FileMaker Go 15 Development Guide

FileMaker Go^® runs FileMaker solutions (apps) on iPad and iPhone so you can easily manage and share information with your team anywhere you go. Check inventory in the warehouse, create invoices during client visits, perform inspections onsite, and more.

Build solutions using FileMaker Pro. Then use FileMaker Go to work with the data on an iOS device. For example, you can add, modify, delete, find, and sort records; display data in Form View, Table View, and List View; view information in portals, tab panels, slide panels, and web viewers; scan bar codes; and perform scripts and other tasks.

This guide provides information about tailoring solutions for FileMaker Go. To learn how to use FileMaker Go, see FileMaker Go Help. If you are new to FileMaker Pro, see FileMaker Pro documentation. For additional FileMaker documentation, visit Product Documentation.

Use one of the following options to work with data in FileMaker Go:

• Connect to a hosted file from an iOS device and work with data interactively. When you change data on the iOS device, the data is updated on the host computer, and vice versa. You can connect to files that are hosted by FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Server and are shared over a Wi-Fi or mobile data network.
• Transfer a file to an iOS device, then work offline with a local copy of the file on the device. When you transfer a file to your iOS device, you create a copy of the file. When you make data changes to the local file on your iOS device, the original file on your computer is not updated. You must transfer the file back to your computer, then use FileMaker Pro to import and update data. See About file transfers.

For information about connecting to hosted files or transferring files to or from a device, see FileMaker Go Help. For information about opening files using a URL, see FileMaker Pro Help.

Enabling FileMaker network sharing

Before you connect to a file, make sure the file is enabled for FileMaker Network sharing.

1. In FileMaker Pro, open the file.
2. Choose File menu > Sharing > Share with FileMaker Clients.
3. Set Network Sharing to On.
4. Select the file(s) to be hosted from the list of Currently open files.
5. For Network access to file, choose All users or Specify users by privilege set.
6. Click OK.

Hosting files with FileMaker Server

Before you share FileMaker Pro files, prepare the files for hosting. Here is an overview of the process used to host files with FileMaker Server.

1. In FileMaker Pro, edit the accounts and privilege sets that clients will use for shared access (for example, Access via FileMaker Network).
2. In FileMaker Pro, upload the files to FileMaker Server. See FileMaker Pro Help.
3. In FileMaker Server, use the Admin Console Activity > Databases tab to verify that the files are available to FileMaker clients.

When FileMaker Server starts, it opens and hosts all FileMaker Pro files located in the default database folder and in the optional additional database folders, if specified. See FileMaker Server Help for more information.

Connecting to solutions

After you share and host a file, you can connect to it as a client in FileMaker Go. See FileMaker Go Help.

Devices connect to hosted solutions using the fmapp extended privilege. See FileMaker Pro Help.

Note: FileMaker Go cannot access FileMaker Server hosts available through LDAP, and it cannot view or use SSL certificates from LDAP hosts.

For information about transferring files to or from a device, see FileMaker Go Help.

Notes

• Routine backups are strongly recommended. Use iCloud Backup or iTunes to back up the data on your iOS device, or see FileMaker Pro Help for information about backing up files on your computer.
• Before you replace an existing file on a device, make sure the file is closed or removed. Otherwise, the file may not transfer properly and may become damaged.
• You can't transfer files if the device is locked.

Transferring a file with container fields that store data externally

To transfer a file with container fields that store data externally, you must first embed the container field data. In FileMaker Pro, use the Save a Copy As command and choose self-contained copy (single file). Then transfer the copy, not the original file.

Importing to and from a transferred file

You can use the Import Records script step to merge data from a local FileMaker Pro file on a device to another FileMaker Pro file. FileMaker Go must have network access to FileMaker Server or FileMaker Pro.

Set up the field mapping and import order before you import. You can:

• import from a remote source into a local or remote file
• import from a local source into a local or remote file

Example 1: Importing from a remote source (Source.fmp12) into a local file (Target.fmp12)

In this example, the Target.fmp12 file is on the iOS device. It needs a script that imports data from a remote source (Source.fmp12). You need to create the script in FileMaker Pro, then transfer the file to FileMaker Go. You can then run the script in FileMaker Go to update the local file (Target.fmp12) with data from the remote source (Source.fmp12).

