In the last post about the Six Fried Rice methodology I went over the concept of data separation and why we use it. That is essentially the starting point for how we structure the files of our system. One file contains all of the UI components and scripts for the system while a second file contains all of the actual data. Just doing that one basic separation provides several benefits that generally make life easier, but how we structure the data within the Base File itself is equally if not more important than the data separation.
FileMaker Basics
Script Triggers: Monitoring and Restoring Tabs
FileMaker 10’s new Script Triggers feature just keeps delivering. You might, at first, think triggers are limited to layouts and fields, but it turns out your triggers can fire with all kinds of objects. In this article we’ll show you how to run scripts when users switch tabs on your tab controls. In the end, we’ll also revisit a common FileMaker problem: tabs switch when you switch layouts. We’ll show you how to solve this problem quickly and easily using script triggers.
Make the Status Toolbar Work for You
[FileMaker 10][fm10]’s most visible new feature is the completely redesigned Status toolbar (formerly called the Status *area*). Perhaps because of its prominent position, or because it is such a striking departure from a 20-year FileMaker mainstay, this change has been met with its fair share of controversy. In this article we’ll show you why you don’t need to worry, and how you can make the new Status toolbar *work for you*.
[fm10]: http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/introducing-filemaker-10/ “Our complete coverage of FileMaker Pro 10”
Isolate Any Record, Anywhere, Anytime and Any Context With One Script
There are some things that are easier to explain through examples. Putting the Set Field By Name script step to work is definitely one of them. It’s not a complicated process, but seeing the new [Indirection][ind] capabilities that Filemaker 10 has to offer makes a much stronger impression than trying to talk through it. Also, all my introductory quips for “isolating” and “isolation” were turning out quite depressing. So, here is how we used to find a specific record, and how we can do it now.
[ind]: /wp/set-field-by-name-exposed/ “Indirection SFR Style”
An Overview of the Six Fried Rice Methodology
When I came to Six Fried Rice as a novice developer, I was essentially a completely blank slate in terms of development style and processes. Luckily, Jesse and Geoff are anything but novices at this. They’ve been working with Filemaker long enough to have made all the mistakes I was likely to see, so when it came time to train me on how best to follow the Six Fried Rice methodology they had a pretty broad set of standards and processes ready to go. Those processes have helped me really understand and develop solid, easily understandable and extremely stable systems that if I had been left to my own devices would have taken me years to figure out.
YouTube Roundup
My previous post led me to YouTube, which reminded me of a few screen casts I did for O’Reilly when FileMaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual was released. I could only find two on line, but I thought I’d link them here in case anyone finds them useful.
Comparing Dates in FileMaker
Comparing dates can be confusing. It’s tough to tell exactly when FileMaker will treat the values that you are trying to compare as dates or as numbers or as…something else. Hopefully, I can point you in the right direction.
Highlighting the Active Field in FileMaker
One of the common complaints our customers have is that they can’t tell which field they are in when using FileMaker. Before FileMaker 9, there was no way to fix this for them. With the addition of conditional formatting, not only can you highlight the active field but you can make it bold, a different color or perhaps even enlarge the font.
Making FileMaker Object Grids Behave
There’s a lively discussion on the [TechNet](http://filemaker.com/technet/) mailing list right now about the pros and cons of FileMaker Pro’s *Object Grids* feature. This is certainly an opinionated discussion, and there is clearly no “right” way. A lot of people find Object Grids *annoying* because it makes it *harder* to line things up sometimes. Here’s a quick tip to help get Object Grids to behave themselves. I love Object Grids, and leave them on almost all the time, but I don’t think I’d feel this way without the little trick explained here.
The Secret Life of Find Mode: Omit
Today’s Find mode article is short-and-sweet. If you ever feel it would be easier to tell FileMaker what you *don’t* want it to find, the Omit checkbox is your friend. In fact, you can use this esoteric Find mode widget to create incredibly complex queries that target exactly what you want.