MORE FREE DEMOS
As a free service to fellow developers and potential clients, sample
and demonstration files are periodically made available for download
from this site. A selection of current offerings is listed below:
Finesse and Added Value!
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MacOS
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Windows
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Horizontal Portals - A Convincing Simulation
If you've been using FileMaker for some time, you've probably seen a few simulations of so-called 'horizontal portal' functionality. You may even have seen some that used repeating fields. You probably weren't convinced, as we weren't - which is why, when the need arose, we came up with this technique. We think you'll agree that it is clean, tight and user-friendly. In fact we venture to claim that from the user's perspective, it's as good as the 'real thing' - at least until FMI provides a standard option for horizontally oriented portals!
Whilst the most frequent call for horizontal display of related data is for calendars (and this demo shows a simple calendar display system by way of example) there are a number of other uses - display of image thumbnails, rows of notes along the bottom of the screen etc etc. Once you've seen how cleanly this feat can be accomplished, you may find yourself thinking of places you'd like to use it...
The demo file is in fp5 format. It is provided without passwords, so you will be able to take a private tour of the set-up. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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Formatting All Occurrences of a User-Specified Word/Phrase in a Field
Whether as a scripted follow-on from the performance of a 'find, or whether as a substitute for the find itself, there are a variatey of occasions when it may be desirable to highlight (eg apply bold character formatting) all the occurrences of a user-specified word or phrase within a free form text field.
This technique does not merely simulate text formatting using overlaid fields, but parses the field according to the user-specified string and actually applies the formats to all the relevant source text elements which match. Among other things, it is a great way for users to precisely locate a word or phrase, without having to scan painstakingly through lengthy blocks of text.
The file is in fp5 format. This demo is password-free, and you are welcome to pay a visit to the 'engine room'. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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Automatic Application of Multiple Character Formats in a Field
This demo shows a variant of the automatic character formatting technique demonstrated elsewhere, which can be used to apply several different formats in a predefined sequence, to text within the same field.
Uses for this technique have included applying automatic bold, color and other font characteristics to the headings and sub-headings of 'narrative' text in a free-form text field. Because the technique is scripted, it can be set up to operate at the behest of the user (ag triggered from a layout button) or to cycle through all records automatically (eg at system start-up) restoring the text formats throughout the file.
This demo contains some test text and applies an arbitrarily predetermined format to different paragraphs at the click of a button. The style of text formatting and the location of the break points for the changes of formatting can be controlled according to whatever parameters are required for a given implementation (ie need not be limited to lines or paragraphs).
The file is in fp5 format. This demo is not password protected, so that you can examine it in detail if you wish. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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Scripting the insertion of coloured/formatted text!
FileMaker Pro provides a range of text formatting options which can be applied manually. However methods for applying formatting by script or calculation are not so obvious.
The technique which is demonstrated in this free file download shows a way in which a predetermined set of text formats can be applied automatically to text inserted into a field at the current cursor position. It uses the example of date-stamping a field, where, when a button is clicked to launch a script, a formatted date (in bold red text) is automatically entered into the designated field at the current cursor position.
This demo is not password protected, so its inner workings are on display. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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Click to Toggle a Field Text Format
This demo was prepared for a fellow developer, and provides a method by which users can point and click with the mouse, to apply strike-through formatting to the field contents. Although the demo is specific to the application in question, it is published here because the technique is versatile and has a broad range of other uses.
The file is in fp5 format. This demo is not password protected, so that you can take a look inside. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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Pop-Up 'Layout Menu' for Navigation
This demo combines several useful techniques to produce that much desired thing - a pop-up-list style layout menu which can be placed anywhere on any layout. Just select a layout from the list to be taken there! This version works in both 'Browse' and 'Find' modes. No more need for a cluster of buttons or a row of 'tabs' lining the top of the screen and using up precious space. This is a further step towards reclaiming the screen 'real estate' lost to the battleship grey of the FileMaker status bar!
The demo is an fp5 format file. It is password free, so that you can take a look at the workings. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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Pop-Up 'Script Menu' Command Interface
This demo is a variant of techniques pioneered by others, by which pop-up-list style menu can be used to trigger scripts. Unlike, the script menu, this approach enables you to offer a different selection of scripts on each layout - relevant to the purpose and content of that layout! This version is optimised for use on both Mac and Windows, and works in both 'Browse' and 'Find' modes. Like the layout menu technique, this approach will enable you to clear away a lot of clutter, for a clean, clear and professional interface with no compromise on flexibility of use.
The demo is an fp5 format file. It is password free, so that you can delve into its secret interior. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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Print Options and Auto-wrap
This demo was prepared for a developer in Canada, and provides a method by which users can select fields to be included in a printout, via a checkbox interface on-screen. Also included in this demo is a formula which inserts hard line breaks (carriage returns) so that lines of text will not exceed a fixed number of characters. The line length (number of characters) can be specified 'on the fly'.
The file is in fp5 format. This demo is not password protected, so that you can look "behind the scenes" at the formulae and scripts. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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A Simple Multi-Layered Summary Layout
By popular request, here is a sample file which shows beginner to intermediate-level use of summary layout techniques to achieve a multi-layered report from a data entry list (with a single layout doubling as data screen and report), giving an example which you are welcome to pick apart to help ignite their own experimental efforts..
The demo uses the example of a list of (fictitious) medical apointments in a practice with four doctors. The report summarises the appointments first by doctor, giving the total appointments for each doctor, then within the practitioner groupings the data are summarised by patient, showing the number of visits for each patient within the doctor group. The starting layout is a simple list-style data entry screen, but an arrow button at the lower right takes you to preview mode where a whole other world awaits!
The file is in fp5 format. This sample file is not password protected, so that you can take a look at the set-up if you wish. Click on the MacOS icon at right to download a Mac archive in Stuffit format, or on the Windows icon for a download in PKzip format.
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