New constants AppSupportsDarkMode and AppSupportsHiDPI
More Dark Mode improvements to both the IDE and framework
iOS builds now use the 12.1. SDK for latest device support
macOS builds now use the 10.14 SDK for latest Declare support
SQLite updated to 3.25.3
The complete list of improvements in Xojo 2018 Release 4 can be found in the release notes.
We were curious whether Xojo Inc. would get back to four releases per year after just three releases last year. I consider this 4th release to be a bug fix release for the changes with dark mode from the previous release. Certainly welcome as more and more customers request Dark Mode support for MacOS 10.14 Mojave and we upgrade all projects to the newer versions. It looks like all the other nice projects in the pipeline are not yet ready, so maybe coming with 2019r1 in about three months. The Xojo conference may right in time for 2019r2 release, which may bring a few new things to be presented at the conference.
With the new URLConnection class, we got a the code from Xojo.Net.HTTPSocket in a new variation using string & memoryblock, so they better work without text & Xojo.Core.Memoryblock classes. If you have code still using HTTPSocket or HTTPSecureSocket, please move to newer classes to benefit from TLS and HTTP 1.1 implementation. If you need more options or a class working in different Xojo versions, maybe consider using CURLSMBS class from us. It can run synchronous, asynchronous and with background threading.
Enjoy the winter with long nights for coding and see you all in 2019 at a Xojo conference!
DynaPDF just dropped the 32-bit Mac target by moving to Xcode 10, which simply doesn't support it any more. We still compile our plugin for 32-bit via Xcode 9, but that may not be forever. So eventually 32-bit will go away.
DynaPDF licensening
The DynaPDF licensing is set to change early 2019 a little bit. The license prices will change for DynaPDF 5. For existing customers, we suggest to order updates before the changes take effect. You can update with old pricing for up to 5 years now to secure the current pricing.
Another change is also coming. Currently you are not charged for skipped maintenance time, but that is set to change. Adding maintenance years will than start with the end of the existing maintenance period. If you bought a license in 2016 and didn't buy maintenance in 2017 and 2018, you may need to pay for two to three years in 2019 to get up to date.
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FileMaker Inc. just released update for FileMaker Pro Advanced and Server to add compatibility for MacOS 10.14 Mojave.
FileMaker Pro 17.0.3 Advanced and FileMaker Server 17.0.2.252 installer with support for macOS Mojave
FileMaker, Inc. has released FileMaker Pro 17.0.3 Advanced and the FileMaker Server 17.0.2.252 installer with support for macOS Mojave.
FileMaker Pro 17.0.3 Advanced includes bug fixes and compatibility updates for macOS Mojave 10.14.
The FileMaker Server 17.0.2.252 installer has been updated and includes all the updates from FileMaker Server 17.0.2 and compatibility updates for macOS Mojave 10.14. Because this is a full installer, download the installation disk image and license certificate file from your software download page.
Updates have also been made to the FileMaker data migration tool. Access requires a FileMaker Developer Subscription or FileMaker Business Alliance membership.
As this update includes important bug fixes for both MacOS and Windows and performance improvements for layouts, please install the update soon.
As far as we see, the MBS plugin work just fine. Now we only wait for a FileMaker iOS SDK update.
That is a German text saved as UTF-8, than imported in another encoding. We need to cleanup that encoding and I got a nice function for this. We simply try to see if the text in another encoding is valid text and convert it back to UTF-8. Here is the function and it's test method:
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The 2019 Xojo Developer Conference will take place 1st to 3rd May 2019 in Miami, Florida. The Marriott Biscayne Bay is located in the north side of Miami downtown and is a convenient location to reach most of Miami easily. Registration is possible and current rate is $899 for the ticket.
The session list has been published.
An impressive list with a lot of new speakers. Check your schedule and get a ticket soon, if you can find the time to come.
