The Support Group Blog

TL;DR

Layout Calculations allow for calculations in text objects, but this feature has a few nuances. 

• Removes the need for extra fields or scripts or layout objects simply for display
• Need to have version 20.3 or greater of FileMaker client
• Works for labels of regular buttons
• Use fully qualified field names so the calculation refreshes properly
• Can set data format so the formatting of text field works

The Support Group has been using FileMaker to provide solutions for clients for almost forty years, and for more than half of those years, we've been advocating for the layout calculations feature. So, we are very excited about its release. 

There are many practical applications for ChatGPT with a low-code development tool like FileMaker. We've explored a chatbot, image generator, and audio transcription ChatGPT integration with FileMaker. We've also shared an example of using ChatGPT to summarize our notes.

We want to explore how integrating FileMaker and ChatGPT via Claris Connect works. Though not necessarily ideal, we'll use an annual performance review as the foundation for our example. Of course, performance appraisals are highly individualized, so artificial intelligence isn't recommended, but most people can relate to this process's fundamental objectives and structure. We will use it as a simple case to demonstrate the workflow and results.

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, businesses today face several challenges in managing their digital assets. Among these challenges, one prominent issue often surfaces – data debt. Data debt results from poor data quality, mismanagement, or neglect, hindering business operations and decision-making. But, data debt does not have to be a terminal issue. We can tackle it by applying practical data conventions, implementing regular review and purge tactics, running system audits, etc.

Genentech is a leading biotechnology company headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Since 1976, they have been dedicated to discovering and developing treatments for severe and life-threatening illnesses and diseases. In 2009, Roche Group acquired Genentech and currently operates as an independent subsidiary. 

With more than 13,000 employees, The Support Group has worked with various departments within Genentech since 2011. We've built various custom applications to help teams streamline workflows and maximize productivity. We recently developed a records management system for the Quality Systems department.

The FileMaker Send Mail script step is a valuable function for developers, but in recent years has become unreliable. Many conventional email service providers have gradually made using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) relays more complicated, primarily due to security concerns. Here at The Support Group, we've been transitioning clients to Gmail or Azure Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), depending on their email provider. Another option is SendGrid from Twilio, but that's a different blog post. Now, FileMaker 2023 offers an enhancement to our Send Mail options, a game changer, in our opinion.

Open Authorization (OAuth) is a widely used framework that allows different applications to interact with one another. It's most appreciated for its ability to facilitate those interactions without having to share access credentials. Instead, a private key verifies the user's identity. It's relatively easy to implement and maintain.

FileMaker 2023 includes several useful new features, like Perform Script On Server with Callback. Another noteworthy feature we want to explore is a new script trigger, OnWindowTransaction. We can find this script trigger within the list of script triggers that appear within the File Options selection of the active FileMaker file.

Claris has departed from the tradition of sequentially numbering its product releases. They decided to use the year of the release in the name of their latest release – FileMaker 2023. Yet, a word to the wise, while the name of the software is FileMaker 2023, the version number internally to the software is FileMaker 20.x.x.  

Claris FileMaker 2023 includes many new features. The Perform Script On Server with Callback (PSOSWC) function is arguably the most exciting new script function we've seen in years.

Welcome back to the third and final part of our FileMaker project management blog series. We reviewed the various types of project management solutions and established a basic set of requirements and the beginnings of an ERD for the system in part one. Then we brainstormed the workflow for our system and used a few whiteboards to make preliminary sketches of how the solution will work. Finally, we will build the application and flesh out a FileMaker project management template.

As a reminder, we're working on project tracking software that we can build using the FileMaker platform. Our FileMaker Project Management Solution blog post discussed some fundamental functionality many off-the-shelf project management applications offer and their shortcomings for users with unique workflows.

Over the years, we've worked on various project management solutions of different shapes and sizes. Yet, building a project management application seems strange, considering how many off-the-shelf project management applications are currently available – Basecamp, Jira, Trello, and monday.com, to name a few. Of course, each of these programs has its strengths, but the issue that many of our clients have is that the model those solutions address doesn't quite fit how they specifically do business.