MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 7.4pr4

New in this prerelease of the 7.4 MBS FileMaker Plugin: Download at monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.

FileMaker and PDF Containers

There are sometimes problems with Containers as you see in various FileMaker forums. Well, the problem may be that FileMaker can do only previews on Mac as they don't include a PDF engine for Windows. So if you try and add files and check with Container.GetTypes what items are in the container, you get a table like this:

FileMaker 16 Win
Any ContainerInsert FileFILE, FNAM
Any ContainerInsert PictureFNAM, PDF
Interactive ContainerInsert PDFFNAM, PDF
After using DynaPDF.GeneratePreviewFNAM, JPEG, MAIN, PDF , SIZE
FileMaker 16 Mac
Any ContainerInsert FileFILE, FNAM
Any ContainerInsert PictureFNAM, JPEG, MAIN, PDF , PNGf, SIZE
Interactive ContainerInsert PDFFNAM, JPEG, MAIN, PDF , PNGf, SIZE
After using PDFKit.Combine functionFNAM, JPEG, MAIN, PDF , SIZE

We have a couple of common types in the containers:
  • "PDF " is the PDF file data.
  • FILE is the content of a file.
  • JPEG if exists is the JPEG preview data.
  • PNGf if exists is a preview as PNG image file.
  • FNAM is the file name for the container.
  • SIZE is the preview image size.
Now you need to know that FileMaker can render PDF on Mac on the fly (without annotations!), but on Windows it needs the preview. Or for all platforms use a web viewer for the interactive container to let the web engine render the PDF using it's PDF plugin.

You can of course always use MBS functions to check if preview is missing and add it on the fly using both PDFKit and DynaPDF functions. This could even be done on a server with a scheduled script or on a helper machine. The MBS Plugin adds a JPEG preview and you can use Plugin.SetPreviewSize function to configure preview size.

Sign up for European FileMaker Conferences

Please join 500+ FileMaker developers at the European developer conferences this year:
Conference Name Location Date Registration
FM Summit
(Dutch)
Sassenheim, Netherlands 9 - 11 October Register Learn more
FileMaker UK Developer Event 2017 (English) Uxbridge, United Kingdom 11 October Register Learn more
FileMaker Konferenz
(German)
Salzburg, Austria 12 - 14 October Register Learn more
FileMaker Devcon Scandinavia (English) Stockholm, Sweden 16 - 17 October Register Learn more
FM Conférence
(French)
Rouen, France 18 - 20 October Register Learn more
FileMaker Spanish DevCon (Spanish) Madrid, Spain 20 - 21 October Register Learn more
If you like to go to a bigger conference in English, please join the Swedish one and make a trip to Stockholm!
We have a booth at the German conference and I will come for a visit to the Spanish conference.

Custom WebView in FileMaker 16

As you may know FileMaker 16 uses WebKit 2.x for the WebViewers and we had to rewrite a lot of plugin functions for FileMaker 16. But some are still missing like print to PDF or rendering images. We look forward to macOS 10.13 which should bring a couple of improvements there for the WKWebView class and so we can improve functions for the next macOS version.

As a lot of clients ask for the functionality they had in FileMaker 15 to work in FileMaker 16, I had a nice idea today: We skip FileMaker's WebView and create our own!
So here you see a WebKit 1.x WebView (the older one) with a website loaded:

You call WebView.Create to create a new web view on page. The plugin puts it right on the layout independent of all FileMaker controls. So it stays at the position and does not reload when you switch records. And this allows a lot of new possibilities for navigation and special controls!

Please try it in the next prerelease or email me for a copy to test sooner. Mac only of course.

MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 7.4pr3

New in this prerelease of the 7.4 MBS FileMaker Plugin: Download at monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.

Video from MBS Plugin Presentation at DevCon 2017

ThumbnailDevCon 2017 Presentation

(English)

50:32 minutes
At the FileMaker Developer Conference 2017 in Phoenix this year I presented a bit about MBS Plugin.

You can watch the presentation and a few questions. Enjoy!

If you like to see this live and bring your questions, you can join future conferences in Madrid, Salzburg and Berlin.

You can see more videos on our website including older presentations.

Video from MBS Plugin Presentation at DotFMP 2017

ThumbnailDotFMP 2017 Presentation

(English)

47:13 minutes
At the dotfmp conference in Berlin this year I presented a bit about MBS Plugin.