1. Open Source.fmp12 and Target.fmp12 in FileMaker Pro.
2. Create an “Import from Remote” script in Target.fmp12. For example:

   Import Records [With dialog: Off; “Source.fmp12”; Update existing; Mac Roman]

   and set up a path to the source file using your machine IP address. For example:

   fmnet:/192.168.10.10/Source.fmp12

3. Specify the import order.
4. Close Target.fmp12.
5. Transfer Target.fmp12 to FileMaker Go.
6. Open Target.fmp12 in FileMaker Go and run the script “Import from Remote.”

The local file is updated with data from the remote file.

Example 2: Importing from a local source (Source.fmp12) into a remote file (Target.fmp12)

1. Transfer Source.fmp12 to FileMaker Go.
2. Open Target.fmp12 in FileMaker Pro.
3. Create an “Import to Remote” script in Target.fmp12. For example:

   Set Variable[$FilePath;Value:Get(DocumentsPath) & “Source.fmp12”]

   Import Records[With dialog: Off; “$FilePath”; Add; Mac Roman]

   where the path to the source file on the device is file:$FilePath

4. In the Script Workspace, select the Import Records script step and select Specify import order.

   If the source fields do not appear in the Import Field Mapping dialog box, select Specify data source. In the Specify File dialog box, for File Type, select FileMaker Pro files. Then add another path to Source.fmp12 to the path list. For example:

   file:$FilePath

   file:Source.fmp12

5. Open Target.fmp12 remotely in FileMaker Go.
6. Run the script “Import to Remote.”

Using Target.fmp12 in FileMaker Go, you have added data from a file on the device (Source.fmp12) to a file on the host computer (Target.fmp12).

Tip: After you complete one import, the field mapping is retained if you selected Arrange by: last order in the Import Field Mapping dialog box. There is no longer a need for the file:Source.fmp12 reference.

• creating and modifying database schema such as tables, fields, relationships, data sources, and privileges
• creating and modifying database structure such as layouts, scripts, value lists, and custom menus
• importing data from any formats other than .fmp12
• exporting to .fmp12, XML, or Excel .xls format
• text baselines
• external functions
• plug-ins
• hosting files

FileMaker Go does not support some script steps. To identify the script steps that are not supported, use the FileMaker Pro Script Workspace window. See FileMaker Pro Help.

FileMaker Go does not display an alert for unsupported script steps. Unsupported script steps return error code 3 (Command is unavailable). Use Get(LastError) to check for this error code.

Important: Running unsupported script steps may lead to unintended behavior or data corruption.

Modes

Layout and Preview modes aren’t supported in FileMaker Go. However, you can preview records by saving records as PDF and viewing the PDF within FileMaker Go.

Date and time selection

• You can't select seconds or fractions of seconds in FileMaker Go. To enter seconds, tap on the editing toolbar above the keyboard.

  Scripted or calculated times will display seconds on the device.

• On iPad, the keyboard remains active while date selection is active.

Custom menus (FileMaker Pro Advanced)

FileMaker Go doesn’t support:

• removal of the Close File menu item
• additional menu items that do not map to existing FileMaker Go menu items
• override of the Quick Find menu item by custom menus, though you can override the quick find behavior
• override of Save Record and Exit Record by custom menus

Note: FileMaker Go displays menu items that are removed, but they are disabled.

Printing

• The print options that you set for a file in FileMaker Pro have no effect on the print options for the same file in FileMaker Go, and vice versa.
• If you don’t specify page margins for a layout in FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go uses the printer’s default margin, which might vary with different printers or different print drivers. You should specify page margins if you’re printing a layout where exact spacing is important, like labels or a preprinted form.

Fonts and text styles

• Some FileMaker Pro themes use the Tahoma font. This font is not supported in iOS and will be converted to Helvetica in FileMaker Go.
• You can view the following text styles in FileMaker Go: bold, italic, underline, word underline, double underline, title case, uppercase, lowercase, and strikeout. FileMaker Go doesn’t support highlight, condense, extended, small caps, superscript, or subscript.

