Menu
6.3 FileMaker Go and WebDirect
FileMaker Go and WebDirect offer powerful ways to make your FileMaker databases available on mobile devices and on the web. These technologies allow you to make your solutions accessible to a broad user base while maintaining the flexibility and functionality of FileMaker. In this chapter, we'll focus on how to develop mobile applications with FileMaker Go, publish your FileMaker solutions to the web, and optimize layouts for mobile devices and the web.
Table of contents
Mobile applications with FileMaker Go
Introduction to FileMaker Go
FileMaker Go is a free app for iOS devices that allows you to run FileMaker databases on your iPhone or iPad. With FileMaker Go, you can create mobile applications that address specific on-the-go needs and provide the flexibility to take your database solution with you wherever you go. This app supports nearly all the features of FileMaker Pro, including scripts, layouts and calculations.
Creation of a mobile application
- Design and planning:
- Before you create a mobile application, you should understand the workflow and the specific requirements of your mobile users. Mobile applications should be easy to use and make the most important functions easily accessible. Think about usability and optimize the user interface for touchscreen devices.
- Creating layouts for mobile devices:
- Use FileMaker Pro to create layouts that are optimized for mobile devices. Make sure that your layouts fit on smaller screens and that elements such as buttons are large enough to be easily tapped.
- ExampleUse a single column layout for layouts to ensure that all important information is visible on a small screen without the user having to scroll horizontally.
- Use of script buttons and gestures:
- Gestures and script buttons can play an important role in mobile applications. Use gestures such as swiping or tapping to trigger actions. This can improve the user experience and enable smoother interaction with the database.
- Local data storage and synchronization:
- FileMaker Go allows you to store data on the device to work offline. Plan mechanisms to synchronize the locally stored data with the central database as soon as a connection is available.
- TipUse scripts to trigger synchronization automatically when an Internet connection is detected.
- Testing and deploying the app:
- Test your mobile app extensively on different iOS devices to ensure it works well in all usage scenarios. Either deploy the application via the FileMaker Go app itself or create a location-based solution that is installed directly on users' devices.
Best Practices for FileMaker Go
- Performance optimizationReduce the number of simultaneously loaded data records and layout objects to improve performance on mobile devices.
- Offline functionalityEnsure that critical functions are also available offline and that synchronization runs smoothly.
- Simple user interfaceKeep the user interface as simple as possible to make it easier to use on a small screen.
![iPad: Customer selection in the [Billing] and [Correspondence] modules](https://gofilemaker.de/wp-content/uploads/iPad-Faktura-Kundenauswahl.jpg)
Publishing FileMaker solutions on the web
Introduction to FileMaker WebDirect
FileMaker WebDirect makes it possible to publish FileMaker databases over the web and access them from almost any modern browser. This provides an excellent opportunity to make your solution accessible to a wider audience without the need to install special software on the client device.
Preparation of the database for WebDirect
- Checking compatibility:
- Not all FileMaker features are available in WebDirect. Make sure that your database does not use features that are not supported by WebDirect, such as certain layout animations or plug-ins that only run in FileMaker Pro.
- Creation and optimization of web layouts:
- Layouts that are to be used on the web must be optimized for display in a browser. Use simple layouts without complex graphics or extensive scripts to reduce loading times.
- ExampleUse CSS-like techniques in FileMaker to standardize presentation and improve performance.
- Access rights and security:
- Ensure that your WebDirect users have the correct access rights and that the security settings for web access are robust. Enable SSL to encrypt data transmission and use role-based access control to ensure that users can only access the data they are allowed to see.
- Provision of the solution:
- Publish your FileMaker database on a FileMaker Server with the WebDirect function enabled. The server takes over the management of web requests and ensures that users can access the database via their browser.
Best practices for WebDirect
- Avoidance of complex layoutsKeep layouts for WebDirect simple and avoid excessive use of graphics or complex scripts to maximize performance.
- Responsive designMake sure that your web layouts are responsive, i.e. that they adapt to different screen sizes. This improves the user experience on a variety of devices.
- Focus on safetyUse strong passwords and SSL encryption to ensure security when accessing your WebDirect solution.
gFM-Business Open Source FileMaker Basis-ERP
The software for the crash course
Download for free
Optimization of layouts for mobile devices and web
Optimization for mobile devices
- Use of touch-friendly elements:
- Make sure that all interactive elements such as buttons, dropdowns and links are large enough to be easily operated with a finger. Stick to a minimum size of 44×44 pixels for touch elements.
- Adaptation of layouts to smaller screens:
- Use layouts that focus on the vertical flow of information, as mobile devices usually have longer screens. Use flexible layout elements that adapt to the screen size.
- ExampleWork with a single column layout and avoid horizontal scrolling.
- Reduction of the data load:
- Minimize the number of data records and layout objects that are loaded at once. Load only the most important data and use lazy loading to improve performance.
- Consider offline functionality:
- Plan layouts and features to work offline, especially in FileMaker Go. Use scripts to control synchronization and avoid conflicts.
Optimization for the web
- Implement responsive design:
- Make sure your layouts look good on different screen sizes. Use flexible layout elements and test your web layouts on different devices to make sure they work well.
- Reduction of loading times:
- Optimize graphics and avoid unnecessary layout elements to shorten loading times. Use simple CSS-based techniques to simplify the design and improve performance.
- Use of web-specific functions:
- Take advantage of WebDirect by incorporating web-specific functions such as the integration of web services (REST APIs) or the use of WebViewers for extended interactions.
- Test browser compatibility:
- Test your web layouts in different browsers (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari) to ensure that they work correctly everywhere. Make sure that all interactive elements and scripts are executed correctly.
FileMaker ERP with optimized
Layouts for the Apple iPad
More information
Best practices for layout optimization
- Prefer minimalismLess is more - keep your layouts simple and focus on the essential elements to improve usability.
- Continuous testingTest your layouts regularly on different devices and in different environments to make sure they work smoothly.
- Obtain user feedbackLet your users test the mobile and web layouts and give them the opportunity to provide feedback. Use this feedback to continuously improve your layouts.
Summary
FileMaker Go and WebDirect offer versatile ways to make your database solutions available on mobile and web. With the right planning, optimization and deployment, you can create powerful applications that work great on both mobile devices and the web.
6.3 FileMaker Go and WebDirect
Menu
