DynaPDF for iOS

We rebuild the the DynaPDF library for iOS, so you can use the current version of DynaPDF with your FileMaker iOS SDK apps when using the MBS FileMaker Plugin.

We include four variants in our download:
  • DynaPDF for iOS Device
    64-bit for device
  • DynaPDF for iOS Simulator
    64-bit for simulator
When building your iOS app, just include the dynapdf framework file in the frameworks folder inside the app and call DynaPDF.Initialize in the start script passing the framework name and your license key.

The result should be OK if everything worked. If you get an error message including "mach-o, but wrong architecture", well you did copy the wrong framework file.

Download: DynaPDF iOS 4.0.53.147.dmg or DynaPDF iOS 4.0.53.147.zip

We use a 3 component version number for the framework as required by Apple. For testing on your own device, please make sure the framework has your code signature.

New in MBS FileMaker Plugin 11.2

In this article I want to introduce you the new functions from the MBS FileMaker Plugin in version 11.2.

In general we are ready for Apple Silicon as this plugin ships with arm64 code for macOS included. And our Linux version of plugin should load on Ubuntu. And for macOS in the Script Workspace we got option-click to jump right into calculation for set fields and variable script steps.

SQL

Let's start with the new functionalities from the component SQL. We got support in SQLite for ICU libraries. The SQL.InternalSQLiteLibrary.SetICUEnabled function enable or disable the use of ICU libraries. Suitably to this we have the function SQL.InternalSQLiteLibrary.ICUEnabled that queries whether ICU libraries are enabled. Normally we load them when SQLite initializes and we add the ICU extension if we find the library. But with the SQL.InternalSQLiteLibrary.LoadICU function we can explicit load them now. If we want to know whether the ICU libraries were loaded we can query the status with SQL.InternalSQLiteLibrary.ICULoaded. If we want to know whether the ICU libraries are used, we can use the SQL.InternalSQLiteLibrary.ICUUsed function. If this function returns 1, they are used. If they are not used we get a 0 as result.

We also have two new functions to convert timestamps between another database and FileMaker. A time, date or timestamp in FileMaker has a different format than a time in a SQL query. We can use the SQL.ConvertDateTimeToSQL function to convert a FileMaker time to a SQL time. The SQL.ConvertDateTimeFromSQL function does the opposite. It converts a time value that we get from SQL of another database into a format that is readable by FileMaker.

(more)

Find new records with RowID

We regularly get the question whether our plugin could tell you the IDs of new records created by the plugin.

The answer is that this information is not available, since FileMaker doesn't have a way in SQL to get the ID of last primary key created. Databases like mySQL have a function called LAST_INSERT_ID to return the serial number generated for a primary key via auto increment. FileMaker doesn't do that and also that wouldn't work for UUIDs, too.

Since all tables have a RowID column, you can always query the maximum RowID like this:

Set Variable [ $RowID; MBS("FM.ExecuteFileSQL"; ""; "SELECT MAX(RowID) FROM \"Contacts\" ")


This queries it for our Contacts table in a test database. Feel free to put your table name there in the quotes. You get back the internal RowID value of the newest record. The RowID increments and is independent of whatever you use a key in the table. This way we can use the same calculation for different tables without knowing what fields are inside.

Now you can use this to query the key field of the last record, e.g. the ContactIdentifier field in our example:

Set Variable [ $ContactIdentifier; MBS("FM.ExecuteFileSQL"; ""; "SELECT \"ContactIdentifier\" FROM \"Contacts\" WHERE RowID = ?"; 9; 13; $RowID)


Now you have the latest ID field value. If you do batch inserts via plugin and you need IDs of all the new records you can do a script like this:

# first make a query to get newest RowID before import
Set Variable [ $RowID; MBS("FM.ExecuteFileSQL"; ""; "SELECT MAX(RowID) FROM \"Contacts\" ") ]

# now create/import new records
Set Variable [ $Status; MBS( "FM.InsertRecordCSV"; ""; "Contacts"; "FirstName¶LastName¶City"; $tsv) ]

# now query IDs of new records
Set Variable [ $NewIDs; MBS("FM.ExecuteFileSQL"; ""; "SELECT \"ContactIdentifier\" FROM \"Contacts\" WHERE RowID > ?"; 9; 13; $RowID)


Finally you have the IDs for your new records. Unless someone else created one in-between with another session on the same server. But that may be another topic.
Let me know what you think about using RowID values!