Data entry

• Only fields are supported in the tab order. You can set up Tab and Return, but not Enter, to go to the next field.
• You can’t insert values into a field from an index on the device, and you can’t select Auto-complete using existing values.
• The Auto-Correction setting will not work in text fields that have script triggers set up to capture keystrokes.
• Asian languages: sideways text isn’t supported. Input method editors (IMEs) will not work in text fields that have script triggers set up to capture keystrokes.

Saving records as a PDF file

When you save records as a PDF file, FileMaker Go uses the name of the window for the PDF filename.

Exporting

By default, all manual export operations except those from the XLSX format use UTF-8; XLSX uses UTF-16.

You must use the Export Records script step to:

• select fields that are not on the current layout.
• configure the output file character set.

Container fields

• The Inspector Data Formatting options Images and Interactive content do not apply to container fields in FileMaker Go.
• FileMaker Go doesn’t support storing container field data externally.

You can use the Insert From Device script step to enter content into a container field from a music library, photo library, camera, video camera, microphone, or signature; or to enter content into a container field or text field from a bar code source. See FileMaker Pro Help.

Video and audio playback in container fields

You can use the following script steps, functions, and script triggers to work with media in FileMaker Go:

• Script steps: AVPlayer Play, AVPlayer Set Options, AVPlayer Set Playback State
• Script triggers: OnObjectAVPlayerChange, OnFileAVPlayerChange, OnExternalCommandReceived
• Functions: GetAVPlayerAttribute, Get(TriggerExternalEvent)

See FileMaker Pro Help.

Display state of objects

FileMaker Go doesn’t display the Hover state for objects.

Snapshot link files

When a snapshot link file that was created in Preview mode is opened in FileMaker Go, the file displays in Browse mode.

Scroll bars in portals

If scrolling is enabled in FileMaker Pro, you can swipe up or down to scroll inside a portal in FileMaker Go.

Encrypted files (FileMaker Pro Advanced)

You can’t enable or disable file encryption in FileMaker Go. To enable or disable encryption, use the Developer Utilities in FileMaker Pro Advanced. If you transfer an encrypted file to an iOS device, the file remains encrypted on the device.

Navigating slide controls

If Enable swipe gestures is enabled in FileMaker Pro, swipe to move forward or back within a slide control in FileMaker Go.

Popovers

In FileMaker Go, popovers are dismissed when you tap outside the popover and when you start to scroll or zoom.

Zoom level

In FileMaker Go, you can enlarge the image on the screen up to 200%.

External keyboards

Some keystrokes behave differently on external keyboards.

Functionality	Behavior in FileMaker Go
Tab key	Supported for field types that display the onscreen keyboard. Shift-Tab isn't supported.
Undo, Redo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Select All keys	Supported
Keystrokes to move between records (for example, Control-Down Arrow)	Not supported
Modifier keys (for example, Option or Alt)	Not supported
Eject key	Hides or shows the onscreen keyboard
Arrow keys	Not supported for value lists or date, time, and timestamp lists

Scripts and functions behavior

• To abort a currently running script, tap anywhere on the screen, and confirm that you want to abort the script. If you do not make a choice, the script will continue running.
• When you switch to another app, FileMaker Go enters a suspended state unless there is an audio or video file playing. When you return to FileMaker Go, the app and scripts resume from where they left off. For hosted files, if any records in the data set that a script is acting on were modified while FileMaker Go was suspended, the script aborts. If no records were modified, the script continues.
• If you switch away from FileMaker Go for an extended period, and iOS forces the app to quit, FileMaker Go attempts to generate a hibernation file. When you restart FileMaker Go, it uses the hibernation file to reopen files. A hibernation file is not generated when a script with Allow User Abort set to Off was running when you switched away from FileMaker Go.
• By default, the files created by script steps appear in the Device tab and are saved in the Documents folder. To save the files in a temporary folder, use the Set Variable script step to create a variable to specify the output file path and filename for the script step.

  You can use the following example to create an email with the file as an attachment.

