button can be used to create  a stored chart object; otherwise, it’s another simple button click to initiate chart output to paper or PDF.

Posted in FileMaker 12, User Group Announcements | Leave a comment

Snap2FM: Scanning directly into FileMaker with ScanSnap Scanners

April 5, 2012  |   by Jonathan Sherry, Senior Analyst & Systems Engineer

Many of our clients have expressed interest in scanning directly into FileMaker Pro and we’ve been able to assemble tools to assist them in doing so for 10+ years. This is specifically relevant for industries involving contract management, legal documentation and – even more so – those in the medical field. While there have been solutions in the past for this direct scanning, none of them have been consistently supporting the latest versions of FileMaker or changing TWAIN drivers put developers into a perpetual game of scanner driver Whack-a-Mole.

Our team is happy to announce that we will be sharing a direct scanning solution we’ve had in our toolkit for FileMaker Pro 12 – the Snap2FM FileMaker “helper app”. Snap2FM was something our team decided to execute because of its huge value-add. Granted, it’s only compatible with Fujitsu ScanSnap scanners (due to the idiosyncrasies and technical challenges involved with interfacing with TWAIN compatible scanners) but this has not proved to be an issue for customers seeking elegant all in one desktop scanning solutions.

Why Snap2FM?

We are enthusiastic users of GoogleApps and we took note when a ScanToGoogleDocs application was developed, allowing direct scanning into Google Docs from a ScanSnap.

The new ScanToGoogleDocs application created an immediate boom in our workflow – and what’s good for us, can often be good for our customers. At this point, Adam Aronson proposed that we investigate the possibility of doing something similar with FileMaker and the ScanSnap scanner.

Up until now, users have had to scan their files to their hard drive and then insert them into FileMaker, browsing for the file with an Open dialog – a multi-step, cumbersome process. With our new FileMaker solution, Snap2FM, users will now be able to scan documents into FileMaker Pro quickly and easily to streamline their workflow.

Document management is an important, evolving portion of our space, and increased capabilities for scanning and storing files are a requirement that many more customers are asking us to fulfill. Snap2FM, along with the new FileMaker 12 remote storage feature dovetail well so we can now offer increased document management solutions.

For more document management assistance that we love here at FullCity, check out Document Snap for ideas on how to take advantage of customized paperless workflow solutions.

The Development of Snap2FM

The ScanSnap scanner software allows you to create a configuration that points to any application. If that application is capable of opening a jpeg or a PDF, you can execute a scan and it will open within the application. However, the challenge with FileMaker is that it opens database files, not image or PDF files. You can insert these into a database, but that requires scripting to automate.

With some work, we managed to come up with a connector application, Snap2FM, which does the following:

  1. Receives the path to the scanned file, when the app is called by ScanSnap.
  2. Runs a script in a FileMaker Pro file, and passes that script the path to the scanned file.
  3. Reads the name/address of the FileMaker server, the FileMaker filename, and the script name from a preferences file. We wanted these parameters to be read from preferences so that we could automatically deploy the scanning solution from FileMaker.

To automate the import of the scanned file, we’re using the updated FMP Script Protocol in FileMaker 12. Prior to FileMaker 12, it would have been necessary to use AppleScript on a Mac and VisualBasic on Windows, along with a cumbersome scripting process due to limited capabilities with the API and parameters. With the newly FileMaker 12 FMP Script Protocol, we can use a URL to execute a script and pass the filepath to that script. One method works on both platforms.

The URL we’re using in ScanSnap2FM is:

FMP://Servername/filename/?script=scriptname&param=pathtothescannedfile

Please keep in mind that FMP Script Protocol will only run a script if the specified file is being hosted by FMP or FMS and is opened remotely. This may change in the future, but for now, the protocol runs on a client, and only executes scripts on a file that is Opened Remotely.

Posted in FileMaker 12, Filemaker Optimization, FullCity Consulting News | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

A New FileMaker Storage Solution: Optimized Document Management, Secure Storage and more!

April 4, 2012  |   by Nina Sinnott, Senior Analyst

One of my favorite new features of FileMaker 12 is the new storage option for container fields. Prior to the release of FileMaker 12, files could be stored in one of two ways, or our team utilized a third party tool to open up other capabilities.

