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Displaying databases in Kiosk mode (FileMaker Pro Advanced)

Kiosk mode is a way of displaying your database solution or your runtime database solution on a full screen, without any toolbars or menus. As the name suggests, Kiosk mode can be used to present your database to users as an information kiosk. You can design your database to run through a touch screen.

Database files that open in FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Pro Advanced, or the runtime application can be transformed into files that must open in Kiosk mode for all accounts with a specific privilege set. When you create a solution to run in Kiosk mode, you need to provide navigation for your solution and the ability for users to quit your solution.

The primary file is the main database that users see first in your Kiosk solution. Because Kiosk mode does not contain any menus or window controls, the primary file must contain buttons that users can click to navigate through the solution, close the files, and quit FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Pro Advanced, or the runtime application.

To decide how users will navigate your Kiosk solution, start by planning your navigation design on paper. Decide what will happen when each button is clicked, and give users a way to get back to the beginning of your solution from each layout. To further control what users see, create startup scripts that display a specific layout when a file is opened.

•	If your Kiosk solution will be run with a touch screen, use large buttons and allow space between buttons.

•	Try to limit the number of options available on one screen.

•	Because Preview mode disables buttons, make sure that any Enter Preview Mode script step is followed by a Pause/Resume Script script step and specify an amount of time the script should remain in Preview mode. Place an Enter Browse Mode script step after the Pause/Resume Script script step.

Notes

•	When a Kiosk solution is open, access to the operating system is limited. On Windows machines, you can press Alt+Tab to go to another application from your Kiosk database solution.

•	If you have a previous Kiosk solution that displayed the status area, you will need to update your solution. You cannot display the status toolbar or layout bar in a Kiosk solution. You will need to add record navigation, script paused status, and script Cancel and Continue buttons to your layouts.

Related topics 

About creating runtime solutions (FileMaker Pro Advanced)

Setting up files for developer solutions (FileMaker Pro Advanced)