Saturday, August 15 Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
| Time | Session Name | Track Session | Level | Expand All |
| 8:00 AM | K-12 Education Independent Consultants Round-Table | Special Interest | All |
Leslie Kareckas (FileMaker, Inc.)
Session Description All independent consultants that develop FileMaker solutions for K-12 schools or districts are invited to attend this round-table with FileMaker K-12 marketing and sales staff. This is an excellent opportunity to network with other independent developers, discuss technology trends in the K-12 market and learn about potential marketing and sales opportunities with FileMaker.
| 9:00 AM | The Idiom of FileMaker: What's New, What's Old, What's New Again! |
Session - Core | Advanced |
Albert Harum-Alvarez (SmallCo.net)
Session Description FileMaker continues to grow as an application. If FileMaker were a musical instrument, we'd say that you can play a much wider range of music with it than you ever could before. In other words, FileMaker's "idiom" is evolving. There are certain things that are still a "stretch" to do in FileMaker, but the features of the new version of FileMaker Pro are a big leap forward. We'll take a look at FileMaker's growing and evolving idiom by feature, and by viewing case studies that show how leading developers—some of whom have been using the new version since before it was released—are playing this new instrument. What are developers doing with script triggers, and should they be used to "fake" an actual database trigger? How is "Set Field by Name" changing code? How are "live" subsummary parts changing the idiom of FileMaker reports? Will Saved Finds change the way users query databases? We'll see how the best FileMaker designers are answering these questions.
Products & Technologies
- Case Studies
- User Experience
- Scripting
What You Will Learn
- FileMaker has an "idiom": an evolving set of tendencies, strengths and weaknesses for development.
- That idiom has grown in leaps and bounds: from data modeling to scripting to user experience.
- The latest version allows that idiom to grow in a few ways that you as a developer should consider.
- There are also "new things you can do" that you probably SHOULDN'T do!
| 9:00 AM | Web Services with FileMaker Pro | Session - Integration/Web | Intermediate |
Jesse Barnum (360Works)
Session Description Web Services have become the universal glue between modern IT organizations. Now you can tap into this universe of interoperable data with FileMaker Pro to do things like zip code lookups, CRM integration, and automated shipping. You'll also learn how you can publish your own XML Web Services using what you already know about FileMaker scripting. Attendees should understand basic XML concepts and be familiar with using FileMaker plugins.
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Server
- Deployment
- Business
What You Will Learn
- What is a Web Service? What is the rationale behind Web Services?
- What are some public web services that will enhance the functionality of my solution? Where can I find them?
- How can I access a web service from FileMaker Pro?
- How can I publish my own data as a Web Service?
| 9:00 AM | FileMaker 10 Live Reports and the Art of Information Display |
Session - Design/Develop | Beginner |
Doug Gardner (Exoteric Inc.)
Session Description FileMaker Pro has fantastic reporting capabilities, but they often go overlooked and when they are used, rarely are they used to their fullest. This session will begin with some reporting fundamentals, then move from simple summary and sub-summary reports directly into an examination of ways they can be made interactive in FileMaker 10, all with an eye toward the art of information display. Along the way you'll be confronted by reporting problems of varying degrees of difficulty, including some problems that are easy to understand but very challenging to solve.
Products & Technologies
- Finds/Sorts
- Design Tips
- Development Tips
What You Will Learn
- How to create interactive reports using FileMaker 10 Live Sub-summaries
- Fundamental and complex summary techniques
- New Sorting and Table View features in the real world
- Key concepts in information display
| 10:30 AM | DRY FileMaker: Techniques to Keep Scripts Error-Free and Manageable |
Session - Core | Beginner |
Geoff Coffey (Six Fried Rice)
Session Description This session will help intermediate scripters tackle large and complex scripting challenges without ending up with a mess. By focusing on the powerful design philosophy called "DRY," we'll talk about how to realistically handle error conditions, keep each script small and efficient, and structure a complex script for maximum maintainability. You'll learn about "context free scripting," a technique to squeeze as much flexibility and reusability as possible out of every script. And you'll discover how to bring all these techniques together to start making more manageable scripts right away.
Products & Technologies
- Scripting
- User Interface
- Development Standards
What You Will Learn
- Applying DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) principles to FileMaker development
- Practical approaches to error handling where you really need it
- Using script parameters and results for context-free scripting
- Maintainability through intelligent factoring
| 10:30 AM | Accounting Integration for Mac & Windows | Session - Integration/Web | Intermediate |
Linda Pitts (Compu-Books)
Session Description Attendees will get an overview of ways to share data and integrate with three popular accounting software products on Mac and Windows and will learn about two FileMaker accounting products available. Examples of user interfaces and developer tips will be shared and time frame for development will be discussed.
