An ecosystem for FileMaker developers
An ecosystem for FileMaker developers
The FM Developer Bundle includes everything you need to start a new FileMaker project.
FileMaker developers face new challenges with every project. Meanwhile, there are also recurring challenges. Can’t these “same challenges over and over again” be elegantly wrapped into one simple starter solution? This article is about ways to do that.
Developed in italics for developers
Developed in italics for developers and those who want to become one. The FM Developer Bundle is a new product bundle with three proven components. Together they offer something like a quick start for new FileMaker projects or a turbo start for budding FileMaker developers. The maxim is to keep everything as simple as possible. So no complex systems, but tried and tested simple structures. There are also modular development approaches and clearly defined tasks.
Start file, design templates, licensing models
Three products stand for three tasks. FM starter is the versatile and tidy start-up file for new FileMaker projects. The new FM designer is a collection of FileMaker designs, already perfectly tailored for FM Starter. For everyone who would like to sell their software as a standard solution, there is FM registrations. This enables activation codes to be generated for standard solutions. These three products together make that FM Developer Bundle.
Learning by doing
FileMaker developers are usually career changers. You come to FileMaker because it’s incredibly easy to create solutions for your needs. With increasing competence, the requirements naturally also increase. And vice versa: If the requirements for a project are high, you may have to strengthen and expand your own skills.
The simplest solution is not always the best. Most of the developers I know have learned their way around FileMaker. However, building experience takes time. Couldn’t you look over the shoulder of another developer to see how he or she did it? That could make the process easier.
For many FileMaker developers, learning by doing is part of everyday life. Those who can fall back on the experience and working methods of other developers not only benefit from the know-how of the other person, but also from the experience they have gained. FM Starter is such an «experience file». It shortens training and shows proven ways of working with FileMaker.
As is well known, many roads lead to Rome and no developer has combined all truth or experience in himself. So there are many possible solutions. FM Starter wants to be as open as possible and does not introduce a programming style, but rather project structures. Project structures can be recorded intuitively and the already built-in functionalities can be configured almost completely via a separate user interface. Such ideas and solutions accelerate the learning process immensely.
The basis and further development
The FM Developer Bundle provides a solid basis for new FileMaker projects and offers standard functionalities that are easy to use. A simple user administration is included as well as a 100% dynamic navigation. The start file is also multilingual. If you want to incorporate things like this later, it is very time-consuming, if not impossible. However, if there are already well-integrated components in the start file, this greatly simplifies new projects. That is the power of FM starter Solution.
The further development can therefore begin right from the start. The foundation is laid, via FM designer you can also import and apply new color schemes and designs in no time at all. A completely new project with proven basics is created in a flash. It’s that easy. The development of the actual tasks can now begin with practically no delay.
Does the need arise to create a product from one project? That is also possible! If you want to be able to sell the same product to multiple customers, then this helps FM registrations with it. The program file can be on a website and it can be activated using registration codes that are sent to the buyer after the purchase. The decryption of the codes is already built into FM Starter. If the processing of license codes is now switched on in FM Starter (just check the box), you can start soon. A new software product is defined in FM Registrations and the secret keys are transferred to the start file. Complex processes are already implemented and clearly documented.
This is what a vertical start with FileMaker can look like.
FM Designer - designing FileMaker projects made easy
FM Designer - designing FileMaker projects made easy
10 themes for FileMaker Pro
Kursiv Software has just launched a new product for FileMaker developers. FM Designer is a collection of 10 themes for FileMaker Pro that work together perfectly. But FM Designer is also an elegant tool for creating your own designs.
Development is not just technical
Apple showed the way: Good products not only convince with their functionality, but also with their excellent design. The design often determines whether a product is classified as good, simple or interesting. An elegant design always brings the essentials to the point. It’s an art.
