Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST

The agenda includes:

• FileMaker Client Interface
• Web Interface
• FileMaker Go (Both live and Synchronized)
• ESS Connections

Who Should Attend?

• FileMaker Pro Developers
• FileMaker Pro Users

About the Sponsor and Presenter:
This webinar is being offered by the FM Academy, a consortium of leading FileMaker development companies in the United States. All FM Academy members are Platinum-level members of the FileMaker Business Alliance, and our purpose is to further educate FileMaker users and developers to encourage best practices and foster further adoption of the software. MightyData is proud to be part of this consortium.

The webinar will be presented by Chuck Melton, Application Development Manager at Anvil Dataworks. He is a FileMaker 8, 9, 10 & 11 Certified Developer and experienced speaker.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar seat now!

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

We are working on a schedule for our next presentation and hope to have something announced soon. Check the FM Academy website for upcoming details.

FM Academy is a consortium of leading FileMaker development companies in the United States. All FM Academy members are Platinum-level members of the FileMaker Business Alliance, and our purpose is to further educate FileMaker users and developers to encourage best practices and foster further adoption of the software. MightyData is proud to be part of this organization.

We wanted to make you aware of the latest recording from our October presentation being posted to the FM Academy website. On October 25, 2012, IT Solution‘s Jerry Salem presented, “Working with and Extending the Starter Solutions.” If you missed this presentation, you can find a the sample files, the questions answered and a video of the presentation here.

Please join us tomorrow for the next free presentation, “Building a Power Business Solution on a Budget,” being presented by Kyo Logic‘s John Mathewson. Register here!

In this free webinar from FM Academy on June 28 at 2pm EST, you will learn how to:

• Enable home / remote office users to work in FileMaker Pro at maximum speed, instead of connecting over the WAN with a cable or DSL connection.
• Enter data on an iPad without 3G or wifi access, and then transfer it to your FileMaker Server
• Attach photos and signatures to records that are transferred to your FileMaker Server
• Carry a read-only copy of your solution with you at all times on your laptop or iPad for instant access
• Switch seamlessly between working on a local copy of your database on a laptop and iOS device, using a two-way sync with the server

About the Sponsor and Presenter:

This webinar is being offered by FM Academy, a consortium of leading FileMaker development companies in the United States. All FM Academy members, including MightyData, are Platinum-level members of the FileMaker Business Alliance, and our purpose is to further educate FileMaker users and developers to encourage best practices and foster further adoption of the software.

The presenter for this webinar will be Jesse Barnum, president of 360Works. 360Works is a FileMaker Business Alliance Platinum member in Atlanta, Georgia. Jesse established 360Works in 1996, and is a regular speaker at the FileMaker Developer Conference. He and his brother Sam are the co-authors of MirrorSync, as well as many other products in the 360Works portfolio.

Reserve your Webinar seat now.

1. Faster WAN Performance – FileMaker Server 12 can perform finds up to 40% faster, display large value lists quicker, and evaluate filtered portals on the server instead of the workstation. The enhancements improve the performance of FileMaker over a wide-area network.

2. More Stable Architecture – The server architecture has six separate processes to isolate the impact of one process on another. Five of these processes can be started, stopped, and restarted from the command line for more control over the server.
3. More Efficient Backups – Backup schedules only backup the databases that have changed, using hard links for databases that have not changed. The new Progressive Backup goes further by backing up on the data that has changed. Both reduce the time necessary to backup a database.
4. 64-bit Application – On a 64-bit operating system, FileMaker Server 12 can use up to one terabyte of RAM for the server cache. This is important because RAM is faster than the hard disk. The database, web publishing, ODBC and progressive backup processes are each 64-bit.
5. Progressive Media Download – With the new Remote Container feature, the server can create thumbnails of large images and stream PDF and video files directly to FileMaker Pro asynchronously.
6. Faster Web Publishing – The new 64-bit Web Publishing Engine can handle more simultaneous custom web publishing requests, faster than the previous server. Also, session management is faster due to a new caching algorithm.

Even with these new features, performance is a complex interaction of hardware, software (OS), and database design. FileMaker Server 12 includes a new graph view for server statistics and more flexibility in the Log Viewer to help identify weak spots in the performance equation.

To go deep into performance with FileMaker Server 12, watch the recording of the webinar below including over fifteen minutes of question and answer.

