Differences between the runtime application and FileMaker Pro (FileMaker Pro Advanced)
When you double-click the FileMaker Pro application icon to start the application, you can create a new solution or choose a solution to open. When you start a FileMaker Pro runtime application, the primary bound file opens automatically.
Other key differences between the runtime application and FileMaker Pro include the following:
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This includes Layout mode and commands on the Manage submenu.
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Custom functions and custom menus created with FileMaker Pro Advanced will work in the runtime application, although users of the runtime application cannot modify or create new custom functions or custom menus.
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For example, you can’t use the runtime application to create, open, or close a solution. (Bound runtime solutions must contain a custom button or script to close or open other files. There is no close command on a runtime solution window.)
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Plug-ins can be enabled in the Preferences dialog box. The Allow Solutions to Install Files option in the Plug-Ins preferences allows plug-in updates to install automatically. See Setting plug-in preferences.
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Although the XML Data filter appears as an option for the Convert File script step, you can’t convert XML files using this script step in a runtime application.
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OS X: Apple events are supported in runtime applications.
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A runtime database can, however, be opened in either FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Pro Advanced. The full functionality of these applications will be enabled, except if full access privileges have been removed.
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Application and document preferences
In the runtime application, some options are not available on the General tab of the Preferences dialog box. For example, the options to notify the user when an update or new version of FileMaker Pro is available are not present.
The Layout tab is not included in the Preferences dialog box for the runtime application.
The File Options dialog box in the runtime application displays only the Spelling tab.
Menu command comparison
The following tables show the menu commands that are available in FileMaker Pro and in the runtime application.
 
1
1
2
2
3
3
1.
2.
3.
 
 
1
1
1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note  All other Scripts menu commands are available only in FileMaker Pro.
 
 
 
1
1
1
1.
 
 
Ignored script steps
Because some features have been removed from the runtime application, some script steps are ignored by the runtime application. The ignored script steps are marked "No" or "Partial" for "Runtime solution" in the Compatibility section of each script step description. See Script steps reference.
Note  Open File returns an error if the specified file has not been bound to the runtime application. A runtime solution can only perform an external script if the external file is bound to the runtime solution.
Stored registry settings or preferences
Windows registry settings:
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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FileMaker\FileMaker Pro\14.0
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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FileMaker\FileMaker Pro\14.0A
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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FileMaker\<solution name>\14.0
Note  The file extension for the runtime database files is registered at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
OS X preferences:
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com.filemaker.client.pro.plist
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com.filemaker.client.advanced.plist
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com.filemaker.client.runtime.<Solution name>.plist