FileMaker developers are always faced with design, because FileMaker Pro combines functionality with layouts and objects. That’s why FileMaker developers always play the role of designer. As a developer, however, you do not always have the knowledge or the time to develop a good design. How do you solve the dilemma?
10 FileMaker Designs
FileMaker Pro isn’t layout software, but it does offer a lot of design aids. For example, there is a grid and auxiliary lines that can be displayed on the page and used for positioning objects. In addition, objects can be defined with style templates. A set of style templates that are coordinated with one another can be saved as a “design” (“theme”). These designs simplify and standardize the layout. These designs can best be compared with CSS templates – the design descriptions, which are also used for websites. FileMaker has given this description of object properties a nice interface so that anyone can work with it.
FM Designer comprises 10 carefully put together designs, in which numerous variants are available for each object. The designs are compatible with each other. For example, if a layout was created with a certain design from this series, the design can be switched to another design with just a few clicks.
FM Designer and FM Developer Bundle
A new product bundle, the FM Developer Bundle, was also presented together with FM Designer. This package is a complete solution for new FileMaker projects and includes:
- FM Starter, the comprehensive starter file for new FileMaker projects
- FM Registrations, with which license codes for your own FileMaker solutions can be created
- FM Designer, a collection of FileMaker designs and tools for creating your own themes.
FM Designer was created on the basis of the FM Starter Design. Anyone who already works with FM Starter can now simply import designs from FM Designer and immediately switch to a new look.
Documents, videos and manuals
FM Designer comes with a detailed manual (German and English) and videos (German and English). The complete documentation can be found on fmstarter.com. The sale runs via kursiv-software.com.
FM Designer is a FileMaker file. In order to use the solution, a full version of FileMaker Pro is required (recommended: FileMaker Pro 18 or newer). The file itself is monolingual English, but the documents are multilingual.
FM Starter 2.15 released
FM Starter 2.15 released
Bug fixes and improvements
Kursiv has just released a new version of FM Starter. Version 2.15 fixed a few bugs and brought a few new features. It’s an important update that will bring significant improvements for some users. All changes for version 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 are now activated. The focus of this update is on the following topics:
- The standard theme has been expanded. The style sheets have been renamed and some new styles have been added. A third page was also integrated, on which all object styles were mapped with their own object. So there is now something like a style catalog with all style definitions.
- Landing pages for user groups. User groups now receive a target page for each platform (desktop / iPhone / iPad / web) that is accessed after logging in. So far there has only been a single “landing page” for this.
- Backup of program settings. Up to now, program settings have only been managed in global fields. However, if you develop a file on the server, you cannot permanently store any information here. There is now a backup function that reloads the correct data in the startup script.
- Language settings of the user are now correctly activated when the program starts.
These and other adjustments are listed in detail in the ToDo module and can be built into existing solutions if necessary.
Download and updates
All customers who bought or renewed FM Starter in the last year can download the update from their account on kursiv-software.com.
Advance notice FM Designer
Soon there will be growth: We are currently working on the completion of a new product called “FM Designer”. FM Designer offers 10 optimized design templates for FileMaker development that are perfectly tailored to FM Starter. The adjustments to the design templates in FM Starter 2.15 serve to prepare for the new FM Designer.
FM Designer will be released in June 2020.
What is FM Starter?
FM Starter is a start-up file for new FileMaker projects. The file includes basic modules for navigation, user administration, multilingual text labels and the like. Further information is available at fmstarter.com .
All Kursiv FileMaker products are compatible with FileMaker 19
All Kursiv FileMaker products are compatible with FileMaker 19
Kursiv FileMaker products all work fine with FileMaker 19
Claris released FileMaker 19 yesterday. There are important innovations with this version. Compatibility with previous FileMaker files is not affected – all FileMaker products from Kursiv work as usual.
The last update of FileMaker brings a number of important innovations that open up many new possibilities for the future development of FileMaker products.
An overview with the first press releases, articles and videos on the new version can be found on the website filemaker-kompetenz.ch .