FileMaker Server 12 Performance video

TUESDAY, May 29, 2pm EDT
Webinar 15: Accessibility Section 508. FileMaker Pro 12 adds new accessibility features that make it much easier for the blind and visually impaired to use FileMaker Pro.  Our FileMaker Pro solutions often show us how to use them.  New tools in FileMaker Pro 12 allow developers to make your applications “show” blind and visually impaired users how to use through screen readers.

Whether you’re using FileMaker Pro to build an application for use in schools, businesses or distributing as a standalone application, learn how to leverage the screen reading services built into today’s modern operating systems such as OS X, Windows and iOS. Topics include overview of accessibility technology, how to add accessibility text to layout objects in FileMaker Pro 12, general guidelines for writing accessibility hints, how to test accessibility text in FileMaker Pro 12.

Chad Sager is the presenter. His formal education was in the fine arts in Milwaukee where he received his BFA as a painting major.  He moved back to his hometown of Houston to work as a preparator at an art gallery and practice as an artist. His interest in technology took shape using FileMaker Pro to build an inventory and invoicing application for the gallery. A grant from the Dallas Museum of Art led him to Philadelphia (in a roundabout way), where he began working for IT Solutions in 2006.

Chad has developed applications in multiple technologies, including iOS, SQL Server and .NET, and of course FileMaker Pro; where he has built and supported one of the largest FileMaker applications  at IT Solutions over the last three years. Among Chad’s accomplishments since joining IT Solutions, a Platinum level member of the FileMaker Business Alliance, are certifications in FileMaker versions 8 through 11, and SQL Server 2008 Developer.

Free registration is available immediately. The only thing you need to attend is a computer, iOS or Android device and a WiFi connection.

FM Academy has enjoyed bringing this series to you. If you missed any of the webinars, or would like to revisit them, there is a summary and  link to the recording for each of the previous sessions.

About FM Academy
FM Academy is a consortium of seven FileMaker Business Alliance Platinum companies. Our goal is to educate FileMaker users and developers, encourage best practices, and foster adoption of the FileMaker platform. The members of FM Academy are 360Works, Anvil Dataworks, Fiddlehead Software, IT Solutions, KyoLogic, MightyData and Skeleton Key.

TUESDAY, May 22, 2pm EDT
Webinar 13: Window Styles. Enhancements to the New Window script step will give developers much more control over new windows and their behavior. This webinar will present techniques for utilizing the new “Specify Advanced Styles” option to configure modeless document windows and modal dialog windows. We will explore new features and look at a variety of examples displaying the possibilities.

Chad Adams is the presenter. He is an Information Analyst with Skeleton Key, a FileMaker Business Alliance Platinum level member in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a FileMaker 7,8,10 and 11 certified developer and has been working with FileMaker for over 15 years.  Over that time, he’s run his own business, worked for FileMaker consulting firms and has been an in-house developer. Chad has authored articles for FileMaker Advisor Magazine and is a regular contributor to the Skeleton Key YouTube Channel found at http://www.youtube.com/skeletonkeystl.  His biggest and most enjoyable job is being Dad to his 11 year old daughter and 9 year old son.

THURSDAY, May 24, 2pm EDT
Webinar 14: Server Performance. FileMaker Server 12 is one of the most important tools to help you maximize the performance of your FileMaker solution. In this session, we will explore several features in FileMaker Server 12 to help you diagnose and resolve performance issues. Support for 64-bit operating systems, faster WAN performance, and independent database processes offer a boost right out-of–the-box. Progressive backups and managed container fields provide new ways to architect you database for better performance. Server logs and statistic graphs help you read the tealeaves to identify potential bottlenecks. Join FM Academy to learn how to use these new tools in FileMaker Server 12.

Kirk Bowman is the presenter. If you really want to talk shop, Kirk Bowman brings over 15 years of experience developing FileMaker databases and Web applications as well as systems integration. As the principal of MightyData, Kirk heads an elite team of FileMaker Certified Developers and Authorized Trainers. He is a renowned speaker at the FileMaker Developer Conference and PauseOnError un-conference. Anyone who knows Kirk realizes that to become the Visionary of Value means walking the walk and talking the talk. To that end, Kirk is a Practicing Fellow at the VeraSage Institute and a proud graduate of EntreLeadership.