Products & Technologies
- Business
- Data Integration
What You Will Learn
- See integration examples for QuickBooks Windows using plug-ins
- See formatted exports for MYOB Mac and Windows accounting integration
- See formatted exports for MultiLedger Mac and Windows accounting integration
- Learn about FileMaker built accounting solution options
| 10:30 AM | All Aboard! Anchor-Buoy Tips & Tricks | Session - Design/Develop | Intermediate |
Jonn Howell (DataExperience, Inc.)
Session Description Learn how anchor buoy can simplify your development. Discover when it does and doesn't make sense to adopt. See advanced A/B tips that even experts often miss. After you attend this session, you'll know how easy it is to build complex relational diagrams in FileMaker Pro. Anchor-Buoy is probably the easiest to learn and most intuitive approach to relationships in FileMaker Pro.
Products & Technologies
- Developer Tools
- Development Standards
- RDB Modeling
What You Will Learn
- See a logical approach to relationships in FileMaker Pro
- Discover table occurrence grouping, TOG naming, acronyms, keys, notes, colors
- Find out how easy it is to use Anchor-Buoy!
- Explore relational models for table-to-table systems and session-based systems
| 10:30 AM | Ten Software Product Development Lessons I Wish I Had Learned 10 Years Ago |
Workshop | Beginner |
David Johnson (Facility Wizard Software)
Session Description Think you've developed a solution in FileMaker that you can sell over and over again? Facility Wizard Software is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) that has several FileMaker-platform software applications, 25 employees, over 650 customers, and has grown over the past 18 years to generate over $3 million in annual revenues. In this session, Dave Johnson, the company's President and CEO will outline ten key product development lessons that he wishes someone would've told him ten years ago. Topics will range from programming standards and version-tracking to software hosting and web-based applications.
Products & Technologies
- Business
- Development Standards
- Project Management
What You Will Learn
- Learn what it takes to apply a software development process around your commercial solution
- Learn about the challenges of versioning, upgrades, customization and maintenance
- Learn the differences between a 'database' and a 'software product'
- Learn from someone else's experience now rather than your own later
| 12:00 PM | How to Market Solutions with FileMaker | Special Interest | All |
Beth Nagengast (FileMaker, Inc.)
Session Description This workshop is designed for FileMaker Business Alliance members who want to get the most out of the co-marketing opportunities offered by FileMaker and Apple. Learn how to get maximum visibility for your products and services, get copywriting tips, messaging advice and much more!
| 1:30 PM | FileMaker Server Configuration: Performance Monitoring | Session - Core | Advanced |
Matt O'Dell (FileMaker, Inc.)
Session Description As developers and system architects, one of the most important topics to those sharing an application with FileMaker Server is server performance and health. Performance Monitoring is the standard technology for viewing hardware usage and overall server performance. By collecting and studying Performance Monitors, we are able to view how our hardware is performing, diagnose problems or bottlenecks, and make educated decisions on developing techniques and hardware purchases. One topic of discussion will be how to setup Performance Monitoring on Windows and Mac. PerfMon has been built into Windows for years, so a simple solution will be given for Mac as well. The next topic would cover the different counters associated with FileMaker Server and how they tie to server performance. This will segue into how to use these monitors to diagnose problems, and also give real world examples of these same problems with monitors gathered from the field. Performance Monitors are giant windows into the health and stability of a server, so if you are a developer with a solution hosted on FileMaker Server, this is the session for you.
Products & Technologies
- Troubleshooting
- FileMaker Server
- Developer Tools
What You Will Learn
- Demonstrate how to setup Performance Monitoring
- Discuss the counters to install and what they mean to server performance
- Exhibit how to diagnose issues with Performance Monitors
- Show real world examples of problems fixed by Performance Monitoring
| 1:30 PM | Introduction to the API for PHP | Session - Integration/Web | Intermediate |
Douglas Flinn (FileMaker, Inc.)
Session Description This session will show you how to get started with connecting a database to the web using the API for PHP. The session will demonstrate installing the API, using the sample files to verify that everything is working, setting a new database to use the API, and customizing pages to work with the new database.
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Server
- FileMaker Web
- PHP
What You Will Learn
- Installing the PHP API
- Setting up the Sample Files
- Adjusting a Database for use with PHP
- Customizing PHP actions
| 1:30 PM | America's Top Separation Model | Session - Design/Develop | Intermediate |
Matt Navarre (MSN Media)
Session Description If your solution is in multiple sites or uses staged development, then you're familiar with the process of doing upgrades. Each time you upgrade, you have to clone the file, import data into all tables, and do many other little tweaks. This session will cover the mechanics of separation and focus on the tricky aspects such as value lists, relationships that must remain in the data file, calculated fields, and security considerations.