The Previous Storage Solutions

The first storage solution in FileMaker 11 involved storing the data internally in containers. While that was nice for small images and files, it forced your database to expand in size, which can cause slower backups and startup times.

The second storage option involved entering a file alias, or relative path, as a reference to a specific file on your computer. However, this alias was relative to your own computer storage structure and, as a result, came with many limitations when others needed to access files.

The New FileMaker 12 Storage Solution

Now, with FileMaker 12, we can store data externally with a click of a button by putting a document in a container and storing it elsewhere. This means your files are available through your database even though they aren’t stored within it, thus keeping the database file size down! Within today’s hosted environments, smaller files mean quicker backups, resulting in increased data security.

The remote storage option bridges the “relative safety” of storing a file as a reference and the problem of sharing a referenced file in a multi-user environment. Now, we can also build robust document management systems for our customers. When paired with other solutions like the new Snap2FM “helper app”, it provides seamless document management.

Choosing your External Storage – Open or Secure

FileMaker 12 has two types of external storage to choose from: Open and Secure. Open storage uses a visible link to the actual data source files. Users with proper permissions to these directories are able to navigate to the files and open them.

Secure storage uses a real link, but encrypts the data file to prevent users from navigating to the file through Windows Explorer or Finder and opening the actual file in its native format. This secure storage option is great for files like birth certificates or medical records.

Extra Features

FileMaker even thought about the broad effects of changing the storage settings, and what that change now means to the old files and related structure. Therefore, when storage options change, the below dialog box appears so that the file structure changes for all previously stored container data.

Our team gives the new features of container field storage a big thumbs up. We played around with some extra features, like the new drag and drop capabilities of container fields, while watching the rebuilding of the directories and it’s absolutely brilliant!

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What I’ve been waiting for in FileMaker 12

April 4, 2012  |   by Adam Aronson, President and Founder

It’s here and boy does it look great!

With today’s launch of FileMaker 12, I’ve compiled a brief list of new features and highlights that I’ve been really excited to share with our customers. I think you’ll agree that they are really cool!

New Interface Design

FileMaker 12 has a completely new design surface (based on CSS!) and tool set that will make it easier than ever to develop modern looking solutions. As a jump start in that direction FileMaker 12 includes 40 custom themes that you can apply to your existing FileMaker solutions once they are opened in FileMaker 12.

Within this new FileMaker version I now have the ability to create attractive and functional interfaces with tools that most everyone is already familiar with. Here are some new capabilities I love:

  • New appearance options for hover states and when items are in focus
  • Transparency control
  • Rounded corner capabilities for fields, tab panels, portals, etc.
  • Access to an unlimited color palette
  • Ability to use images as backgrounds for layouts

As we’ve all seen Apple has been setting new standards and raised the bar in UI/UX (User Interface/User Experience) design with the new iOS. Likewise HTML 5 has transformed the user’s web browser experience. As a result, software user’s expectations are much higher. There is a whole new palette of interaction happening because of HTML5 and the new iOS, and the FileMaker 12 set of design tools fits very comfortably into that space.

These new tools also allow us to more easily create FileMaker solutions in accordance with user interface design concepts like those presented at last year’s DevCon by FileMaker innovators, Don Levan from Vanguard Custom Software and Ernest Koe from Proof Group (we can’t wait to see what those guys have in store for us this year).

Our team is super excited about this release. If there was ever a time when a customer should consider reinvesting in and modernizing their FileMaker business solutions this new design surface gives us a compelling reason to refresh!

FileMaker Go for 12 is here… and it’s FREE!

Along with FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go is getting a version 12 update. One super big announcement is that FileMaker Go for iPhone and iPad will now be available as a free download from the Apple App Store. Just like Acrobat Reader is a free download for easy collaboration of PDF files, FileMaker Go is now going to be free for iPhone and iPad users of FileMaker Pro. Now everyone is going to be able to access their FileMaker files that are shared on their server or emailed to them by a colleague!