Finally get a grip on your data with FileMaker
Finally get a grip on your data with FileMaker
Automation of everyday tasks
Who is working is generating data, i.e. information about the work. From the customer address to the production status, data is collected, offers and invoices are written and a thousand other things are processed. Most daily tasks are repetitive and can therefore be recorded in a structured way. This increases transparency, reduces the risk of errors and enables a targeted approach to business.
Use the time in lockdown
We live in a challenging time with unique opportunities. The COVID-19 virus will shut down the global economy for months. Governments “close” entire countries, and suddenly everyone is forced to improvise. It will take some time before it’s all over. It is still unclear how any exit strategy will work out after a relaxation. It seems certain, on the other hand, that the consequences of this period will linger with us for a long time to come.
I consider myself as pragmatic. I ask myself what I can do today which helps me tomorrow. During this time one must keep a cool head and look ahead courageously. We can think about that now.
Those who pave the way for new options today will have better chances of standing their ground in the future. The evaluation and simplification of internal company processes play an important role here. Think of automation requirements in day-to-day operations.
Now is a good time to contemplate workflows and software in your company.
Automation with FileMaker
FileMaker is a platform to develop business solutions. It’s not a specific software solution, it’s the software that allows you to create solutions. It’s like speaking of a word processor, which can be used to write different texts.
Many businesses use Excel to manage their data. This is a very powerful tool, but Excel is not a database, nor does it allow you to create intuitive interfaces. FileMaker, however, organizes data in an intuitive way. It’s used to create attractive and efficient software solutions that work on both Mac and Windows, and can also run on the web or iOS. One data format for a wide range of applications!
With FileMaker, you can automate business processes and bring them together on one platform. FileMaker solutions can be secured, shared over a network, and accessed by multiple people with their individual accounts and access rights.
In short, with FileMaker you can take control of your data.
Jump-start help for FileMaker developers
Kursiv Software builds solutions for FileMaker developers and those who want to become one.
FM Starter
With our startup file “FM Starter” there is a quick start for every new FileMaker project. With FM Starter you get a proven project structure and many generic tools are already integrated (navigation, multilingualism, user management, etc.).
FM Registrations
Do you want to convert your FileMaker development into standard software and sell it multiple times? If so, “FM Registrations” can be of help. With FM Registrations you can create license keys for your own FileMaker solutions. Therefore you can easily sell the same solution to multiple customers.
Kursiv provides help to self-help
Decide for yourself whether you prefer to develop on your own or whether you prefer assistance with the project. Kursiv offers optimal help for both scenarios. You can use our cost-effective FileMaker solutions or order coaching and training. We support on site or remotely.
Where can I get further information?
On our website fmstarter.com you will find many free example files as well as documentation and videos about our commercial FileMaker products. We are also part of an active FileMaker developer group in Eastern Switzerland, accessible via the website filemaker-kompetenz.ch. If you want to learn more about the possibilities of FileMaker or if you want to join us as a developer, we recommend the German FileMaker Conference. This conference takes place once a year and further information is available on filemaker-konferenz.com. The FileMaker Magazine is a website with magazine but also a very active forum with German-speaking developers. All this can be found on filemaker-magazin.de. If you want to start with self-study, you can find introductory videos about FileMaker and many other topics on the website com2publish.ch.
FileMaker runtimes are no longer supported
FileMaker Runtime versions are no longer supported.
Kursiv has removed several products from their portfolio.
FileMaker developers could, until now, include a free runtime version of FileMaker, which allowed customers to run a simple database on a single computer. This option longer is available and FileMaker runtime versions are no longer properly working on current systems. Kursiv therefore decided to remove several products from their website.
Kursiv develops software solutions using FileMaker. The result was a variety of products that were sold with a free runtime version of FileMaker. For several years, FileMaker has stopped developing the runtime version and it was announced that support would be discontinued. FileMaker does not offer an alternative. FileMaker manufacturer Claris lives from license sales, not from free runtime versions.