Products & Technologies
- Development Standards
- Security
- Deployment
What You Will Learn
- Pros and cons of separation: Easy upgrades for a little added complexity
- Dealing with the added complexity of calculated fields, value lists, and security
- The steps to separate a file into Data and Interface
- Compare and contrast Separation, Single-file, Session, and Transaction models.
| 1:30 PM | The Idiom of FileMaker: Applying a Growing Feature Set to Your Current Application |
Workshop | Advanced |
Albert Harum-Alvarez (SmallCo.net)
Session Description As a developer, you might be thinking about revising an application in the latest version of FileMaker Pro. You've got a lot of new potential to consider. Which part of the new idiom of FileMaker will truly help your users, and which of your new design ideas might be more of a distraction than a help? We'll put your work up on the screen and hear about your plans. Then, kindly but honestly, your workshop leader will give you his honest critique, based upon his long years of software design experience and 11 years of giving the same kind of counsel in the FileMaker Design Master Class.
Products & Technologies
- User Experience
- Scripting
- RDB Modeling
What You Will Learn
- FileMaker has an "idiom": an evolving set of tendencies, strengths and weaknesses for development.
- That idiom has grown in leaps and bounds: from data modeling to scripting to user experience.
- The latest version allows that idiom to grow in a few ways that you as a developer should consider.
- There are also "new things you can do" that you probably SHOULDN'T do!
| 1:30 PM | Accounting Integration - Share Data with MYOB | Workshop | Intermediate |
Linda Pitts (Compu-Books)
Session Description Attendees will see techniques and examples for how to prepare formatted exports that will import into MYOB accounting software for Mac and Windows. Additionally, we will discuss how to make the user interface simple while processing data in hidden layouts with scripts and calculations. Finally, we will discuss considerations for automating the process of import/export with ODBC and AppleScript.
Products & Technologies
- Business
- Data Integration
What You Will Learn
- How to format an export for Item Sales, Professional Sales and Service Sales
- How to format an export for Items and Item Purchase Orders
- How to format an export for customers and vendors
- Techniques for automating the sharing of data with ODBC and AppleScript
| 3:15 PM | Lose Your Robots...Leveraging FileMaker Server 10 | Session - Core | Intermediate |
Richard Carlton (Richard Carlton Consulting)
Session Description A number of FileMaker solutions use "robot" computers to autonomously process "back end" tasks to save end users time. Roots are great from running long scripts, so the end user doesn't waste their valuable time, waiting for the same long scripts to run on their local computers. Computer users today demand quick responding applications, and will often refuse to use systems that are slow. The down side of the robots is that they need a bit of parental supervision to ensure they keep running smoothly. Now you can lose the robot and turbo charge your users by leveraging FileMaker Server 10's built in ability to run scripts, including import and exporting data, and event sending e-mail notifications.
Products & Technologies
- Deployment
- Data Integration
- FileMaker Server
What You Will Learn
- Robots can take up additional hardware space and can cause the user wasted time and money.
- Leveraging FileMaker 10 allows you to lose your robot.
- FileMaker 10 has built in ability to run scripts, import and export data and event sending e-mail notifications.
- FileMaker 10 autonomously performs its chores.
| 3:15 PM | Slicker Custom Web Publishing | Session - Integration/Web | Intermediate |
Sam Sehnert (Digital Fusion)
Session Description Are you building Custom Web Publishing (CWP) solutions for FileMaker? Do you want to make your CWP sites more compelling and easier to use? Learn how some simple "AJAX" techniques can be used with the FileMaker PHP API to create professional, modern web applications. You will learn the basic theory behind the technology and pro's & con's of some freely available JavaScript Libraries. After your brief introduction, we will discuss in detail two example implementations, which demonstrate the capability of this technology. You will walk away with some great ideas, and the source code of the examples to dissect at your leisure.
Products & Technologies
- User Interface
- PHP
What You Will Learn
- A quick intro to the technology: AJAX and DHTML.
- A simple way to use AJAX.
- Put it to work: create a gauge that updates without reloading the web page.
- Put it to work: edit a list of records without submitting and reloading the page.
| 3:15 PM | Quantum Scripting | Session - Design/Develop | Intermediate |
Debi Fuchs (Aptworks Consulting)
Session Description This session is about modular scripting. If you are familiar with FileMaker scripting, and are looking for ideas to make your scripts more flexible and reusable, then this session is for you. You will learn to design rock-solid, modular, "building-block" scripts that you can call again and again within your own custom solutions. In the process, you will hear about real design principles from computer science (abstraction, modularity, encapsulation, etc.) and apply them to FileMaker (using script parameters, script results, error codes, subscripts, and variables). You will see actual code gathered from the larger community of FileMaker developers, and take home several scripts that can be building blocks in your own custom solutions.