Additionally, FileMaker Go 12 will provide the storage of audio and video, captured via your iPhone or iPad, within container fields (more about those later) in your FileMaker database. Customers who want to capture dictation in the field, press events, interviews and more can now do so easily and store everything in one place in their database. Nothing tells a story better than a video.

And, those great themes discussed earlier within FileMaker Pro… Yep, there are some specifically made to work in FileMaker Go!

Increased Charting Functionality

FileMaker 12′s redesigned charting experience that has raised the bar on charting (Excel, are you listening?).

Whereas charting in FileMaker 11 was a step forward in FileMaker 12 the Chart Setup tool features live WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) previews so you know what you’re chart will look like when you pull the trigger (or press the “OK” button). Users can preview and customize the look and feel of their charts easily with greater detail. Additionally, new chart types, beneficial for statistical analysis, are available including stacked bar, scatter graphs and positive/negative column.

Take the Chart Tool for a spin… you’ll see your data in a whole new way!

A New 64-Bit Server

FileMaker Server has now moved to 64-bit modern server architecture, allowing it access to more memory resources (and as a result more breathing room) for those complex systems with many concurrent connections. Also, our customers with an “IT friendly” infrastructure will appreciate the jump to 64-bit as many servers in managed data centers are currently running 64-bit operating systems.

This new server architecture design also allows the server to run more efficiently. In our early testing, we’re seeing a substantial improvement in WAN performance. This is great news for FileMaker Go users.

Ok, there’s more…

New Container field remote storage options allow for effortless sharing of stored documents – regardless of platform! And now you can easily drag and drop files in and out of containers.

FileMaker Server can now progressively backup your files for you by only backing up changed data.

FileMaker’s Web Publishing Engine performance has been boosted for PHP and XML publishing.

Our staff is ready today to discuss the value proposition offered by all of these new features. As we “speak”, we’re converting our own in-house systems over and boy do they look GREAT! Stay tuned or contact us for more information on how to put FileMaker 12 to work for you today!

Adam Aronson
FullCity Consulting Inc.
Certified FileMaker Developer
Platinum FileMaker Business Alliance Members
2007 & 2011 FileMaker Business Partner of The Year
T: 845 758 1360 x111 (NY)
T: 201 445 9670 x111 (NJ)
T: 212 414 2112 x111 (NYC)
F: 845 206 4400
M: 845 235 6399
adam@fullcityconsulting.com
http://fullcityconsulting.com

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NJFMPUG February Meeting: Shedding Light on the Accounting Black Hole

March 13, 2012  |   by admin,

The New Jersey FileMaker Pro User Group’s February 29, 2012 meeting was held at Essex Computers in Paramus. Tony Cellini, 2010 Mad Dog Award winner with 35 years of experience in manufacturing, distribution, accounting and financial reporting, shared his expertise – and enthusiasm – for building accounting solutions.

Tony demonstrated a project he has developed for a client in the oncology equipment industry that includes extensive front-end customization as well as integration with New Millenium’s Genesis Accounting package. While Genesis is locked, it does provide extensive automation (such as batch check writing) and reporting, and access to its table occurrences. Although Tony develops systems that can play well with off-the-shelf products such as QuickBooks, MultiLedger, and MYOB, he prefers avoiding these “black holes” and keeping data where it is more easily available and manipulatable: in FileMaker.

Demystifying accounting essentials, Tony reviewed the five key components of a financial system: accounts receivable (AR, revenue, making money), accounts payable (AP, expenditures, spending money), payroll (a special instance of accounts payable), production (making products), and asset management (inventory). Payroll is a highly specialized area, and often warrants the use of dedicated services, logged via journal entries to AP.

Tony stressed the fundamentals of parent-child relationships to preserve the distinction of header and line item tables for both AR and AP, a concept most database managers are already familiar with. But, he warned, many developers make the mistake of pushing product data to the financial side; instead, keep data such as “quantity ordered” stored in the inventory side of your system. He also reinforced for all that FileMaker provides the perfect platform for tailoring a system to a particular company’s work flow. By focusing on the basic ins-and-outs of money flow, developers needn’t be fearful of accounting processes, but should consider the business opportunities they offer.