It remains to be seen whether this is a good move or not. However, it has a clear consequence for some of our products. The following products were shipped with a runtime version of FileMaker:
- KIM TimeLog
- YouthEvents
- KIM Keywording
The time recording “KIM TimeLog” and the administration for youth groups “YouthEvents” have now been removed from the program. There was a change for the keywording software “KIM Keywording”: Now only the software solution is sold, but the customer needs a full version of FileMaker in order for the solution to run.
FileMaker Pro is a platform for business solutions with many advantages for users. However, licensing smaller solutions is not always worthwhile if an additional license from FileMaker is a prerequisite. That is the reason that we no longer offer these solutions directly. However, we support previous users and help with a migration to a full version of FileMaker.
There is also an article on this topic on the filemaker-kompetenz.ch website:
FM Starter 2.1 with German manual
FM Starter 2.1 released
Now with German manual
FM Starter 2.1 is the final update to the FileMaker starter solution. The update contains various bug fixes and minor improvements. The most important extension is the new German manual. This means that German-speaking developers have a detailed compendium on all aspects of FM Starter.
FM Starter is already structured in several languages. The user interface already is in four languages (German, English, French and Spanish) and can be expanded as you prefer. There is now a user manual in English and in German.
Further information on this release can be found in the following article:
FileMaker starter file now even more versatile
FileMaker starter file now even more versatile
FM Starter 2.08 now supports expiring passwords
Better user management
Kursiv has just released an update for FM Starter 2, the start-up file for new FileMaker projects. The focus in this update is on user management. Accounts with expiring passwords are now also supported. FM Starter has a user-friendly interface that has its own pages for developers, administrators and end users.
Further information is available at fmstarter.com .
Free update
FM Starter is supplied as a software license with free updates for one year. Customers can now download the latest version directly from their account on the kursiv-software.com website.
FM Starter now available as version 2
FM Starter now available as version 2
FM Starter 2 is the starting point for new FileMaker projects
FileMaker developers can now rely on FM Starter 2 for building new databases. The starter file for new FileMaker projects comes with a sound project structure and many modules for basic functionality like a navigation, a user management solution and much more.
With FM Starter 2, new projects can be started in no time because all the basic functions are already included. This greatly simplifies recurring tasks. While many developers gradually turn to reusing partial solutions that have already been created, only a few have the time to develop their own start file.
FM Starter 2 can also be used excellently as illustrative and learning material for FileMaker development, since it is not a sample file, but a basis for real solutions.
FM Starter offers a developer Dashboard, combining all settings and for the solution and its integrated modules. This simplifies programming to mere configuring. The approach can easily be understood by FileMaker novices and readily be used and enhanced by experienced developers.
FM Starter 2 is a FileMaker file and requires FileMaker Pro 17 as a minimum. The product can be obtained from Kursiv Software ( kursiv-software.com ). Further information is also available on the product’s own website fmstarter.com .
Update FM Registrations 1.35
Update FM Registrations 1.35
The current update for FM Registrations is focussed on the example file. Here a small bugfix has been made and part of a script has been simplified.
Generate your own activation codes for FileMaker solutions
With FM Registrations you manage licensees and registrations for your FileMaker solutions. The tool consists of two parts: FM Registrations as a code generator, and a sample file that shows the integration of the decryption for your solutions. The example file is structured as a FileMaker module and can be easily integrated into your own solution.
Information for customers
Where can I download the latest version?
Anyone who has already bought FM Registrations can download the latest version directly from their own account at kursiv-software.com (> here ).
How can I update my implementations?
Updating is particularly easy: open the latest sample file. In the “FMR License Registration” module, you can read in the ReadMe Script which changes have been made. Then copy the noted part of a script and use it to replace the corresponding part in an existing implementation.
That’s it!