Free registration for the complete series schedule is available immediately. Once you register for the series, you will receive email reminders for each session. The only thing you need to attend is a computer, iOS or Android device and a WiFi connection.

About FM Academy
FM Academy is a consortium of seven FileMaker Business Alliance Platinum companies. Our goal is to educate FileMaker users and developers, encourage best practices, and foster adoption of the FileMaker platform. The members of FM Academy are 360Works, Anvil Dataworks, Fiddlehead Software, IT Solutions, KyoLogic, MightyData and Skeleton Key.

Implementing a proper security model often requires going beyond controlling whether or not someone can log into a database. FileMaker Pro includes a robust set of features for controlling which users have access to what information and what they can do with that information via the accounts and privileges settings. This webinar will explore how to isolate legitimate users from sensitive operations or information within a database, how to associate privileges with authenticated accounts, and how to control specific features within a database based on a given user’s assigned privileges.

Register online today!

There are over a dozen new functions in FileMaker 12, several of which accompany significant new features such as enhanced container fields, new window styles, and a new plug-in updating methodology. Yet it doesn’t end there, as there is a pair of functions that deal with ID values, some FileMaker Go specific functions, and native access to FileMaker’s SQL engine with the ExecuteSQL function.

Container Functions

Two new categories appear in the calculation dialog: Container Functions and Mobile Functions.

New function categories

The former provides the ability to get the height and width of content in containers using GetHeight() and GetWidth() functions. This returns height and width in pixels for images. Other items in the container field, such as movies or files, return 0. In addition, we have the ability to generate a thumbnail of an image with the GetThumbnail() function.

Since FileMaker 12 now enables us to store containers in external folders, checking the validity of the stored data reveals whether this has been changed or tampered with outside of FileMaker. Using VerifyContainer() shows 0 or 1 depending on whether the files have been changed or deleted, or if there are no changes.

Mobile Functions

There are two specific mobile functions that deal with Location information: Location() and LocationValues(). Previous versions of FileMaker in mobile devices were forced to get geolocation information using JavaScript. By making this native you can get longitude and latitude from Location and store these in your database. LocationValues displays a return-delimited list containing longitude, latitude, altitude, horizontal accuracy, vertical accuracy, and age in minutes.

Both functions accept two parameters, one required and one optional. The first is the accuracy in meters, and the second is the length in seconds allowed before timeout.

Updating Plug-ins

Another new feature in FileMaker Pro 12 radically changes the method to update plug-ins. Previous versions managed this through a daunting and often complex AutoUpdate process via FileMaker Server. There is now a new Install Plug-in script step, and a function to get a return-delimited list of currently installed plug-ins: Get( InstalledFMPlugins ). This returns the plugin name, version, and current state – Enabled, Disabled, or Ignored. One thing to note is that the version is only returned if the developers entered this in the resource file (Windows) or info.plist.file (Mac), so keep this in mind when setting up this process.

ID and Tab Panel Functions

The new pair of ID functions each return a long string of alphanumeric characters, but are completely different in purpose. Get( UUID ) returns a universal unique identifier, a unique 16-byte string in the format 8-4-4-4-12, such as E10FD6CB-2CB3-471A-B4B5-3CC2509F49EE. This function lets users create unique keys, and avoids key collision when merging records from multiple tables, for example.

Meanwhile, Get( PersistentID ) captures the unique identifier of the device accessing your solution, either desktop or mobile. Whereas you still can get the account name or user name, the new string like AF376F280690001931BFED4E890FADDB shows the device ID.

Along with some new tab control script triggers there are two new functions.

• Get( TriggerCurrentTabPanel )
• Get( TriggerTargetTabPanel )

When coupled with the script triggers, navigating from tab to tab will return values via these functions. The first shows the originating tab panel (number and object name) and the second the current tab panel (number and object name). The naming might be a little confusing, as the values are activated when going to a new tab, so the “current” is actually the target. Still, with these values we have a way to track and control navigation between tab control panels.

FileMaker Server has an option for SSL certificates. The new Get( ConnectionState ) function will show the security state of the file’s current network function, such as if it uses a non-secured network or a fully verified SSL certificate.

