FileMaker 9 Developer Reference:Functions, Scripts, Commands, and Grammars, with Extensive Custom Function Examples

Description

Table of Contents

Introduction Welcome to FileMaker 9

Developer Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1 FileMaker 9 Product Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2 New Features of FileMaker 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3 Overview of FileMaker 8.5 Features . . . . . . . . . 21

4 Overview of FileMaker 8 Features . . . . . . . . . . . 25

5 Specifications and Storage Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 33

6 Field Types and Import/Export Formats . . . . . . 37

7 Calculation Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

8 Calculation Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

9 Calculation Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

10 Custom Function Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

11 Useful Custom Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

12 Scripting Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331

13 Script Step Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337

14 FileMaker XML Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439

15 FileMaker API for PHP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 453

16 JDBC/ODBC and External SQL Connectivity . . 489

17 AppleScript Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499

18 FileMaker Error Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511

19 FileMaker Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521

20 FileMaker Network Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539

21 FileMaker Server Command Line

Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541

A Additional Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 553

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561

Back Cover

Maybe you know FileMaker, and you have used it for years, but need a quick reference, immediately accessible while not interrupting your work on screen. This is the only book on the market expressly focused on describing each calculation formula and how and when to use each! Filled with real-world, concrete examples, this book is an invaluable companion to readers working to develop solutions to their every day software problems. Contains hundreds of calculation functions, script steps, and operations that will appeal to every FileMaker user, new and old.

Author

Bob Bowers

, CEO of Soliant Consulting, is a columnist and contributing editor for

FileMaker Advisor magazine and has coauthored five books: Advanced FileMaker Pro 5.5

Techniques for Developers, Advanced FileMaker Pro 6 Web Development, Special Edition Using

FileMaker 7, Special Edition Using FileMaker 8, and FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk

Reference. At the 2002 FileMaker Developer Conference he was awarded the FileMaker

Fellowship Award. Widely recognized as one of the leading educators for database and

FileMaker Pro technologies, he is authorized by FileMaker, Inc., to teach the Professional

Training Foundation Series. Bob is also a proud dad of two young children, an avid musician,

a die-hard Cubs fan, and an accomplished woodworker.

Steve Lane, vice president of Soliant Consulting, served as a special projects developer at

Scott Foresman, a leading K-6 Educational publisher. He has written for FileMaker Advisor

magazine, and coauthored four books: Advanced FileMaker Pro 6 Web Development, Special

Edition Using FileMaker Pro 7, Special Edition Using FileMaker 8, and FileMaker 8 Functions

and Scripts Desk Reference. He has led training classes in FileMaker technologies all over the

country and is also authorized to teach the Professional Training Foundation Series. He

regularly speaks at the annual FileMaker Developer Conference where in 2003 he was

awarded the FileMaker Fellowship Award for “pushing the boundaries of FileMaker Pro.”

When not writing about technology, Steve is likely to be found being chased about by his

children, or grumbling over the fingerings of J. S. Bach. Or just grumbling.

Scott Love, chief operating officer of Soliant Consulting, served at Ziff-Davis Interactive

as an online managing editor, served at Apple Computer as its web publishing technology

evangelist, and led the technical marketing team at Macromedia. He has written dozens

of feature and review articles on database and Internet/web topics for a wide range of

computer publications including Macworld magazine and FileMaker Advisor. He has coauthored

three books: Special Edition Using FileMaker 7, Special Edition Using FileMaker 8, and

FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference. He is also an authorized Professional

Training Foundation Series instructor and a regular speaker at the FileMaker Developer

Conference. In 2006 he was awarded the FileMaker Excellence Award “for developing outstanding

technical and training resources for FileMaker.” Scott lives in the California Bay

Area where his penchant for gardening can be indulged year round.