Before using DynaPDF functions in our plugin, you have to initialize that part of the plugin. For that you call
DynaPDF.Initialize function and pass path to the location of the DynaPDF dll or dylib.
Now our example code always used to use a $$DynaPDFInited variable to check the state. But that has two disadvantages:
- First it may also be set if initialization failed. So if you run a script, it fails, you than put the library where it should be and try again, it will not initialize again.
- Second with using a server, you may need to initialize both on server and client. But you only have one global variable. This causes trouble if initialization is done on client, but not on server.
- Third on a server, if the Scripting Engine process is restarted, the variable has the wrong value as the DynaPDF library is unloaded with the end of that process.
So the new way we recommend is to use the
DynaPDF.IsInitialized function to check the status. This way you can simply ask the plugin if it is initialized and call Initializ script as needed.
Just one month left until
FileMaker DevCon in San Antonio.
If you join the conference, please visit me at the MBS booth. If you do not visit the conference, but you are in the area, feel free to email me and we can meet at the bar and chat about plugins.
Also I got notice about the FileMaker Unconference .fmp[x]Berlin for 2015. It will be a three day conference 2nd to 4th June 2015.
More conference listen in an older blog entry.
Next week the FileMaker users in Hamburg meet next week.
You can come and learn about our latest FileMaker plugin.
Meeting is in Block House Wandsbek in Hamburg at 7pm.
see
filemaker-magazin.de/service/filemaker-stammtische/hamburg
Nickenich, Germany - (June 24th, 2014) -- MonkeyBread Software today is pleased to announce
MBS FileMaker Plugin 4.2 for Mac OS X or 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, Mac, 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 4.2 has been updated and now includes over 2500 different functions, and the versatile plugin has gained more new functions:
For the FileMaker script editor the plugin now provides on Mac OS X a new button to copy scripts as formatted text. This allows you to easily copy and paste a script in the FileMaker forums or an email. If you have a text editor to compare text like TextWrangler, you can now use it to compare two versions of a script. Or even put your scripts as text into a version control system to track changes.
Our new
Midi functions can find Midi devices on both Mac OS X and Windows. You can connect to a devices including virtual sources or destinations. Over the connection you can send Midi notes or receive Midi events.
If you need to have an user pick an item from a list, you can now use our new
ListDialog functions. Fill the list with some values, show the dialog and query what the user chose. Multiple selection and preselection is possible. Currently Mac OS X only.
For the case you work often with lists of elements, we now have a couple of
list related functions. You can compare lists, remove duplicates, sort lists or remove empty items.
As part of this update, we also updated a couple of libraries including DynaPDF,
GraphicsMagick, OpenSSL and
CURL. We also got a few more
DynaPDF functions, improvements for
AppleScript,
Audit,
GraphicsMagick and
JSON.
More details in the
release notes. Please take the time to check our 250 example databases and check where you can use our plugin features in your solutions.
Tony White put the FMP URL protocol infographic from the 2014-06-19 NYFMP.org meeting on his
website:
I think this is very useful and should be included in every FileMaker developer's toolbox.
More details on
twdesigns.com/fmp_url_protocol/.
PDF Download.
New in this prerelease of the 4.2 plugins:
- Added Windows support for Icon.GetIcon function.
- Added a new button to script editor/debugger to copy the text of a script to clipboard.
- Changed Files.Launch and Files.LaunchFile implementation, so it returns better error codes on Mac.
- Fixed ListDialog to disable the select button if nothing is selected.
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.
Soon coming to your FileMaker Script windows.
This copy button allows to copy the text of the script without formatting.
You can paste in any text editor and for example do comparison. This way you can see what things you modified in a script easily.
New in this prerelease of the 4.2 plugins:
- Added new list functions: List.FindEquals, List.FindUnequals, List.RemoveDuplicateItems, List.RemoveEmptyItems and List.Sort.
- Added ListDialog functions.
- Added Type parameter for Clipboard.GetText and Clipboard.SetText for Mac.
- Upgraded OS Version query on Mac to work better on Mac OS X 10.10
- Fixed problem with Calendar.Item.SetCalendar function.
- Updated DynaPDF library to version 3.0.33.95.
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.
MBS will be present at the FM Conferénce 2014 this year in Toulouse, France.
Feel free to join the event and meet us there and ask all the questions you have.
I may even have a little presentation about our MBS Plugin there.
For more details, please check
fmconf.com website.
MBS will be present at the FM Summit 2014 this year in Scheveningen near Den Haag.
Feel free to join the event and meet us there and ask all the questions you have.
For more details, please check
fmsummit.info website.
The meetings will take place as we have a couple of attendees:
Wednesday, 11th June,
Xojo Developer Meeting, at Schweizer Haus (
schweizerhaus.at)
Thursday, 12th June,
FileMaker Developer Meeting
I'll be there from around 6pm to 10pm.
If you are interested in joining, please email me, so we know how many seats we need.
Meeting will be probably in a beer garden or restaurant somewhere near Vienna.
New in this prerelease of the 4.2 plugins:
- Added String.ConvertEncoding function.
- Added DeltaX/DeltaY parameter for PDFKit.Watermark function.
- Updated DynaPDF library to version 3.0.33.94.
- Our MBS Plugin may decide to stop working on FileMaker Server without license after 2 hours.
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.
Just a note from WWDC: iOS 8 allows bundled frameworks inside apps.
This could technically allow both FileMaker and Xojo to support plugins on iOS devices!
We'll see if they use this new feature to allow us to port plugins to iOS.
New in this prerelease of the 4.2 plugins:
- Improved GMImage.Annotate function.
- Added GMImage.GetStrokeDashArray and GMImage.SetStrokeDashArray.
Download at
monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.
