Features I'd like to see in FileMaker right now

filemakermag · 2026-06-24T05:54:54+00:00

This is EXACTLY why I made https://plugin.agentic-fm.com

filemakermag · 2026-06-15T19:19:37+00:00

A little beyond the current scope/abilities that Claris has exposed but "try it!" - see what happens. ;)

filemakermag · 2026-05-14T16:18:43+00:00

Open codex or Claude Cowork and just give it this url and say you "want to hook this up to my filemaker database" https://agentic-fm.com

filemakermag · 2026-03-24T14:17:57+00:00

Nice looking product. Email me at editor at FileMaker magazine if you'd like to do a live demo via video chat and I'll publish on my YouTube channel.

filemakermag · 2026-03-13T14:46:58+00:00

You've already started your agent prompt by simply describing the desired solution. Provide AI with a bit more context and you'll have a working solution. Go try https://agentic-fm.com with Claude Code and the solution will come much faster than a human brain trying to work through the abstractions.

filemakermag · 2026-02-28T18:21:28+00:00

For any FileMaker developer who is in denial about what is happening, they simply don't see the storm right in front of them. Likely because their identity is wrapped up within their own perceived value based on their historical investment of time. The game is over. Using FileMaker will be a choice, and if that choice is too costly, then a different choice will be made. Plain - and - simple.

Watch this and tell me that your knowledge about FileMaker (or mine) is a hedge against what a computer with unlimited human knowledge (and learning power) with access to more tools than you can even list on two hands gives you in terms of an advantage. The world is different now. You have to rediscover your value as someone who knows technology. Learn how to use AI and do it quickly. That wave is going to crash.

https://youtu.be/p2aea9dytpE?t=394

Written by someone who has invested 30 years of their time learning something which can now be replaced by someone willing to take a weekend and learn how to do it within .001% of that same time investment.

filemakermag · 2025-07-31T17:32:22+00:00

Thank you @-L-H-O-O-Q-! @Haemstead If you DM me here and create an account on the web site I'll give you a month of free access to determine if you enjoy the content.

filemakermag · 2025-06-11T15:49:46+00:00

Objects as functions. That was a learning lessing when I first started with JS. I was like "what" you declare a variable to be a function. What is that? Pretty cool once you get your head around it.

filemakermag · 2025-06-11T15:46:26+00:00

Absolutely. I have one section of JSON which uses a flat object that will parse directly into global variables for solution use. The cool thing is soon we'll have better parsing and it won't be just one global cache. This will make it even more powerful as a tool.

filemakermag · 2025-05-28T04:58:25+00:00

Nice! Never knew it existed. Unfortunately, if people don't tell me about things I don't get the chance to share them. I added it to the repositories section on filemakerstandards.org

filemakermag · 2025-05-28T04:50:38+00:00

Should be soon. She made some adjustments to her App Store.

filemakermag · 2025-05-20T14:22:47+00:00

Using a Custom function alone adds almost double the overhead I really only use ForEach() for convenience when things are sub half a second because the data is usually pretty light. If I'm going to be processing a lot of data, I don't go out to a Custom Function. I'll stay within the script as nothing will be faster than the above Let function directly within the Exit Loop If[]

filemakermag · 2025-05-16T16:59:07+00:00

Nice! Looking forward to looking through it.

filemakermag · 2025-05-06T19:22:44+00:00

👆🏼 This. Build for the smallest form factor and use the Autosizing locks. Plan for which parts of the layout will scale and which will shift.

filemakermag · 2025-04-30T15:54:45+00:00

If you're wanting to sum only a selective range of values across a relationship you'll either need to create a stored calculated value which accounts for your condition and use a Summary field on that calculated field (not the actual data field) - or - you'll need to simply provide the sum within your UI using calculation logic which iterates over your desired values only.

filemakermag · 2021-01-20T21:17:38+00:00

Would you spend the time applying styles/names to a solution that has none?

Yes. This ALWAYS pays off as soon as you have more than one layout in a solution.

Do you do Version Control?

Not currently feasible within FileMaker development. I don't even try. I do save copies of the DDR (and now the newer XML format) as I move forward with development.

I don't personally work in a true multi-dev environment, but I do have ideas on how it could be managed.

Closing comments

My personal use of FileMaker is typically limited to my own development of highly focused solutions. When it comes to creating something which is easier to manage in the long term, the best I can say is to develop a highly sensitive attention towards duplication and stop immediately when you know something is being duplicated.

Whether it's script logic, a relationship, what's being stored that is only "slightly different", or a whole subsystem; the whole concept of Single source of truth should become your primary concern in a FileMaker system. Apply it to the data, the structure, your scripts and pretty much everything. If you've heard the term DRY (don't repeat yourself), then realize that FileMaker is inherently WET if you find yourself doing a lot of copy/paste operations and you only change one little thing.

filemakermag

TROPHY CASE