See also: ROWID in FileMaker SQL Commands

MBS FileMaker Plugin 11.2 - More than 6500 Functions In One Plugin

Nickenich, Germany - (May 18th, 2021) -- MonkeyBread Software today is pleased to announce MBS FileMaker Plugin 11.2 for macOS, iOS, Linux and Windows, the latest update to their product that is easily the most powerful plugin currently available for Claris FileMaker produce line. As the leading database management solution for Windows, macOS, iOS and the web, the Claris FileMaker Pro Integrated Development Environment supports a plugin architecture that can easily extend the feature set of the application. MBS FileMaker Plugin 11.2 has been updated and now includes over 6500 different functions, and the versatile plugin has gained more new functions:

Our plugin now ships with Apple Silicon support included. Claris announced they will support Apple M1 chip soon, so we are ready.

Our JavaScript functions can now JS.InitModules function to define modules in JavaScript, which can then be referenced later with require.

For SQL function we got support in SQLite for ICU libraries and we enabled math and geopoly functions in our internal SQLite library.

Within the Script Workspace (on macOS) you can now press option-key for the gear in Set Variable/Field script lines to jump right into the calculation dialog, thus saving you an extra mouse click.

For our XL functions to read/write Excel document we added XL.Book.AddFontFromBook and XL.Book.AddFormatFromBook functions to copy font/format definition from one document to another one. With XL.CopyCellValue function you can now copy cell values. With XL.Sheet.SetRows function you can now define height for a range of rows.

The Process.List function can list all applications running on the computer. And for Windows the RemoteControl.GetWindowsListAsJSON function can list all windows on the computer with details about them.

We added millisecond support to several functions including Files.CreationDate, SQL functions, XL functions and JavaScript functions.

Our trace functions got upgraded. We can log on server the stderr and stdout messages. Trace can be paused and includes progress messages from DynaPDF functions and for Audit we log which field is audited.

For ListDialog functions we added column width and alignments. OCR functions are per thread, so they can run in parallel on server side scripts. We added SystemInfo.LinuxSystemInfo to query information about linux computer. We added SystemInfo.WindowsSystemInfo and SystemInfo.WindowsMachineInfo to query information about the environment on Windows like the CPU architecture.

Finally we updated CURL to version 7.76.1, DynaPDF to 4.0.52.146, SQLAPI to 5.1.4 with new DuckDB support and our Linux build machine to Ubuntu 18.04.

See release notes for a complete list of changes.

Neues MBS FileMaker Plugin 11.2

18. Mai 2021 - Monkeybread Software veröffentlicht heute das MBS FileMaker Plugin für FileMaker in Version 11.2, mit inzwischen über 6500 Funktionen eines der größten FileMaker Plugins überhaupt. Hier einige der Neuerungen:

Unser Plugin wird jetzt mit Apple-Silicon-Unterstützung ausgeliefert. Claris hat angekündigt, dass sie bald den Apple M1-Chip unterstützen werden, wir sind also bereit.

Unsere JavaScript-Funktionen können nun mit der Funktion JS.InitModules Module in JavaScript definieren, die dann später mit require referenziert werden können.

Für SQL-Funktionen haben wir Unterstützung in SQLite für ICU-Bibliotheken bekommen und wir haben Mathe- und Geopoly-Funktionen in unserer internen SQLite-Bibliothek aktiviert.

Innerhalb des Skript-Arbeitsbereichs (unter macOS) können Sie jetzt die Optionstaste für das Zahnrad in Setzte Variable/Feld-Skriptzeilen drücken, um direkt in den Berechnungsdialog zu springen, was Ihnen einen zusätzlichen Mausklick erspart.

Für unsere XL-Funktionen zum Lesen/Schreiben von Excel-Dokumenten haben wir XL.Book.AddFontFromBook und XL.Book.AddFormatFromBook Funktionen hinzugefügt, um Schrift-/Formatdefinitionen von einem Dokument in ein anderes zu kopieren. Mit der Funktion XL.CopyCellValue können Sie nun Zellwerte kopieren. Mit der Funktion XL.Sheet.SetRows können Sie nun die Höhe für einen Bereich von Zeilen definieren.