  Set Variable [$Output; Value: Get( TemporaryPath ) & “sample.pdf”] Save Records as PDF [With dialog: Off; “$Output”; Records being browsed] Send Mail [Send via E-mail Client; With dialog: Off; To: “linda@glolda.com”; Subject: “Invoice” ; Message: “Test”; “$Output”]

• By default, script steps that create output files will not overwrite an existing file. Instead, a number is added to the end of each filename. For example, the first time you run the Save Records as PDF script step for a sample file, the output filename is sample.pdf. The second time you run the script, the filename will be sample 1.pdf.

  To replace the output file with the new one instead of keeping multiple copies, add the file path (file:fileName or filemac:fileName) to the script. For example, if you type file:sample.pdf or filemac:sample.pdf in the Specify Output File dialog box each time you run the script, the sample.pdf file in the Documents folder will be replaced with the new one.

  The following example saves records as a PDF file named sample.pdf and will either create a new file or overwrite the existing file.

  Save Records as PDF [With dialog: Off; “sample.pdf”; Records being browsed]

When users try to open a protected file in FileMaker Go, a dialog box prompts them to specify an account and a password. FileMaker Go checks the following settings in the specified order to determine how to open a protected file. If none of these settings are used, the user needs to enter the login information to open the file.

1. File Options dialog box to log in automatically

   In FileMaker Pro, you can use the File Options dialog box to automatically log in using a specific account and password when you open the file.

2. User manual override

   In FileMaker Go, users can temporarily bypass the default login information when they open a file by touching and holding a filename in the files list. Releasing the filename displays a dialog box where users can enter a different account and password.

3. Accessing passwords saved in the keychain

   In FileMaker Pro, you can use the File Options dialog box to allow saving the password in the keychain. You can also require Touch ID or an iOS passcode before FileMaker Go can access its keychain. Users will be asked to use Touch ID or enter their iOS passcode to log in or to manage the keychain in FileMaker Go. See FileMaker Go Help.

When you press the Home button on your device, FileMaker Go moves to the background and saves the state of the file. FileMaker Go also saves the state of the file when you answer a phone call. When you switch back to FileMaker Go, you return to where you left off.

Files can be configured to require reauthentication after being in the background for a specified period of time. See Using the fmreauthenticate extended privilege.

After FileMaker Go moves to the background, you must reenter your account and password to return to the file, unless:

• you are using the Guest account
• your account name and password match the account name and password set in the File Options dialog box in FileMaker Pro
• you have returned to the file before the time limit specified in the fmreauthenticate extended privilege
• you are using an account that does not have the fmreauthenticate extended privilege
• you saved the password in Keychain Access

Use the fmreauthenticate extended privilege to require reauthentication after not using FileMaker Go for the specified number of minutes.

With this extended privilege, when FileMaker Go switches to the foreground, users must reenter the account name and password if the specified time limit has elapsed. Users can attempt to enter their account name and password five times before FileMaker Go closes the files.

New privilege sets created in FileMaker Pro include the keyword fmreauthenticate10 (ten minutes) by default.

If a file is converted from an earlier version of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Pro adds fmreauthenticate0 and fmreauthenticate10 to the keyword list for the converted file and uses the fmreauthenticate0 extended privilege for all existing accounts.

• Try to balance security needs and user convenience when specifying the amount of time:
  • before the iOS passcode is required
  • for server idle time
  • before requiring re-login using the fmreauthenticate extended privilege
• Use the fmreauthenticate extended privilege to minimize unauthorized access.
• Set the iOS passcode to be required immediately.
• Set the fmreauthenticate extended privilege to fmreauthenticate0.
• Enable Encryption at Rest using FileMaker Pro Advanced to encrypt all the information stored within a file. See FileMaker Pro Help.
• Enable Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption on FileMaker Server.

Important: Set an iOS passcode so that iOS data protection is enabled on your device.

To limit unauthorized access:

• Use the free Find My iPad or Find My iPhone app. Enable the Remote Passcode Lock and Remote Wipe features for your device.
• Use the Get(PersistentID) function to help identify devices that access your solutions.

Notes

• FileMaker Go doesn't work with IPv6 file references or addresses.
• If a host asks a client to close and there is no response after 30 seconds, FileMaker Go will attempt to close files and the alert message will close.
• File recovery isn't supported on devices.

For information about supported certificates, see the FileMaker Knowledge Base at http://help.filemaker.com.