Also Certified for FileMaker 7 and 8!
Looking for MacFL? You, found us.
Same people, same company, with a new name!
FileMaker Techniques
Field Naming and Graphing Standards.
We try to do what makes sense. To me, three letter codes don't work as I can't remember what they are. Click the image of a sample table and graph on the right to zoom in.
FIELDS
- We use underscores for keys and special predicates needed for relationships.
- We use 'zz' for non data / non user fields. We used 'z', but 'Zipcodes' messed up the sort order.
- Field name groups are prefixed with the group name like NameFirst, NameLast, and NameFull.
GRAPH
- We use squids, but we put the tentacles on both sizes when we need more space.
- We don't bother to color the occurrences, but we do put note with color behind the TOGs.
- We the note font size is at 36 point so we can read it when the graph is zoomed to fit the window. Having the note also makes it easy to 'just start typing' its name to jump there rather than scrolling.
- We try to fit the TOG in the visible screen area.
- We collapse all occurrences to show only the keys except for the base table occurrence which we show key and fields.
- The base table name is simply its name.
- We name related occurrences using the base table occurrence name plus its own name.
- If the occurrence is needed for functionality, we add a dot before the name of the functionality. For example a contact has addresses and we have a relation between Contacts and ContactAddresses. We also need the contacts main address, so we would have a relation between Contacts and ContactsAddresses.Main.
Fix Windows Bitmapped Fonts.
In Windows fonts can look terrible, however if you activate ClearType it looks just about a good as the Mac. You can enable it manually, but that's a hassle. Automatic activation of ClearType would be much better like Microsoft has done here. Using it as an example, we made enabling ClearType automatic. When a browser loads the page, the user is asked if they want to install it or not so someone can't do anything malicious. The final step was to create a FileMaker script that loads the page in a web viewer. Our script waits for the words 'page turns on ClearType' in the content of the web browser. If the text doesn't appear we move on after trying for thirty seconds. Towards the bottom of this page, you can see examples of text using ClearType, with it off, and using the 'standard' version. Which do you think is better? Add ObjectName All to Fields on a Layout.
One thing we've been striving for is the ability to easily add ObjectNames to every field on a layout. Setting the ObjectNames by hand is very frustrating, but by using 'Clip Manager' along with our free technique file, you can set the ObjectNames for every field on a layout in about two minutes. Download the technique file and how to movie.Multikey Search.
We'll teach you how to search your database without entering 'Find Mode'. Watch the preview or download the full video and demo file.
Contact
Development and Consulting
Phone: 407-282-5585 (not for Product Support)
Fax: 407-650-3269
Email: hal@campsoftware.com
Address: PO Box 561259, Orlando, FL 32856-1259
Product Support
Email: support@campsoftware.com
Payment Processing
CampSoftware Products
Certification
- FileMaker 8 Certified Developer
- FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
- FileMaker Business Alliance Member
- Developing Since 1991
- Certified Help Desk Specialist, ACHDS, for 10.4, 10.3
- Certified Technical Coordinator, ACTC, for 10.1
- Apple Certified Technician
- Consulting Since 1988
FileMaker Techniques
- Field Naming and Graphing Standards.
- Fix Windows Bitmapped Fonts.
- Add ObjectNames.
- MultiKey Search.
Top Products / All Products
FMShell - Don't reinvent the wheel.
Our FileMaker database template will save your time.
ZipCalc - Target your postal mailings.
Enter a zipcode and distance to get the local zipcodes.
About
CampSoftware provides Macintosh software and hardware consulting solutions in Orlando and Central Florida, but we travel out of area quite often. We can help with Software Development using FileMaker Pro, REALbasic, and 4th Dimension (4D). As for Mac Support and Repair, we can assist with computer and server support, cross platform issues, networking, and web hosting.
Product Sourcing
Companies are increasingly entering emerging markets for producing products in order to pursue profit growth. However, many are experiencing the hassle associated with attempting direct dealings with overseas manufacturers. International Origin can bridge the gap and make your overseas dealings hassle-free. International Origin can provide reliable manufacturing, pricing to maximize your profits, arrange shipping, export documentation, and eliminate language, monetary, and cultural barriers
