When programming further functions in the open license of the gFM-Business ERP software or in other FileMaker databases, it often happens that similar objects have to be duplicated and adapted tens or hundreds of times. To simplify this work step and many other processes, FileMaker developer Russell Watson aka MrWatson has developed his universal tool fmWorkMate, which was awarded the FMM Award for the best FileMaker tool by FileMaker Magazine in 2018. Russell Watson makes his tools available to all FileMaker developers free of charge. In this article, we explain how the fmWorkMate and fmCheckMate tools can make your life easier in conjunction with FileMaker and gFM-Business and introduce some other tools.
Table of contents
Free download on the developer's website
The fmWorkMate tool collection can be downloaded free of charge from the developer's website Downloaded there will also be a GitHub archive is made available. The tool collection is a FileMaker Runtime-solution that can be installed on macOS or Windows computers.
FileMaker Crash Course
Fast and effective FileMaker
learning in 20 chapters.
Participate free of charge
Universal tool with 15 tools
- fmWorkMate is the name of the collection that contains the following tools:
- fmCheckMate - Edit, convert, multiply, analyze, modify and transform FileMaker objects
- fmLogAnalyser - Helps to analyze the "import.log" file that FileMaker creates when problems occur
- fmSyntaxColorizer - Supports the colored highlighting of commands in the Script-Workspace also in older FileMaker versions
- fmTextConverter - Helps to search and replace data in text objects
- fmTextDiff - Helps to compare several text objects and highlights differences
- fmTextMultiplier - Multiplies your FileMaker objects by finding, duplicating and replacing multiple ones
- fmTextSeries - Automatically creates any text with consecutive serial numbers
- fmPasteMate - Supports the use of multiple objects with the clipboard.
- fmClipboardViewer - Display the XML code of FileMaker objects that are in the clipboard
- fmDBAnalyser - A tool for searching the internal database structure of a FileMakerDatabase
- fmModifierKeys - Displays the currently pressed modifier keys (cmd, alt, etc.) graphically as a tool e.g. for TeamViewer or AnyDesk
- fmLatencyMeter - Measures the latency of a remote FileMaker database from the Server to the client
- fmPluginMate - Helps with the installation of FileMaker plug-ins
- fmSimpleCalculator - Provides a simple calculator with some additional functions
- fmKeyPress - Displays the code of a pressed button in real time.
Copy, modify and paste FileMaker objects with fmCheckMate
fmCheckMate has become one of the most frequently used tools in the development of gFM-Business. We often use it to copy any FileMaker objects, modify them and then paste them back into FileMaker in a modified form. These can be layout objects or partial scripts from the script workspace, for example.
Example: In the script workspace, you have a partial script in which the fields xGlo_Eingabefeld_1 to xGlo_Eingabefeld_80 are to be cleared. This is done with the command:
Set field value [ prf::xGlo_Eingabefeld_1[$nr] ; "" ]
This command would now have to be duplicated 79 times. With fmCheckMate it is sufficient to create only one row of ten manually and then duplicate the row of ten seven times with fmCheckMate:
- Creation of a series of ten
- Copy the row of ten to the clipboard
- Execute function [Convert Clipboard FM XML] in fmCheckMate
- Search for "Input field_", replace with "Input field_1"
- Execute the reconversion function
- Insert new 10 script lines in FileMaker
- The next time you copy, search for "Input field_1", replace with "Input field_2", etc.
This function can be used not only for script objects, but also for layout objects, for example, if several similar layout objects are to be copied and pasted into FileMaker with only minor modifications.
Further video on working with fmCheckMate
By loading the video, you accept YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Analyze FileMaker layouts with fmCheckMate
With the layout analysis tool from fmCheckMate, all objects of a FileMaker layout can be viewed and analyzed. In this video, Russell Watson takes a closer look at the functions of the tool.
By loading the video, you accept YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Application examples in the gFM-Business ERP software
The most common application area for using the fmWorkMate tool in gFM-Business is the duplication of similar script lines as described above, as numbered input fields are often used for dialog entries in gFM-Business.
Some objects on the screen layouts of gFM-Business are grouped objects consisting of eight superimposed fields. This applies to all container fields in the navigation and some fields with value lists. The fields are always the same field from which the repetitions 1 to 8 are displayed, which is necessary for the use of several windows (instances) in gFM-Business. These object groups can also be easily copied directly as a group with fmCheckMate, modified as required and inserted back into the gFM Business layout in a single step.
Markus Schall has been developing individual databases, interfaces and business applications based on Claris FileMaker since 1994. He is a Claris partner, FMM Award winner 2011 and developer of the ERP software gFM-Business. He is also a book author and founder of the M. Schall Publishers.