Die Funktion Process.List kann alle auf dem Computer laufenden Anwendungen auflisten. Und für Windows kann die Funktion RemoteControl.GetWindowsListAsJSON alle Fenster auf dem Computer mit Details über sie auflisten.

Wir haben Millisekunden-Unterstützung zu mehreren Funktionen hinzugefügt, darunter Files.CreationDate, SQL, XL und JavaScript-Funktionen.

Unsere Trace-Funktionen protokollieren jetzt besser. Wir können die stderr- und stdout-Meldungen auf dem Server protokollieren. Trace kann pausiert werden und enthält Fortschrittsmeldungen von DynaPDF-Funktionen und für Audit protokollieren wir welches Feld protokolliert wird.

Für ListDialog-Funktionen haben wir Spaltenbreite und Ausrichtungen hinzugefügt. OCR-Funktionen sind pro Thread, so dass sie parallel auf serverseitigen Skripten laufen können. Wir haben SystemInfo.LinuxSystemInfo hinzugefügt, um Informationen über Linux-Computer abzufragen. Wir haben SystemInfo.WindowsSystemInfo und SystemInfo.WindowsMachineInfo hinzugefügt, um Informationen über die Umgebung unter Windows abzufragen wie die CPU Architektur.

Schließlich haben wir CURL auf Version 7.76.1, DynaPDF auf 4.0.52.146, SQLAPI auf 5.1.4 mit neuer DuckDB-Unterstützung und unsere Linux-Build-Maschine auf Ubuntu 18.04 aktualisiert.

Alle Änderungen in den Release Notes.

MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 11.2pr8

New in this prerelease of version 11.2 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.

Improving our OCR functions for FileMaker Server

When we made our OCR functions back in September 2012, we designed them without reference numbers, so you can only have one current OCR job. Since FileMaker Pro always runs one script at a time (others are waiting), this is not a problem. But what happens on a server?

On a FileMaker server scripts may run in parallel. For a lot of customers this is no problem when occasionally a script runs, which may use OCR. But our active power users tend to do more and run scripts in parallel on multiple CPU cores. And there the mess starts with one script clearing the results of the other one since we hold the OCR state in a few global variables. You can mitigate this yourself with our Mutex functions, which allow you to have a script wait for another script to finish accessing a shared resource. While intended for our SharedMemory functions to synchronize memory access, it works fine to control access to OCR functions, too.

To fix the issue, we move to using per thread variables for our version 11.2 of the plugin. That means you can now have independent OCR setups on a FileMaker Server. Since FileMaker Server uses different threads to run scripts in parallel, you may have each script basically do the initialization, use OCR and do cleanup. If one script runs on first thread and initializes and later another script on second thread tries to access it, it may not see the initialization. You may detect this state by OCR.IsInitialized function. (more)

MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 11.2pr7

New in this prerelease of version 11.2 of the MBS FileMaker Plugin:
  • Added SystemInfo.LinuxSystemInfo function.
  • Changed OCR functions to separate different threads on server better.
  • Updated DNS functions for Windows.
  • Updated DLL linking for Windows to direct link functions requiring Windows 7. Plugin works on Windows Server 2008r2 or newer, too.
  • Changed trace output for audit to show field name audited.
  • Fixed problem on Windows with AVRecorder.AddPreviewWithControl and AVRecorder.AddPreviewToWindow not using the FileMaker window, but a separate one.
  • Fixed problem with XML.ExtractText and XML.GetPathValue not seeing all text if there are XML nodes within a text block.
Download at monkeybreadsoftware.com/filemaker/files/Prerelease/, in Dropbox folder or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.