As everyone now wants to use Xojo 2018 to get 64-bit, HiDPI and DarkMode on MacOS and the next version of MacOS will properly come without 32-bit support, it may be the time to remove some of the last QuickTime, QuickDraw and Carbon GUI classes.
You can still use Real Studio with current MBS Plugins 18.5, but in future, this would require to use Cocoa target at least.
We remove from MBS Xojo & Real Studiolink Plugins for next release:
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This blog is running for for over 10 years already. We have a ton of articles here and now we link them to our plugin documentation, FileMaker and Xojo.
In the documentation, when you find a function or class, which has been mentioned in an article, the maximum 10 newest articles will be listed for you to jump right into the blog and read it.
Earlier this year we got the links to CURL documentation, DynaPDF documentation and all our example projects into the documentation.
And with a documentation browsing tool like Dash, you would even find the blog entries there.
For dash documentation we added Interfaces and Plugin parts to the index.
Get the dash docset here for FileMaker and here for Xojo.
This is a blog article to remind everyone writing application in C to no longer use FSCreateFileUnicode function because it is very slow on APFS in our tests.
Speed tests show a 50 times slower result with APFS and FSCreateFileUnicode function:
each for 1000 files to be created & written in a Xcode project.
For creating the file (not opening and writing!), you get a 11 second wait for 1000 files. Using fopen, the standard C library, you get a much better performance.
For Xojo, it looks like they use FSCreateFileUnicode for TextOutputStream and BinaryStream classes. We got one project run in 5 minutes instead of 2h by just changing the code to write output files. This tool writes something like 100000 files in a run and heavily benefits from any optimization. Reported as feedback case 54276.
By the way our LargeBinaryStreamMBS class in MBS Xojo Util Plugin still uses the old APIs, too. We need it mainly to read/write resource forks on Mac, but as that is going away, it may be good to deprecate that in favor of an optimized BinaryStream from Xojo in a future release?
The problem seems in Apple's implementation to emulate older and deprecated FSCreateFileUnicode with the newer Apple File System. For years they told us to move away from FSRef and really it is time to move. I also reported this to Apple (case 46302303) to let them know that it's slow than they can help to keep old applications performance well by improving it.
Nickenich, Germany - (November 27th, 2018) -- MonkeyBread Software today is pleased to announce MBS FileMaker Plugin 8.5 for macOS, iOS, Linux and Windows, the latest update to their product that is easily the most powerful plugin currently available for FileMaker Pro. As the leading database management solution for Windows, macOS, iOS and the web, the FileMaker Pro Integrated Development Environment supports a plugin architecture that can easily extend the feature set of the application. MBS FileMaker Plugin 8.5 has been updated and now includes over 5500 different functions, and the versatile plugin has gained more new functions:
Our SSH functions got a new tunnel feature. Beside file transfers over SSH (SFTP), running remote shell commands on another computer via SSH, we now finally got a tunnel feature. You can tunnel for example a MySQL database connection through the SSH tunnel to reach a database server in the data center, which is not available directly via the internet.
New smartcard functions for APDU protocol allow you to read data from various smart cards. This includes reading swiss health insurance cards, belgian identity cards and many more.
Our new Text.MergeFields function can merge field values, variables and evaluate expressions to fill values into a text.
For MacOS we got a new function to remember column widths in the dialog for custom functions. Our preferences dialog got new checkmarks to enable/disable this feature. File dialogs for MacOS can now operate as sheets with script trigger when done to process files selected. For all lists shown in FileMaker, you can click on them to set focus, press command-option-C to copy the content of the table. With Command-+ or - you can zoom in the lists, which is great for presentations.
To better track errors returned by MBS plugin calls, you can use our Plugin.SetErrorScriptTrigger function. When a plugin function returns an error, we will schedule a script trigger to report the error with a JSON object. The JSON contains details like script name, MBS call with parameters, result and some more details.
We updated the Amazon S3 example to do upload, download, delete and listing for files in the buckets. FTP file listings can now be returned as JSON to process easier. Webview.ClearBrowserSession function allows you to end browser session for Windows and clear session cookies.
