Chapter 1
Getting started
Welcome to FileMaker
®
Pro Advanced. This product includes
advanced development and customization tools designed especially
for database developers. You can use either FileMaker
Pro or
FileMaker Pro Advanced to create and test your database solutions.
About FileMaker Pro Advanced
FileMaker Pro Advanced includes all the features and functionality of
FileMaker Pro plus tools that help you do the following:
Design and develop customized, advanced databases
1 Create custom menus to suit the needs of your database and users.
See “Customizing menus” on page 21.
1 Add custom tooltips to layout objects to make your database more
intuitive and to guide data entry. See “Adding tooltips to layout
objects” on page 11.
1 Create standalone runtime solutions. See “Binding databases into
runtime database solutions” on page 68.
1 Display your database in full-screen kiosk mode. See “About
Kiosk mode” on page 16.
1 Build centralized and recursive formulas with custom functions.
See “Using custom functions” on page 14.
1 Use external function plug-ins to extend and customize your
solutions and use C++ in your calculations. See “Developing third-
party FileMaker plug-ins” on page 43.
Debug and troubleshoot database solutions
1 Monitor fields, variables, and expressions with the Data Viewer
while debugging scripts or troubleshooting databases. Or, test
calculations without modifying your database schema. See
“Monitoring fields, variables, and calculations” on page 57.
1 Use the Script Debugger to identify problem areas and review
scripts step-by-step as they execute. See
“Stepping through scripts” on
page 55 and “Viewing sub-scripts” on page 56.
1 Disable script steps to test portions of a script. See “Disabling
script steps” on page 58.
Maintain and modify databases
1 Copy entire scripts, specific script steps, or fields from one file and
paste them into the same file or some other file. See “Copying scripts,
script steps, or fields” on page 12.
1 Consolidate tables from a multi-file solution into one file by
copying or importing table schema. See “Copying or importing tables
into a file” on page 13.
1 Use the Database Design Report to gather comprehensive
information on database schema and options like fields, tables, script
steps, portals, merge fields, custom menus, and tooltips. The reports
also help you troubleshoot missing references, broken relationships,
calculations, and more. See
“Documenting database schemas” on
page 59.
1 Use the File Maintenance tools to maximize performance and
compact and recover unused space. See “Compressing and optimizing
files” on page 60.