Bitsundso Download

For everyone watching regularly the Bitsundso Plus stream, we got a nice utility app (made in my spare time) to download the current episode as video:



You can download current version here: BitsundsoDownload.dmg

You need to specify the ID and password for the login. Than you specify where the ffmpeg command line tool is and where to store the video file. By default it will be put on desktop. Our tool just performs a login on Bitsundso website, gets the video stream URL, picks the 720p stream and downloads it by running ffmpeg. It shows you progress and opens video file on the end. Settings are saved for next run, so you can just run it every week, when you got the push for the new episode.
We have it in use for years now. With this update Apple Silicon is included and we made adjustments for Big Sur. Great for offline watching.

Have fun!

Linux System Info

For our MBS FileMaker Plugin we have the first linux only function: SystemInfo.LinuxSystemInfo.

This function provides some system information for Linux and returns it as a JSON block.

{
"UpTime": 708,
"Loads": [0.023873, 0.048828, 0.067382],
"TotalRAM": 4112195584,
"FreeRAM": 1589587968,
"SharedRAM": 1622016,
"BufferRAM": 20881408,
"TotalSwap": 4111462400,
"FreeSwap": 4111462400,
"Processes": 1010,
"TotalHigh": 0,
"FreeHigh": 0,
"MemoryUnit": 1,
"ConfiguredProcessors": 4,
"AvailableProcessors": 4,
"TotalPhysicalPages": 1003954,
"AvailablePhysicalPages": 388083
}

You may query such a block regularly and do your own decisions based on the numbers, e.g. only do something on the server if load counts are small. Or you may check how much memory is available on the computer. (more)

MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 11.2pr6

New in this prerelease of version 11.2 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.

RFID reader for use with FileMaker

A client got a RFID reader, which can send a data packet through the local network, so you can receive them in FileMaker with out Socket functions.

The Ethernet Mifare® RFID Reader (ER750/ER755) has been tried by us and works.

You use the little configuration app on Windows to tell it which IP and port to connect to. Our normal TCP Socket example coming with our MBS FileMaker Plugin can do the receiving and show you the data. As text encoding use Hex since you get binary data. The first 4 characters are timestamp, package type and data length followed with up to 16 bytes of card UID. And since we need only that UID, we cut it from the data block with Middle($text, 13, 32). In hex all bytes take two characters. We get the UID as hex string and can store it in a database field for later comparison.

If you have trouble getting a connection, please make sure the Firewall lets the connection coming in. Beside a FileMaker Pro waiting for connection, you could of course use a little app or script on a computer to accept it and trigger whatever connection. For example a Xojo app using our MBS Xojo FMAPI Plugin could listen with a ServerSocket in Xojo, take the request and then use data API to create a record in FileMaker or perform a query to find the record for the UID. This may even run on a little Raspberry Pi computer and if the card is accepted put power on a PIN to trigger a door opener.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions.

One month till dotfmp 2021

Did you sign up for FileMaker Conference dotfmp.berlin 2021?

This conference is organized by Egbert Friedrich and takes place from 3rd to 5th June 2021 in Berlin, Germany.
Since this year the meeting will be virtual again and in English, FileMaker developers from all over the world can join live from home.

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 2nd June 2021 in the later afternoon with a relaxed "Beer and Sausages" in the virtual beer garden. The session days itself last from 3rd until 5th June with various socializing events in the evenings.
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
This year it is virtual, so you can join from your home.
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. A donation to help on the equipment cost is also welcome.
See you there!

MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 11.2pr5

New in this prerelease of version 11.2 of the MBS FileMaker Plugin:
  • Added SQL.ConvertDateTimeFromSQL and SQL.ConvertDateTimeToSQL functions.
  • Added Process.List function for macOS and Windows.
  • Changed search box for Script Workspace to consume double clicks to avoid resizing window.
  • Fixed Archive functions to do AES256 encryption on Windows.
  • Updated Linux 64-bit build machine to Ubuntu 18.04. Plugin still compatible to Ubuntu 16 and CentOS 7.7.
  • Changed Trace function to create log file, which is readable by other applications like a good text editor.
  • Fixed problem of Window functions on Windows not finding them.
  • Fixed WebView.SetFocus for iOS.
  • Changed FM.InsertRecordCSV and FM.InsertRecordTSV to recognize backslash escapes to have returns and tabs escaped in text.
Download at monkeybreadsoftware.com/filemaker/files/Prerelease/, in Dropbox folder or ask for being added to the dropbox shared folder.

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