As we now build the plugins with Xcode 10.1 for 64-bit and Xcode 9.4 for 32-bit, we moved the minimum MacOS version required up to MacOS 10.9.
Finally we upgraded CURL to version 7.62.0, DynaPDF to version 4.0.25.63, OpenSSL to version 1.1.1 for all targets, SQLite to version 3.25.2, SQLAPI library to version 4.2.4 beta 2, and zlib to version 1.2.11.
Nickenich, Germany - (November 27th, 2018) -- MonkeyBread Software today is pleased to announce MBS Xojo Plugins 18.5 for macOS, Linux and Windows, the latest update to their product that is easily the most powerful plugin collection currently available for Xojo. MBS Xojo Plugins 18.5 have been updated and now includes over 2500 classes and 63000 documented features, and the versatile plugins have gained more new functions:
This version provides new classes for SmartCards. The new CryptoTokenKit plugin part wraps the framework from Apple to handle smart cards on Mac OS for 64-bit applications. New functions for APDU protocol allow you to read data from various smart cards. This includes reading Swiss health insurance cards, Belgian identity cards and many more. The same functions got added to SmartCardMBS class to do the same cross platform for Mac and Windows with the PCSC libraries.
The ChartDirectory library got updated to version 6.3 with resource loading from memory as well as a lot of bug fixes. We improved our Xojo plugin to better handle HiDPI and return pictures with proper resolution setting.
For MacOS we have new NSTextFinderMBS class and related classes to show search panel. This works for NSTextViewMBS based controls and standard Xojo textarea controls. In both you can show the user search and replace controls like in TextEdit application.
As we now build the plugins with Xcode 10.1 for 64-bit and Xcode 9.4 for 32-bit, we moved the minimum MacOS version required up to MacOS 10.9.
For Windows, we got a few enhancements: New date properties help you in the WindowsFileInfoMBS class. For HTMLViewer control, you can now end browser session with IEClearBrowserSessionMBS and clear session cookies. MAPI Email sending got improved to work better.
The new SGLockMBS module allows you to use dongles from SG Intec. The new KeychainAccessControlMBS class helps with TouchID on MacOS, InstallNSAccessibilityPatchMBS fixes a crash with NSAccessibility and menu classes in Xojo, we got a new CURLSURLMBS class for URL parsing and CIFilter classes updated for MacOS 10.14 Mojave.
Finally we updated CURL to version 7.62.0, DynaPDF to version 4.0.25.63, OpenSSL to version 1.1.1 for all targets, SQLite to version 3.25.2, SQLAPI library to version 4.2.4 beta 2, LibXL 3.8.3, and zlib to version 1.2.11.
27. November 2018 - Monkeybread Software veröffentlicht heute das MBS Plugin für FileMaker in Version 8.5, mit inzwischen über 5500 Funktionen eines der größten FileMaker Plugins überhaupt. Hier einige der Neuerungen:
Unsere SSH Funktionen haben jetzt eine neue Tunnel Funktion. Neben Dateitransfers via SSH (SFTP) und dem Ausführen von Shell Befehlen auf einem entfernten Computer via SSH haben wir jetzt SSH Tunnels eingebaut. Sie können beispielsweise einen Tunnel aufbauen ins Rechenzentrum und eine MySQL Datenbankverbindung durch leiten, wenn der MySQL Server nicht direkt über das Internet erreichbar ist.
Neue SmartCard Funktionen für das APDU Protokol erlauben Ihnen Daten von verschiedenen SmartCards zu lesen. Das funktioniert unter anderem mit den Schweizer Krankenversicherungskarten und den Belgischen Personalausweisen.
Unsere neue Text.MergeFields Funktion kann Platzhalter im Text durch Werte ersetzen. Dabei können Sie Feldwerte, Variablen und sogar Formeln verwenden.