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Draw On Your FileMaker Documents & Photos? Yes You Can!

February 27, 2012  |   by admin,

Due to the broad range of applications for FileMaker Go, our team at FullCity Consulting is always looking to develop and expand the capabilities of the software for our clients to satisfy their business needs. One very popular client request is the ability to draw and markup images stored in FileMaker while they are out of the office with their iPad or iPhone. Therefore, we were very pleased to see Geist Interactive launch the brand-new Go Draw, a drawing extension of FileMaker Go.

Go Draw allows users to draw on photos and documents stored in a FileMaker database quickly and easily by using their fingers or a stylus. These drawings are then saved within the database, which can be accessed later and treated like any normal FileMaker file including the ability to save as a PDF, email and print.

“The nature of using an iPad or iPhone for ‘in the field’ data collection begs for this type of solution” notes Adam Aronson, President of FullCity Consulting, “The extension is easy to ‘bolt on’ to FileMaker Go and opens the door to even more powerful solutions for our clients. It appeals to all types of users from field service technicians to creative professionals to land surveyors”.

Go Draw at Work

Boosting Signature Capture: With the rollout of the newest features in FileMaker Go 1.2, customers are able to capture signatures on the iPhone and iPad with Signature Capture to help manage contracts and invoices or track deliveries. The initial version of Signature Capture had limited results, but with Go Draw the control is now much more advanced.

Location Mapping: Users can now take a map image such as a Google satellite map view and draw right on the map and send it out to the customer save it to the database for later. This can be particularly useful for providing directions, site surveying and more.

Remote Data Capture: With Go Draw it’s now possible for users to take a picture of anything they are looking at on-site, mark it up with notes and send it back to the office. This is great for creating work orders and on-site estimations. Users can take a picture of a site, such as a contractor’s renovation project site, itemize what can or can’t be done within the project scope and provide documentation; thus making a clear, accurate estimate easily, while protecting themselves at the same time.

A Note on the Developers of Go Draw

Geist Interactive makes software for small businesses, organizations and individuals including the very best in FileMaker Pro tools. “Todd Geist is a master at thinking both inside and outside the FileMaker world and more importantly how to bring the two worlds together – taking technologies that are peripheral to FileMaker developers and putting them within view. He’s done unnatural acts with the FileMaker web viewer by leveraging HTML 5 and JavaScript,” says Adam. “A number of northeast FileMaker user groups are actively petitioning him to make a trip out here for the spring so stay tuned!”

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NJFMPUG January Meeting: FileMaker Go Case Studies

February 10, 2012  |   by admin,

The New Jersey FileMaker Pro User Group’s January 25, 2012 meeting was held at Essex Computers in Paramus. Adam Aronson, Certified FileMaker Developer and President & Founder of FullCity Consulting, lead a group discussion of Business Productivity Case Studies for the Apple iPad.

Adam reviewed real-life solutions developed by FullCity Consulting for clients. Each project
demonstrates special reasons and technical considerations related to mobile computing using FileMaker Go.

The first example was designed for a small firm dealing in mineral specimens. Although the hosted database can be accessed via FileMaker Pro, the structure and interface have been designed to provide iOS access using a local file. Image files, which are used extensively to illustrate the beauty of the collection, are stored within the primary file to enable access on the iPad when the company president is traveling to remote locations.

The second system makes extensive use of SeedCode’s GoZync. This solution provides limited client data to seasonal workers, allowing them to enter the details of services performed, while on-site at customer locations. It also makes use of a “remote kill” option to ensure data is no longer available if an employee absconds with an iPad, as well as Mobile Device Management (MDM) techniques to prevent unintended (e.g., game-playing) use of the equipment.

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NJFMPUG November Meeting: FileMaker Custom Function Roundup

December 5, 2011  |   by Adam Aronson, President and Founder

The New Jersey FileMaker Pro User Group’s November 30, 2011 meeting was held at Essex Computers in Paramus. Debi Rubel, Certified FileMaker Developer for FullCity Consulting, lead a group discussion of custom functions.