Connection and Window-Style Functions

A new feature in FileMaker 12 is the ability to have two new window states. Previously new windows were all document windows, so if you wanted to prevent the users from closing them you needed to set up a script, pause and then start the script again, or use script triggers to validate some action prior to allowing the users to continue.

Now you can set up a floating document window and a dialog window. So, to go along with this, we have a function that returns a number as to the state of the window, which we can use to determine action based on that window. Get( WindowStyle ) will return the following:

• 0 – Window is a document window
• 1 – Window is a floating document window
• 2 – Window is a dialog window

Execute SQL Function

Finally, a function that deserves a webinar all on it’s own, and in fact FM Academy just had such a webinar: Greg Lane’s walk-through of the ExecuteSQL() function.

This is a function that previous required plugins. There are some limitations compared to the plug-in functionality, because ExecuteSQL() only permits use of the SELECT statement. This means no ability to update, insert, delete, drop, or replace via SQL. Yet, having this as a new tool in FileMaker creates great opportunity. The function is formatted as follows:

ExecuteSQL( sqlQuery ; fieldSeparator ; rowSeparator { ; argument … } )

The sqlQuery is the SELECT statement, placed inside double quotes, such as “select first_name from contacts”. The fieldSeparator and rowSeparator default to a comma and return when you use “” for the parameters. You can use other separators such as tab, pipe, etc.

The optional arguments parameter lets you use a record’s field value as a parameter, useful when querying the context of individual records. I’ve previously blogged about ExecuteSQL (insert link). Learning this function will give you a great new tool in your FileMaker development.

Watch the recording of the webinar below for more coverage of these functions.

<iframe width=”640″ height=”390″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/jMWaILE-Rws” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>

Because of popular demand, 3 sessions are being added, following the original 12 Days of FileMaker 12. Registration information is included below. These new sessions will all be at 2pm EST:

• Tuesday, May 22: Window Styles Windows
• Thursday, May 24: Server Performance
• Tuesday, May 29: Accessibility Section 508

This week features:
TUESDAY, May 15, 2pm EDT
Webinar 11: Script Trigger Enhancements. Using Script triggers has become common place in the FileMaker development world –  and with the new enhancements in FileMaker 12, we will have even more power.  We’ll be taking a look at a FileMaker Pro Advanced-only update in the script debugger for globally enabling/disabling triggers, as well as new indicators, and new triggers.

Sameer Khan is the presenter. He is a FileMaker 9-11 Certified Developer and Authorized Trainer employed by Anvil Dataworks, a development firm outside of Washington DC. He has been working with FileMaker for over 8 years. His students say that he is an interesting person and a knowledgeable teacher.  Follow Sameer on Twitter @ dcfilemaker and read his blog posts.

THURSDAY, May 17, 2pm EDT
Webinar 12: Moving to FileMaker 12. You really want to start taking advantage of all the great new features in FileMaker 12 but you don’t know where to start?  Join FM Academy for a great session about deploying FileMaker even if your environment already has an older version of FileMaker. Topics Include: Test your existing solution with FileMaker 12, How to Convert your existing solution to FileMaker 12, Back up your data and settings from your current version of FileMaker, Uninstall the older version of FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Server, Create a custom installer so users do not need to enter license information with each install, How to deploy FileMaker server and connect it to your existing Web Server, Manage existing plugins with the new FileMaker 12.

Tim Neudecker is the presenter. He is a leading software engineer who has over 20 years’ experience as a professional FileMaker developer. He spent over 10 years as an in-house developer for companies such as Macy’s/Bloomingdales and AGA. In 2003 he joined Kyo Logic as co-founder and CTO. He has presented four times to the FileMaker Developer Conference on topics including security, system performance and developer tools. Tim has published articles in FileMaker advisor on system integration and performance tuning. In 2003 he was honored with a FileMaker Excellence Award for his contributions to the developer community.

Free registration for the complete series schedule is available immediately. Once you register for the series, you will receive email reminders for each session. The only thing you need to attend is a computer, iOS or Android device and a WiFi connection.

About FM Academy
FM Academy is a consortium of seven FileMaker Business Alliance Platinum companies. Our goal is to educate FileMaker users and developers, encourage best practices, and foster adoption of the FileMaker platform. The members of FM Academy are 360Works, Anvil Dataworks, Fiddlehead Software, IT Solutions, KyoLogic, MightyData and Skeleton Key.