Für MacOS merkt sich das Plugin jetzt die Spaltenbreite für den Eigene Funktionen Dialog. Unser Voreinstellungsdialog hat für diese Möglichkeit und andere Funktionen neue Häkchen bekommen zum Ein- und Ausschalten. Dateidialoge können bei MacOS asynchron laufen und später ein Skript triggern mit dem Ergebnis. Für alle Listen in FileMaker selber bietet das Plugin die Möglichkeit den Inhalt mit Befehl-Alt-C in die Zwischenablage zu kopieren. Mit Befehl-+ oder - können Sie in den Listen die Ansicht vergrößern bzw. verkleinern, ideal für Präsentationen.
Mit der neuen Funktion Plugin.SetErrorScriptTrigger können Sie Fehler bei Pluginaufrufen leichter mitschreiben. Sollte ein Pluginaufruf einen Fehler melden, wird ein voreingestelltes Skript getriggert mit einem JSON Block an Informationen. Darunter dann der Name vom Skript, welche Funktion mit welchen Parametern aufgerufen wurde und welche Fehlermeldung zurück kam. So können Sie Fehler aufzeichnen mit Kontextinformationen.
Einige Funktionen sind jetzt auf anderen Platformen verfügbar. Die Windows.Scrollbar Funktion unterstützt nun MacOS, iOS und Windows. Die WebView.Screenshot und Window.Screenshot Funktionen unterstützen zusätzlich iOS. Die Funktionen Files.GetNodeID und Files.GetPathFromNodeID laufen jetzt bei Windows. Und die WebView.Scrollbar Funktion scrollt bei FileMaker 16 mit MacOS und iOS.
Das Amazon S3 Beispiel kann Dateien hoch- bzw. runter laden, löschen oder die Dateien auflisten. FTP Dateilisten gibt es jetzt als JSON Block zum Parsen. Die Webview.ClearBrowserSession Funktion erlaubt Ihnen eine Browser Session für Windows zu beenden und das löscht die Session Cookies.
Da wir nun die Plugins mit Xcode 10.1 für 64-bit und Xcode 9.4 für 32-bit bauen, haben wir die minimale MacOS Version auf 10.9 gesetzt.
Außerdem haben wir noch die CURL Bibliothek aktualisiert auf Version 7.62.0, DynaPDF auf Version 4.0.25.63, OpenSSL auf Version 1.1.1 für alle Platformen, SQLAPI library auf Version 4.2.4 beta 2, SQLite auf Version 3.25.2 und zlib auf Version 1.2.11.
In Zusammenarbeit mit der DenkForm GmbH bieten wir eine Schulung zum MBS Plugin an. Am 6. Dezember 2018 (auch 7. März 2019) können Sie in Wiesbaden-Igstadt an einer eintägigen Schulung teilnehmen. Lernen Sie die über 5500 Funktionen einmal näher kennen und wie Sie sie effektiv einsetzen. Sammeln Sie Ideen und verbessern Sie ihre FileMaker Lösungen durch den Einsatz unseres Plugins.
Das Monkeybread Software Plugin für FileMaker stellt eine vielseitige Erweiterung der eigenen Datenbank dar. Der Kurs bietet nicht nur einen tiefgreifenden Überblick in die Benutzung und Entwicklung, sondern bietet auch die Chance das Plugin günstiger zu erstehen.
Einführung in das MBS Plugin
Überblick über die Funktionsbereiche
Neues im MBS Plugin dieses Jahr und in der dann aktuellen Version 8.5
Rundgang durch ausgewählte Beispiele
Gemeinsames Implementieren von Plugin Funktionen in eine Datenbank:
Upload/Download mit CURL auf einen HTTP/FTP Server
Ausfüllen eines Formulares auf einer Webseite
Bilder bearbeiten
PDF Verarbeitung
Druckerfunktionen
Adressbuch und Kontakte abfragen bei Mac OS X.
