I am rather new to Filemaker, so please excuse the lack of experience
in these questions. I did some limited searching but was unsure about
the terminology I was using.

I have two questions:

In compiled applications from Pro (.exe compiled), is there any way to
get rid of the navigation bar on the right side of the window? I have
the links I want in buttons and tabs in my interface and would like to
lose that sidebar.

What is the best way to return results based on an entry...for example
I want to have a drop down box that the user can choose a name (from
a table in the database) and then click a button to show only records
that have that same choice in the record. I learned how to do it with
a button but not to integrate into a user drop down...hope I am not
confusing you!


I looked at two books at Barnes and Noble (dummies book and a Que book
I think)....the dummies book seemed like it was too basic....would any
of you have a recommendation on a book for Filemaker 8.5 Pro?

Thanks in advance!

Dominic

On 03/29/2007 18:28:11 "Dominic" <dominic.willett (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Version not specified. Answer assumes 8/8.5

If you have a navigation bar on the right side of the window, that has to be part of the specific solution's design (FileMaker's status bar is on the left). Move/delete whatever you want, but look carefully at buttons, etc., just to make sure you're not deleting something important. Save a copy before you start messing around.

It is simple enough to script a find based on the user's selection. It is also simple to incorporate a free plugin that executes a script upon change to a field, eliminating the need to click the button after making the selection. See EventScript (http://www.softs4humans.com) or (zippScript http://homepage.mac.com/jkornhaus/filemaker/)

There is a demo of the technique at http://www.virtualvermont.com/FMP/EventScript.fp7.zip. Latest EventScript plug is included.

ZippScript has the added capability of scheduling a script to be run at some point in the future, either at a specific time or after a specific duration.

Matt

Book:

I am sorry, mentioned 8.5 down by the book area..good assumption! I
do have 8.5 currently.
Again, my apologies...meant the left side. The status bar as you
stated is what I would like to have not visible in my compiled
solution.


Matt,

learning more about scripting. I will also check the great resources
you listed, I do appreciate these as I am very new to the software.
Thanks again Matt!

Dominic

On 03/29/2007 20:33:50 "Dominic" <dominic.willett (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Show/Hide Status Bar script step.

You can replicate just about everything in the status bar with your own design (scripted buttons or navigations, etc).

Matt

The script would be the same with or without a plug:

Once the user has selected, a script would copy the selection, enter find mode, paste into the appropriate field, then perform find. Sort as necessary.

Simple as can be once you understand the flow.

Matt

In article <1175207291.033717.303700 (AT) o5g2000hsb (DOT) googlegroups.com>,
"Dominic" <dominic.willett (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Matt has answered the main questions, but you've got a bit of a
misconception. FileMaker Pro is NOT an "application development"
package ... it's a DATABASE development package.

Yes, you can create some fairly impressive database solutions, but you
still have to realise that you're always dealing with a FileMaker
database and understand all the limitations that implies when compared
to writing your own applications in programming environments like C or
REALBasic, etc. You can't simply do everything you can in a proper
application development system.



Do newer versions of FileMaker create a proper .exe application??

All the versions I've used simply create a runtime version of the
FileMaker application itself (a cutdown version without abilities for
editing Layouts, defining fields, etc.) and then uses your own database
file(s). The database files themselves aren't really any different to
the standard FileMaker ones other than running a different application
when double-clicked ... you can still open these files in normal
FileMaker.



Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

Harry,

thanks for the insight. In fact an application can contain (or in
this case be) a database, I believe its just a difference in the
terminology you or I would use. I come from an Access background and
developed databases for many years before appreciating the simplicity
in Filemaker. I now appreciate that simplicity in developing quick
and easy applications for clients or myself. And the great responses
from people like yourself and Matt has definitely been an important
part of my transition.

As to your question, Filemaker builds a smaller version of itself in
its compiled exe files. I would not call them a 'proper' exe, however
they are a runtime version of Filemaker without the pork and they are
launched from an executable loader.


Matt,

Thanks so much, this clears up the questions I had. I appreciate the
help!



Thanks again!

Dominic