Members reviewed some of the advantages of custom functions, such as:

1. DRY (don’t repeat yourself) – the ability to store re-usable code

2. Storing global data outside of fields, away from easy viewing and editing

3. The ability to create recursive calculations

Using the Manage > Custom Functions dialog box, formulas can be created using FileMaker’s “calculation engine,” an interface similar to that used for the program’s field calculations. FileMaker Pro Advanced is required to create custom functions but, once saved, a new function can be used wherever FileMaker’s built-in functions are available: in field definitions, script steps, the data viewer – even other custom functions. An important distinction between custom and standard functions is the use of developer-created parameters, rather than direct access to fields.

FileMaker introduced custom functions with version 7. The current version (11) makes it even easier for developers to incorporate custom functions in their work through new copy/paste and import features.

Several custom functions were reviewed, including those for text, numbers, dates and times. Examples ranged from simple formatting options and mathematical standards such as median and hypotenuse, to more complex concepts involving date offsets that account for weekends and holidays, and recursive functions.

A recursive function is one that calls itself within its formula – much like a loop for scripts. And, as with loops, developers need to remember to provide an exit condition. FileMaker enforces recursion limits for both stack and tail recursion functions.

Variations of a function were shown to demonstrate methods for error-trapping, which can occur within the function and/or the calling calculation. Trapping for empty data and particular data types can be particularly helpful in ensuring correct outputs, and in preventing the dreaded “?” result when recursion limits are hit. Additional discussions revolved around the need to approach any particular problem with the end goal – the client’s needs – in mind.

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FullCity Consulting Achieves Apple MTC Designation to Provide Expert Enterprise Integration of Apple’s Mobile Devices

December 2, 2011  |   by admin,

In response to the growing demand for the integration and expansion of Apple technology, especially Apple’s mobile devices, FullCity Consulting is one of the first FileMaker consulting companies to complete the newly available Apple Mobility Technical Competency. This MTC designation and membership in the Apple Consultants Network allows FullCity Consulting to provide expert advisement, management and support to their clients who are deploying iOS mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad in a professional enterprise setting.

FileMaker Go Enterprise IntegrationThe Mobility Technical Competency is designed to certify that consultants have the necessary knowledge of the Apple mobile platform so they can make valuable recommendations to their business clients who are integrating mobile devices into an enterprise environment.

A key aspect of mobile integration for businesses to be mindful of is security, including the ability to control what people can do with the device, protect all of their data, and remotely wipe the device if necessary. FullCity Consulting continues to expand their expertise in iOS security with the new MTC designation, which is especially useful for the growing number of their clients utilizing the FileMaker Go software. FileMaker Go is arguably one of the best iPad and iPhone business data apps, allowing you to take all of your important FileMaker Pro data with you.

“FileMaker Go offers the flexibility of FileMaker on an iOS device and it’s important when bringing those devices into a business environment that you protect your data”, says Jonathan Sherry, Senior Analyst and Systems Engineer at FullCity Consulting and Apple Certified Technical Coordinator. “The iOS platform is a very open, standards-based secure platform, and with the MTC Certification we can help our clients take even greater advantage of those security protocols.”

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Adam Aronson Presenting Business Productivity Solutions for the iPad at CAFDA

December 1, 2011  |   by admin,

Chicago Area FileMaker Developers' AssociationCAFDA, the Chicago Area FileMaker Developer Association, is a group of intermediate and advanced FileMaker developers based in Chicago, Illinois. They hold informal group meetings to discuss their field expertise, grow their knowledge of FileMaker, and meet other FileMaker developers.

CAFDA meetings feature nationally known FileMaker speakers as well as Chicago-area developers. Adam Aronson, President and Founder of FullCity Consulting Inc., is pleased to share his expertise and knowledge on business productivity solutions for the iPad during this December’s CAFDA meeting at Soliant Consulting. During his presentation, Adam will be sharing multiple case studies where their iPad solutions have solved their clients’ needs and just how FullCity Consulting achieved those positive results.

FullCity Consulting specializes in business productivity solutions for the iPad and Filemaker/web integrations. They are an Apple Consultant with Mobility Technical Competency certification and are the FileMaker Business Alliance’s Business Partner of the Year in the Americas for 2011.

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