Recently we moved to require Windows 8 as minimum and drop Windows 7 support. Turns out a few customers still use Windows Server 2012 and the plugin won't load there.
For Windows 7 or Windows 2012, we need to turn off:
WindowsML functions
WindowsOCR functions
WinPDF functions
WindowsUserNotification functions.
In future, we may build a Windows 7 or Server 2012 variant of the
MBS FileMaker Plugin if needed, but we highly recommend you change your Windows versions in order to not require one.
We got a Windows 7 build of MBS Plugin 13.2 here:
MBSFMPlugin132-Windows7.zip
PS: For Xojo we don't have such a problem as you decide what plugin parts you reference and if you don't reference anything needing Windows 8, you can still use Windows 7.
Check out the FMTraining.tv website. Richard Carlton and his team do a daily free live stream about FileMaker to watch.
A few days ago Christian Schmitz from Monkeybread Software joined a live episode to talk a bit about the MBS FileMaker Plugin. Watch it on YouTube.
We talk about MBS FileMaker Plugin and the PDF related functions: WinPDF functions for Windows in upcoming version 13.2, PDFKit functions for macOS and DynaPDF functions for cross platform PDF features.
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The new 2023 version of the FileMaker platform includes server support for Linux on ARM with Ubuntu 22.
A brief history: We built software for Raspberry Pi for years and even started preparing the 64-bit branch for it years ago. Since we saw the train going to ARM, we started in November 2021 to prepare our MBS Plugin for Linux on ARM. Starting early gave us time to walk over all our used libraries and build them for the new platform and make all the changes in our code as needed.
Since spring 2022 we regularly build the Linux for ARM plugin with our normal building process. Just making sure it links and no compiler error prevents this. We made a dummy app and a dummy FMWrapper.so for this, so we could even test the plugin loading and see whether it shows any errors.
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New in this prerelease of version 13.2 of the
MBS FileMaker Plugin:
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.com/filemaker/files/Prerelease/, in
DropBox folder or ask for being added to the DropBox shared folder.
Check out the FMTraining.tv website. Richard Carlton and his team do a daily free live stream about FileMaker to watch.
A few days ago Christian Schmitz from Monkeybread Software joined a live episode to talk a bit about the MBS FileMaker Plugin. Watch it on YouTube.
Richard talks about document management and later we show how MBS Plugin can help to store documents in Amazon S3 service and our plugin can create previews for various image files.
(more)
New in this prerelease of version 13.2 of the
MBS FileMaker Plugin:
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.com/filemaker/files/Prerelease/, in
DropBox folder or ask for being added to the DropBox shared folder.
Since we add Windows PDF functions to our plugins, we like to compare what's different between them compared to DynaPDF.
For FileMaker, please check DynaPDF, WinPDF and PDFKit functions in MBS FileMaker Plugin.
For Xojo, please check DynaPDF classes in MBS Xojo DynaPDF Plugin, Windows PDF classes in MBS Xojo WinFrameworks Plugin and PDFKit classes in MBS Xojo MacControls Plugin.
Below you find the table of DynaPDF features and the checkboxes we got for PDFKit and Windows PDF:
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Here is a snippet we showed on the FMTraining live stream yesterday and it may be interesting for everyone here:
Set Variable [ $image ; Value: MBS( "GMImage.NewFromContainer"; $input) ]
If [ MBS("IsError") = 0 ]
# limit size to maximum 1000 pixels in width
Set Variable [ $scale ; Value: MBS("GMImage.Scale";$Image; "1000>") ]
# remove metadata
Set Variable [ $r ; Value: MBS( "GMImage.SetProfile"; $image; "IPTC"; "" ) ]
Set Variable [ $r ; Value: MBS( "GMImage.SetProfile"; $image; "EXIF"; "" ) ]
Set Variable [ $r ; Value: MBS( "GMImage.SetProfile"; $image; "XMP"; "" ) ]
# save
Set Variable [ $NewImage ; Value: MBS("GMImage.WriteToJPEGContainer"; $Image) ]
If [ MBS("IsError") = 0 ]
Set Field [ Get Preview::Preview ; $NewImage ]
Set Field [ Get Preview::Made using ; "GraphicsMagick" ]
Set Variable [ $r ; Value: MBS("GMimage.Release";$Image) ]
Exit Script [ Text Result: ]
End If
Set Variable [ $r ; Value: MBS("GMimage.Release";$Image) ]
End If
As you see we load an image from a container field or a variable with a container value. Then we scale it to a maximum width of 1000 pixels. We remvoe metadata and then write out a JPEG image.