You can watch the presentation and a few questions. Enjoy!

If you like to see this live and bring your questions, you can join future conferences in Madrid, Salzburg and Berlin.

You can see more videos on our website including older presentations.

Multiple recordsets with Microsoft SQL Server

If you try to run two SQL statements on one connection, you often see this error message:

"HY000 [Microsoft][SQL Server Native Client 11.0]Connection is busy with results for another command"

We regularly see the problem with Microsoft SQL Server, but it also happens with Sybase ASE and others.

To solve you can set the option "SQL_ATTR_CURSOR_TYPE" with the value "SQL_CURSOR_DYNAMIC" to get a server side cursor. This will tell the connection to use a dynamic cursor and you can have several of those.
In Xojo:

dim cmd as SQLCommandMBS
cmd.Option("SQL_ATTR_CURSOR_TYPE") = "SQL_CURSOR_DYNAMIC"

in FileMaker:

MBS( "SQL.SetCommandOption"; $Command; "SQL_ATTR_CURSOR_TYPE"; "SQL_CURSOR_DYNAMIC" )

For next plugins we will include code to make sure you can set the option on the connection and pass it down to all commands on that connection.

Alternatively you can use the flag MARS_Connection when connecting inside the connection string:

"bedlam-m\\sql2014en@test;MARS_Connection=yes"

This is global option for the connection.

Zwei Monate bis zur FileMaker Konferenz in Salzburg

In gerade mal zwei Monaten startet die FileMaker Konferenz in Salzburg.
So langsam füllt sich die Konferenz und inzwischen steht auch das Programm.

Vom 12. bis 14. Oktober 2017 treffen sich wieder ca. 200 Teilnehmer im Pitter in Salzburg. Die deutschsprachige FileMaker Entwickler treffen sich um Neuigkeiten zu FileMaker zu erfahren, mit den Mitarbeitern von FileMaker in Kontakt zu kommen und um alte Freundschaften zu pflegen.



Bitte bald anmelden um ein Ticket zu bekommen. Noch gibt es Konferenztickets zu kaufen.
Die Hotelzimmer im Pitter sind wohl vergriffen, aber es gibt noch freie Zimmer rund um den Salzburger Bahnhof.
Vom Flughafen kommt man übrigens mit der Buslinie 2 direkt zum Konferenzhotel.

Für die MBS Plugin Schulung am 11. Oktober sind noch Plätze frei. Nehmen sie sich einen Tag Zeit zu erfahren, was alles im MBS Plugin steckt, was dieses Jahr neu ist und probieren wir direkt einige Funktionen aus. Je nach den Wünschen der Teilnehmer bauen wir gerne neue Beispiele, die dann bestimmte Funktionen zeigen.

MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 7.4pr2

New in this prerelease of the 7.4 MBS FileMaker Plugin: Download at monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.

FileMaker consultants with MBS Knowledge

Quite a couple of FileMaker users and developers ask for help on implementing MBS Plugin functions in FileMaker solutions. So I'd like to start with a list of MBS aware consultants for FileMaker projects:

CompanyDeveloperWebsiteLocation
cross solutionsArmin Egginger & Dr. Adam G. Augustincross-solutions.deMunich, Germany
Datastudio d.o.o.Dejan Sunikdatastudio.siLog pri Brezovici, Slowenija
Denkform GmbHThorsten & Lars Seligerdenkform.netHofheim im Taunus, Germany
Filemakergarage e. K.Nils Waldherrfilemakergarage.comBerlin, Germany
Keeneight l.l.c.Stefano Morandottikeeneight.comWashington, MI, USA
MaltacodeDick Impensmaltacode.comMalta & Netherlands

In general they can speak English and the local language of their country. For some projects, you may want to find someone nearby, but most times someone from anywhere could help. See also FileMaker's partner locator website.

Like to be added to my list? Please contact me.

FileMaker Meeting in Braunschweig

If you live near Braunschweig or Hannover area in Germany, you are welcome to join the FileMaker meeting in Braunschweig and meet me there:

Am Mittwoch, 9. August 2017 findet der nächste FileMaker Stammtisch für die Region Braunschweig statt.