Products & Technologies
- Development Standards
- Development Tips
- Scripting
What You Will Learn
- Design flexible, reusable, modular scripts for your FileMaker solutions.
- Understand and apply to FileMaker real design principles taken from computer science.
- Learn (and take home) great scripting examples gathered from FileMaker developers.
- Make effective use of script parameters, script results, error codes, subscripts, and variables.
| 3:15 PM | Integrating FileMaker Pro Into Your Web/E-Mail Marketing Strategy | Workshop | Intermediate |
Randall Mauro (Greater Than Data)
Session Description With FileMaker Pro It has become extremely easy to communicate with other web platforms to interact with your Internet users and gather data about them or to provide them information. This session will discuss ways that FileMaker Pro can be used in a larger web marketing initiative. We will discuss examples of how companies have used FileMaker Pro for this types of web initiatives. Examples will be shown of things that can be done in a FileMaker Pro database acting as a back end. Finally, we will discuss the best way to host your data.
Products & Technologies
- Data Integration
- ESS
- FileMaker Web
What You Will Learn
- Learn how FileMaker can be used as the backbone to any web or e-mail marketing initiative
- Look at the security implications to opening your data to the internet and best practices on how to protect your data
- Weigh the different options in how FileMaker will integrate with the overall web solution whether it be via a direct connection via PHP or an odbc connection to a separate database backend
- Proven marketing techniques that you can use to build your customers' internet initiatives
| 4:45 PM | Good System Gone Bad - Finding and Fixing Performance and Stability Issues in FileMaker Systems | Session - Core | Intermediate |
Steve Sykora (Harmonic Data Associates, Inc.)
Session Description This session will define a strategy and describe a method to identify problems, isolate issues, and select and implement solutions for performance and stability concerns. It will also discuss some of the new tools that FileMaker 10 provides for addressing these issues. Make sure to attend the related workshop for a real-world walk-through of the strategy and method discussed in this session.
Products & Technologies
- Business
- Troubleshooting
- Project Management
What You Will Learn
- Identify performance problems and stability issues
- Quantify and isolate performance problems and stability issues
- Implement and validate solutions
- Discuss available tools to address performance and stability concerns
| 4:45 PM | Integrating Your CSS into The PHP Site Assistant | Session - Integration/Web | Intermediate |
Steve Lane (Soliant Consulting, Inc.)
Session Description The purpose of this session is to help the attendees learn about the PHP Site Assistant (PHPSA) and its generated code namely the CSS it generates with the goal of demonstrating how one can integrate their own CSS files into the generated site. This session will also give a basic understanding on how to use the PHPSA and a quick overview of what is generated. Developers who are curious about the PHPSA or have a need to integrate their own CSS files will find this session beneficial. Basic background in CSS is recommended.
Products & Technologies
- ESS
- PHP
- Custom Web Publishing
What You Will Learn
- Get a general overview of the PHP Site Assistant and the architecture of the generated site.
- Learn how the PHP Site Assistant's generated CSS is organized
- Learn the workflow required to modify and integrate your own CSS file through an example
| 4:45 PM | Matrixes & Grids: Tricky Layouts Demystified | Session - Design/Develop | Intermediate |
John Sindelar (SeedCode)
Session Description Learn how to create grid based layouts without going crazy. We’ll look at different approaches to building these tricky displays and arrive at techniques that make them easier to build and maintain.
Products & Technologies
- User Interface
- Scripting
- Calculations
What You Will Learn
- Learn how to make elaborate grid-based layouts without breaking the bank.
- Examine matrixes, cross-tabs, and grids that are simpler under the hood than you may think.
- Use script triggers, global variables, and conditional formatting to reduce the foot print of these displays.
- We’ll discuss techniques that make these grids flexible and easier to extend.
| 4:45 PM | Scripting In The Gaps | Workshop | Intermediate |
Brinsley Barreto (Soliant Consulting, Inc.)
Session Description Scripting in FileMaker allows you to automate a process, and thus help the user interact with the database more efficiently. Although, you can accomplish automation through a basic understanding of scripts, you can take the user experience to the next level by delving further into the features FileMaker Pro offers through Manage Scripts. In addition, through the use of the Script Debugger in FileMaker Pro Advanced you can thoroughly test and debug the scripts you have written. All of this will be discussed in this workshop.
Products & Technologies
- Scripting
- Development Tips
- User Experience
What You Will Learn
- Utilizing Script Parameters to make script generic
- Utilizing multi-parameters
- Utilizing the Script Debugger
- Utilizing scripting to enhance user experience