We could add a call to GMImage.SetDensity in order to change resolution metadata if needed.
New in this prerelease of version 13.2 of the
MBS FileMaker Plugin:
- Updated Xcode to version 14.3.
- Changed minimum version of macOS to 10.13.
- Improved EmailParser.Attachment function to better handle PDF documents and return them as PDF container with preview.
- Adjusted plugin for the next version of FileMaker.
- Fixed a bug in MessageComposer functions on newer iOS versions.
- Changed container handler to only put in MAIN item for FileMaker 13 or newer.
- Changed default for CURL.SetOptionConnectionTimeout to 10 seconds (unless you change it) to avoid long stalls in your application of 2 minutes when server is not reachable.
- Updated SQLAPI to version 5.2.4b3.
- Added identifier value to the JSON returned by CNContact.JSON function.
- Added root name parameter to Dictionary.ToXML function.
- Changed Audit.Delete and Audit.Delete2 to record new fields found before deleting with Delete instead of Create.
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.com/filemaker/files/Prerelease/, in
DropBox folder or ask for being added to the DropBox shared folder.
Since Microsoft added some PDF functions to their frameworks in Windows 10, we can now implement this to our MBS FileMaker Plugin. That got possible since we dropped Windows 7 and require newer functions for component management in Windows 8. For MBS FileMaker Plugin 13.2, we add the new functions for you to try out:
(more)
Once again we have April and thus we celebrate the 23rd anniversary of our company this weekend.
Time flies and it wasn't long ago, where we had to cancel the 20th anniversary party. Looks like it may be time to start planning the 25th birthday!
Thanks everyone for supporting us over the years and see you at the next conference!
If you need a new license this week, you can use coupon code Birthday for a little discount.
If you have a wish for a new plugin function, feel free to
send us a message.
New in this prerelease of version 13.2 of the
MBS FileMaker Plugin:
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.com/filemaker/files/Prerelease/, in
DropBox folder or ask for being added to the DropBox shared folder.
Did you sign up for
FileMaker Conference dotfmp.berlin 2023?
Just two months until the conference organized by
Egbert Friedrich takes place from 1st to 3rd June 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
As the conference is in English, this is your chance to meet people from around the world at a conference in Europe. And for a lot of people it's easier to get to Berlin than to cross the atlantic and deal with US immigration officers.
Who
dotfmp is an effort of various leading European FileMaker Developers. It is meant to bring all kinds of higher level developers together to share knowledge, educate and challenge each other.
When
dotfmp starts at the 30th May 2023 in the later afternoon with a relaxed "Beer and Sausages" in one of the most famous Berlin Beergarden. The session days itself last from 1st until 3rd June with various socializing events in the evenings. Additionally you may stay the Sunday 4th June to see more from Berlin and its surroundings.
What
dotfmp is a 3 Day-Unconference, Meetup, Hangout or Barcamp. It is an informal and self-organized effort to meet on a personal base.
Where
dotfmp takes place in one of the most famous spots in Berlin. The Schankhalle Pfefferberg is located in a vibrant area with a very short walking distance to all the famous restaurants.
Why
We feel there are far too few possibilities to talk to, learn from, and hangout with fellow developers in a relaxed and informal environment. And we'd like to share work and get feedback from people chewing on similar challenges.
If you like to join the conference and present something, please
register soon.
