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:
Working with Data Ranges and Arrays
|
| |
MacOS
|
Windows
|
|
| |
 |
The Array Expander - Dealing With Data Migration Issues
Not infrequently, data is required to be moved from groups of information within a single record (eg multi-key fields, repeating fields, data arrays) to an expanded format where each value has a record to itself. This is an important step in preparing data for use in a relational file structure, especially where the data has come from a spreadsheet or other flat-file system where arrays were used.
This demo file illustrates a straightforward method of scripting by which data arrays can be rapidly and accurately expanded. The file itself can be used as an array expander (if you were to import your data into it), or it can serve as a model for an expansion script in another solution. The example demonstrated in the file uses a numeric data array with pipe delimiters, but the technique may be adapted to work with lists and arrays of any kind, including text lists separated by carriage return characters.
The demo is an fp5 format file. It contains no passwords. Explore it at your leisure. To download a Mac archive in Stuffit format click on the MacOS icon at right, or for a download in PKzip format, click the Windows icon.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Custom Parsing - Expanding Delimited Data and Arrays within Records
A number of standard formats for the import and export of data are provided within FileMaker Pro. Nevertheless there are occasions when data in a variety of formats which are not supported directly, must be accessed and utilized within FileMaker solutions.
The scripting approach which is the subject of this demo shows a relatively straightforward way to break out delimited data (in this example the 'input data' is pipe delimited) and distribute the component values across the fields within a record. Such a process can either be an integral part of a data import exercise, or can be conducted in a separate file as a preliminary step, prior to importing the parsed data into the destination solution file.
The demo is an fp5 format file. It is not locked, so you may examine the scripts if you wish. To download a Mac archive in Stuffit format click on the MacOS icon at right, or for a download in PKzip format, click the Windows icon.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Finding only one of each record when there are duplicates!
Omitting duplicate records is something that is frequently required, but the best known technique involves a script which marks records then omits them - and that can produce unpredictable results in multi-user mode (eg if more than one user is running the script at once).
This sample technique file shows a method by which duplicate (second or subsequent) copies of a record can be omitted by script without any record marking, based on the contents of a field. In the demo implementation, the field which will be checked for duplicates can be selected. Of course - with the addition of a couple of steps - the demonstrated technique can also be used to locate and remove any duplicate entries!
This demo is not password protected, so that you can investigate freely. 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.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
TextMaster - Text Range Filtering for Portals
This sample technique file shows a relatively straightforward method by which a portal may be filtered by text ranges - 'aa' to 'am', or 'orange' to 'pineapple'. The supplied text need not exactly match any of the text present - this method will find everything in between (by alphabetical sort location) two text strings supplied by the user.
The technique does not depend on scripts, relying on a relatively compact calculating key field. It can be applied to other data types (eg date and number) as well as text and is capable of addressing ranges of over ten thousand records (and open ended ranges, provided they do not embrace more than approx 10.5k existing records).
The file is in fp5 format. This demo is not password protected, so that you can look "under the bonnet" to see how it works. 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.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Range Relationships - Date, Number and Time
Not uncommonly, the need arises to access or review records (from the current or a related file) which match a range of dates, times or numbers. Sometimes the requirement is for establishment of a data relationship for transactional purposes - other times a filtered portal may be required for display purposes.
This updated demo comprises three files, which provide a glimpse of a calculation approach to range relationships with numeric (including date and time) data, in addition to a scripted procedure for controlling a filtered portal.
Both the methods shown are disarmingly simple. No smoke and mirrors, just three fields and a script (and - of course - a portal and a relationship!) in one case, and two data fields and one calculation in the other. The example demonstrated in the demo file set uses ranges of dates, but both the techniques are equally applicable to time or number data ranges.
This demo file set is in fp5 format. It contains no passwords. Explore it at your leisure. To download a Mac archive in Stuffit format click on the MacOS icon at right, or for a download in PKzip format, click the Windows icon.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Event Window - A Rolling Date Range System
As an adjunct to the scripted date range technique in the previous demo, this demo illustrates a variable and dynamic calculated range system. Based on the current date, or any other supplied date, records corresponding to a range of dates are displayed in a portal.
In the demo setup, a working week is displayed, centered around the supplied date. When the supplied date is a weekday, the date itself, plus the preceding two working days and the following two working days are displayed. If the supplied date in on a weekend (and therefore not a working day) it is ommitted, but the preceding two working days and the following two working days are nevertheless displayed. The time window can be moved forward or backward to view a moving 'span' of related events or activities.
The demo is an fp5 format file. Its secrets are open to your gaze. To download a Mac archive in Stuffit format click on the MacOS icon at right, or for a download in PKzip format, click the Windows icon.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Displaying the Found Set in a Portal
As well as providing access to related records, portals are a significant element of the user interface options provided by FileMaker Pro. They enable developers to combine list and form elements within the same screen/layout, thus greatly expanding the range of interface options available. Such options include having user accessible notes, graphs data and summary fields on the same layout as a list. The challenge, however, is to retain the power of FIleMaker's 'find' features, yet present the results of the find in a portal on a 'view as form' layout.
The straightforward technique illustrated in this sample file shows how a find script can be extended to cleanly gather the unique IDs of the found records into a multi-key field, then switch the user to a layout on which the found set is presented in a portal. The technique does not use record marking and is therefore fully compatible with multi-user requirements, allowing each user to view independent sets of found records.
This demo is password-free, to give you unbridled opportunities for 'sneak peeks'. 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.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Dynamically Generating Number Ranges
There are many situations in administration, research and other operations, when the allocation of ranges of sequential numbers is required. If this is done manually, it is both time consuming and error prone - but with this technique the problem is solved!
This sample file shows a technique which was originally developed for the allocation of sequence numbers for the enrolment of university students in Western Australia, but has since found application in several statistics and research projects. It provides a mechanism by which the user is prompted define a start number and an end number and a field number for the start number to be placed in. A number series is then generated and automatically placed in the appropriate fields.
This version of the demo has been updated to include the use of the Custom Dialogs feature which was introduced in version 6.x of FileMaker, but retains the earlier functionality so that it will operate with v5.x.
This demo is not password protected, so that you can investigate freely. 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.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Inclusive Date Ranges
When matching ranges to ranges, most of the available techniques for FileMaker Pro match on overlap. But sometimes it is desirable that the related range fall entirely within the specified range - or conversely, that the related range fully encompas the specified range.
This sample file shows a technique by which ranges of up to 365 days may be matched *inclusively* - so that unless one range falls entirely within the other, no match will occur. The method is based on calculation of a pair of key fields, one outer and one inner value set, wherein the match will only occur when the inner key range falls inside the outer key range (ie its start date is on or after the outer range start date *and* its end date is on or before the outer range end date)
This demo is open, so that you can examine the calculations which make it work. 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.
|
|
|
|
|
