Creating plug-ins (FileMaker Pro Advanced)
If you are a C or C++ programmer and familiar with calculations in FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced, you can create external function plug-ins that extend the feature set of the applications. The plug-ins can take advantage of recursion and looping or hook into other programming interfaces. Users can enable your plug-ins in FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Pro Advanced, FileMaker Server, and FileMaker Server Advanced and use your external functions in their calculation fields and scripts.
You can use FileMaker Server to ensure that FileMaker Pro clients always have the most current plug-in software installed on their computers. See the FileMaker Server Guide to Updating Plug-Ins, available at www.filemaker.com/documentation.
To see an example plug-in, go to www.filemaker.com/support/technologies.
Follow these general steps to prepare your custom plug-ins:
1.
Create a plug-in file containing your custom programming code.
2.
Compile and test the customized plug-in.
3.
Install the compiled plug-in file for your users.
To access your external functions, instruct your users to:
1.
Enable your plug-in through the Preferences dialog box in FileMaker Pro.
2.
Configure your plug-in, if required.
3.
Define or edit a calculation field to access external functions.
4.
In the Specify Calculation dialog box, choose Function_Name(parameter 1 ...) as the calculation formula.
To see all external functions, select External functions from the View list.
For more detailed information about installing and enabling third-party plug-ins, see the FileMaker Pro Advanced Development Guide, available at www.filemaker.com/documentation.
Note FileMaker Pro Advanced may not be available in all of the shipping languages of FileMaker Pro.
Related topics 
External functions
Updating plug-ins
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