Recent Blog Posts

The Context Podcast: Unlocking Efficiency with SimpleQ Featuring:  Martha Zink  Todd Geist  Corn Walker  Mike Perley Description: Welcome to this episode of The Context Podcast where we explore the incredible capabilities of SimpleQ! Join us as we delve into the intricacies of SimpleQ, explaining its seamless task handling and compatibility with various systems. Discover the advantages of this approach and how it revolutionizes business processes. Additionally, we explore the origins of SimpleQ, discussing the hybrid PubSub and queuing system that […]

FileMaker enthusiasts! We are excited to announce that registration for PauseOnError FileMaker Summer Camp* 2023 opens on Monday, May 8 at 12pm ET. This year’s event will once again be held at the beautiful Kaplan Mitchell Retreat Center, located in Clayton, Georgia, from October 3 to October 6, 2023. Last year, we interviewed folks about their experience at PauseOnError. You can listen to those interviews here or you can listen to abridged The Context Podcast versions: Part 1, Part 2, […]

The release of the new Claris FileMaker 2023 update has been long-awaited by developers and users alike. With many new features and enhancements, it promises to make the already robust database platform even more powerful and efficient.  We also recognize that with new updates, compatibility issues can arise. Here are some additional details about how this release affects our products. Otto  Otto will require version 3.5.3 to work with FileMaker 2023. It is available for download. FMPerception FMComparison *FMPerception and […]

I picked up my first copy of FileMaker 3 and wrote my first little database app in 1998. Twenty-five years later, I still find myself eagerly anticipating the next new release, hoping to try out the next cool feature that promises to keep this business of solving problems with software fun.  A lot has changed in the intervening years. The product has evolved and made significant transformations, gaining power and features. FileMaker started as a tool that hobbyists and professionals […]

Featuring: Martha Zink, Todd Geist, and special guest, Rick Kalman. Description:  In this episode of The Context Podcast, Martha Zink and Todd Geist talk to Rick Kalman from Claris about the launch of Claris FileMaker 2023.  Together, they discuss the upcoming changes to the platform—including the switch to a year-based naming scheme, significant performance improvements, and the availability of Claris Connect on the free plan. With stronger authentication protocols, greater scalability, and improvements to backend infrastructure, FileMaker 2023 promises to […]

There are a few scenarios where you may need to change the filenames for your FileMaker custom apps. For example, you might be hosting your development copy and production copy on the same server. Since FileMaker Server does not allow you to host two files with the same name you have no choice but to name them differently, eg,“My_CRM” and “My_CRM_Dev”. Or perhaps you’re maintaining one master codebase on the development server and pushing that codebase to one or more […]

Join us virtually on Tuesday, April 18th, for a virtual user group meeting hosted by Jay Sayers of Skeleton Key and discover how Otto gives you superpowers for your FileMaker server! Todd Geist will be leading a presentation of Otto’s current capabilities, and better yet, he will also give attendees an exclusive first look at Otto v4. After the presentation, an Open Forum segment of the meetup will allow attendees to ask questions, share problems, and showcase their projects to […]

Hello! We’re excited to share that Databuzz is doing some very cool things with Otto, as they’ve recently discussed on their blog. Databuzz is an FileMaker integration expert and awesome Claris Partner based in Sydney, Australia. They announced support for using Otto Webhooks as an alternative to the PHP files that they supply, beginning with their fmESignature Link product (DocuSign Edition). “Otto’s built in support for webhooks means you can use Otto to act as the receiver of the incoming […]

I love my smart home. I also feel really fortunate to have it, especially given how my wife and I are complete opposites when it comes to technology. She admires the simple practicality of pen and paper, while the computer nerd in me always tries to squeeze out any efficiency in my everyday process (which is lived mostly on a computer screen). It started with a light switch When we moved into our new house last summer, I was able […]

Featuring: Description: In this episode of The Context Podcast, we are joined by Todd Geist, Corn Walker, and Peter Vinogradov for an epic debate between Team Pro-Transactions and Team Anti-Transactions. They dive in and discuss the benefits (and bad habits) that come with transactions in Claris FileMaker 19.6.  FileMaker’s 19.6 version release brought simplification and cleanup to the developer side of transactions, creating new commands to cut down on multistep processes and turning hard-to-read error-catching code into something legible. This […]

Written by Barbara Cooney and Eric Luce Use Case When you need to store a significant amount of container data, we have a solution that allows you to store the files in the cloud rather than worry about disk space. Curious how we do it? Read on. ​Container storage options Embedded Container data is usually embedded in the FileMaker file, so that your file does not have any dependencies. Everything is in one place so it’s easy to move around. […]

The Context Podcast: Pause on Production Part 3 — Interviews from PauseOnError Attendees. The final episode in this series

Transactions 19.6 Demo lead by Corn Walker

This is part two of a two-part series on transactions. Read Part 1 here: Transactions in FileMaker 19.6: Part 1. The new transactions model in Claris FileMaker 19.6 has made using scripted transactions easier, more flexible, and more explicit. It greatly improves on the implicit transaction model we are familiar with, however, there are still some details developers should be aware of and features of the design they may need to work around. Caveats Caveats to the new transactions model […]

Hello folks,  In case you weren’t able to attend Claris’s webinar earlier today, here are some key messages we heard. Claris presentation Brad Freitag (CEO) kicked it off with a few framing points: Claris views their core purpose and value as helping more organizations solve hard problems with technology. Freitag noted that the keys to their success are developers, products, recruiting, having a free tier, and their mission to enable and engage.  “Without you [the dev], we deliver nothing.”  – […]

Featuring: Description: In the scenic mountains of north Georgia, open-minded attendees gathered together to connect, learn, and grow with one another. In this episode, our guests focus on why PauseOnError differs from traditional tech conferences and how it ignites new perspectives.  We continue our series on stories from Pause, sitting down with David “Sully” Sullivan, Brian Panhuyzen, Jonathan Nicoletti, and April Barman to hear about their experiences; whether it’s laying down the law as water balloon sheriff, exploring FileMaker from […]

Claris FileMaker 19.6 Server: what’s new Claris continues to deliver new versions–this is a BIG one. With version 19.6 of FileMaker Server (FMS), you’ll see improvements in performance and security. Some features will seem familiar if you’ve used the Claris FileMaker platform for a while and others are new to everyone. Previously, Claris rebuilt the Admin Console interface and removed the Java-based web-console with the release of FileMaker Server 17. That meant FMS gained some features yet also lost some […]

Written By: When Will This Be Done? We are always asked, “When will this be done?”. Sometimes by customers, sometimes by teammates. It can be tough to answer when we’re not sure if we can meet our delivery dates and deadlines. Remember, everyone involved has the same goals – to understand the current situation and make plans to the best of our ability. The complexity of our work can make planning unpredictable, and that’s frustrating for everyone. But remembering that […]