Fragen und Antworten
Die Teilnahme kostet 99 Euro inkl. MWSt. und Verpflegung. Trainer ist der Plugin Entwickler und Monkeybread Software Geschäftsführer Christian Schmitz persönlich.
Im Anschluss besteht die Möglichkeit zum FileMaker Rhein-Main Stammtisch zu kommen. Bei einem leckeren Abendessen im Restaurant Bella Bari in der Nähe der Denkform können Sie sich mit anderen FileMaker Entwicklern aus der Gegend austauschen.
There is a lovely trick in GateKeeper and code signing on Mac to pass through an identifier with the download of an application from your website. So for each download, you can associate an UUID with the download, which the app can read after unpacking. You know the UUID on the website, so you can put it in a database and link it to the account of the current user. This way when the app runs within minutes after download, you can link the application to the account without having the user login in the application. You may have seen that with a couple of apps you downloaded before for meetings.
The extended attribute with the UUID is named com.apple.application-instance and put into the application. You read it in Xojo with our ExtendedAttributesMBS.GetRawAttribute plugin function. When you sign the app, you zip the app to an archive. Next you add an "._name.app" file to the archive with the name of your app containing the encoded metadata with extended attributes. We got such a file with zipping an application with the extended attribute using ditto command line tool. Than we extracted the metadata file from the archive without applying it. Than we add this file now with the application zip without compression, so one dummy UUID is there without compressing. On the website, you would have a php script to replace the given UUID in the zip archive with whatever UUID you need for the user.
In short the idea is to have the zip on the server. When someone loads it, you switch the UUID to the new one. Than you let the user download, run the app within minutes and auto login them for their account. A seamless experience for the user!
And the great thing: Changing the UUID in com.apple.application-instance extended attribute will not break the code signing as you can read in TN2206.
Pat (Upcoming changes …): Don’t waste time on old s… Sunil Abraham (Upcoming changes …): Please don’t stop support… Arndt Weinmann (Upcoming changes …): Hi Christian,
my main a… Tom Catchesides (Upcoming changes …): Hi Christian, we still ha… Christian Schmitz… (Code Signing File…): Please make sure you have… Gregory Taylor (Code Signing File…): Thank you for making this… Christian Schmitz… (Notarize apps for…): I’ll add to my sample scr… Stephen (FileMaker updates…): I am able to launch a run… Graham Lindsay (Notarize apps for…): I too had the same issue … Christian (FileMaker updates…): Well, I can’t see the pro…
We just got notice about a new Xojo release:
We are thinking about some changes for year 2019.
FileMaker Inc. just released update for FileMaker Pro Advanced and Server to add compatibility for MacOS 10.14 Mojave.
New in this prerelease of the 18.6 plugins:
New in this prerelease of version 8.6 of the MBS FileMaker Plugin:
As everyone now wants to use Xojo 2018 to get 64-bit, HiDPI and DarkMode on MacOS and the next version of MacOS will properly come without 32-bit support, it may be the time to remove some of the last QuickTime, QuickDraw and Carbon GUI classes.
This blog is running for for over 10 years already. We have a ton of articles here and now we link them to our plugin documentation, 
In Zusammenarbeit mit der DenkForm GmbH bieten wir eine Schulung zum MBS Plugin an. Am 6. Dezember 2018 (auch 7. März 2019) können Sie in Wiesbaden-Igstadt an einer eintägigen Schulung teilnehmen. Lernen Sie die über 5500 Funktionen einmal näher kennen und wie Sie sie effektiv einsetzen. Sammeln Sie Ideen und verbessern Sie ihre FileMaker Lösungen durch den Einsatz unseres Plugins.
There is a lovely trick in GateKeeper and code signing on Mac to pass through an identifier with the download of an application from your website. So for each download, you can associate an UUID with the download, which the app can read after unpacking. You know the UUID on the website, so you can put it in a database and link it to the account of the current user. This way when the app runs within minutes after download, you can link the application to the account without having the user login in the application. You may have seen that with a couple of apps you downloaded before for meetings.