Für interessierte Teilnehmer hier noch einmal die wichtigsten Fakten:

Wann: Mittwoch, 9. August 2017 um 19:00 Uhr
Wo: In den Räumen der "Studiowerk - Musikmanufaktur" - Rebenpark Hof C - Eingang C17

Rebenpark, Eingang C17
Nordstraße 42
38106 Braunschweig

Diesmal bin ich wohl auch dabei und kann von der DevCon berichten bzw. das MBS Plugin vorführen. Bitte vorher anmelden, wenn ihr kommen möchtet.

Siehe Xing Gruppe, Facebook Gruppe und Xing Event.

DevCon Offer still available

Everyone who attended the FileMaker DevCon 2017 in Phoenix can still use the coupon code to get 20% off the plugin licenses.

We extend the coupon code for another two weeks.

The discount is a thank you to the attendees for joining the conference.
Please see the leaflet you got at the conference for the coupon code.

MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 7.4pr1

New in this prerelease of the 7.4 MBS FileMaker Plugin:
  • Added AVAsset.TrackInfo function.
  • Updated DynaPDF to version 4.0.12.32.
  • Changed PrintDialog.Enable to call PrintDialog.Install for you if needed.
  • Changed Encryption functions to better handle NULL bytes.
  • Removed reference to /usr/local/lib folder for iOS plugin which made trouble for MDM app distribution.
  • Added Command-L shortcut to go to Go To Line box in script workspace.
  • Added Command-F shortcut to read the search fields for script and relation ship graph search boxes.
  • Added optional parameter for FM.RunDataDesignReport to open report after creating it.
  • Added CoreImage.Detect.
  • Changed DynaPDF.HighlightPattern to create highlight annotations instead of drawing rectangles.
  • Fixed bug in Barcode.Generate function with generating barcode without text.
Download at monkeybreadsoftware.de/filemaker/files/Prerelease/ or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.

Archives

Mar 2024
Feb 2024
Jan 2024
Dec 2023
Nov 2023
Oct 2023
Sep 2023
Aug 2023
Jul 2023
Jun 2023
May 2023
Apr 2023
Mar 2023
Feb 2023
Jan 2023
Dec 2022
Nov 2022
Oct 2022
Sep 2022
Aug 2022
Jul 2022
Jun 2022
May 2022
Apr 2022
Mar 2022
Feb 2022
Jan 2022
Dec 2021
Nov 2021
Oct 2021
Sep 2021
Aug 2021
Jul 2021
Jun 2021
May 2021
Apr 2021
Mar 2021
Feb 2021
Jan 2021
Dec 2020
Nov 2020
Oct 2020
Sep 2020
Aug 2020
Jul 2020
Jun 2020
May 2020
Apr 2020
Mar 2020
Feb 2020
Jan 2020
Dec 2019
Nov 2019
Oct 2019
Sep 2019
Aug 2019
Jul 2019
Jun 2019
May 2019
Apr 2019
Mar 2019
Feb 2019
Jan 2019
Dec 2018
Nov 2018
Oct 2018
Sep 2018
Aug 2018
Jul 2018
Jun 2018
May 2018
Apr 2018
Mar 2018
Feb 2018
Jan 2018
Dec 2017
Nov 2017
Oct 2017
Sep 2017
Aug 2017
Jul 2017
Jun 2017
May 2017
Apr 2017
Mar 2017
Feb 2017
Jan 2017
Dec 2016
Nov 2016
Oct 2016
Sep 2016
Aug 2016
Jul 2016
Jun 2016
May 2016
Apr 2016
Mar 2016
Feb 2016
Jan 2016
Dec 2015
Nov 2015
Oct 2015
Sep 2015
Aug 2015
Jul 2015
Jun 2015
May 2015
Apr 2015
Mar 2015
Feb 2015
Jan 2015
Dec 2014
Nov 2014
Oct 2014
Sep 2014
Aug 2014
Jul 2014
Jun 2014
May 2014
Apr 2014
Mar 2014
Feb 2014
Jan 2014
Dec 2013
Nov 2013
Oct 2013
Sep 2013
Aug 2013
Jul 2013
Jun 2013
May 2013
Apr 2013
Mar 2013
Feb 2013
Jan 2013
Dec 2012
Nov 2012
Oct 2012
Sep 2012
Aug 2012
Jul 2012
Jun 2012
May 2012
Apr 2012
Mar 2012
Feb 2012
Jan 2012
Dec 2011
Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
Dec 2010
Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
Dec 2009
Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Dec 2008
Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Aug 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008