For the upcoming MBS FileMaker Plugin 12.5 we add a new shortcut with Command-] to move the selected text rows to the right by adding one tab. With Command-[, we can remove the tabs.
For some keyboards, the shortcut may be different to press, e.g. with German keyboard layout, you press Command-Option-5 and Command-Option-6 as the [ and ] characters are on the 5 and 6 keys with option key. For French keyboards, you press Command-Option-Shift-) and Command-Option-Shift-( to reach those.
Please try the new function in the next weeks and let us know how it works.
In this article we want to introduce you the new functions from the MBS FileMaker Plugin in version 12.4.
MongoDB
In the last release we already introduced our new component MongoDB which allows you to read and write data in MongoDB using FileMaker. Please have a look at the video MongoDB and MBS - A look under the hood which describes the functionality in more detail. In this release we have added a few new functionalities that should make your work with MongoDB even easier. With the functions MongoDB.CloseCollection and MongoDB.CloseDatabase you explicitly close a database or a collection. Normally you don't need to use these functions because when you open a new database/collection the previously used one will be closed automatically. However, there are cases where these functions are useful. The MongoDB.Rename function is one that some of you may have been waiting for, because you can rename an existing collection and database. With the MongoDB.InsertMany function we can add multiple documents to a collection at the same time. To do this, we specify a JSON array with the information in the parameters. Result sets in a search over a MongoDB database can be stepped through with a cursor. We also have some new functions for the cursor. The function MongoDB.CursorErrorDocument checks if an error occurred while integrating the cursor. If an error occurred server-side, the result is set to the server's reply document with the information about the error. The MongoDB.FindIndexes function fetches a cursor containing documents, each corresponding to an index on this collection. Some MongoDB commands return a "cursor" document. With the function MongoDB.NewCursorFromCommandReply you create a cursor object from the response of such a command.
Just two months left until the EngageU conference:
EngageU - FileMaker Conference in Malmö
13th - 15th of November 2022, Malmö, Sweden
A new FileMaker conference for Europe will be held in Malmö at the end of the year. The English-language conference is organized by SquareMoon and ClickWorx, with support from Claris. And we at Monkeybread Software sponsor it, too.
The conference will be held in Malmö, Sweden, November 13-15, 2022. The conference language is English. The target audience is FileMaker developers from across Europe and beyond. More information can be found on the website.
Please join the conference to make it the biggest one ever in Europe!
And it's great reason for people from all around the world to do a business trip to see Sweden (and nearby Denmark). If you plan your trip, the international airport to use is Copenhagen in Denmark and from there a 20 minute train to Malmö central station.
Do you know the situation? You are good at working with JSON, but the API only gives you XML text?
Frustrated you sit there and down your coffee cup in one gulp and are already googling for a possibility to
read XML with FileMaker and you know it will take a long time to inform about XML?
Well, I can save you the googling, because you can also work with XML texts with the
MBS FileMaker Plugin.
But this is not the main topic today.
The plugin offers you a way to convert XML text to JSON text.
For this we have the function "XML.ToJSON".
In the parameters we pass an XML.
Nickenich, Germany - (September 6th, 2022) -- MonkeyBread Software today is pleased to announce MBS FileMaker Plugin 12.4 for Claris FileMaker for macOS, iOS, Linux and Windows, the latest update to their product that is easily the most powerful plugin currently available for Claris FileMaker produce line. As the leading database management solution for Windows, macOS, iOS and the web, the Claris FileMaker Pro Integrated Development Environment supports a plugin architecture that can easily extend the feature set of the application. MBS FileMaker Plugin 12.4 has been updated and now includes over 6800 different functions, and the versatile plugin has gained more new functions:
We continue with our MongoDB functions to add more functionality there: The MongoDB.InsertMany function lets you insert multiple records in one operation. Just pass a JSON with an array of records to insert. The MongoDB.Rename function can rename a collection and MongoDB.FindIndexes can find the indexes. You can explicitly close a collection or database and query the error document for a cursor or create a cursor from a reply.
For our CURL functions we added a CURL.Options function to report all the options you set as JSON. This should help debugging issues with a central way to query what options you set. We got new properties to control mime option flags, a new setting for the maximum life time connection and a property for the SHA256 hash of a SSH Host public key. We enabled zstd support for CURL in case a server uses that for compression.
In the Script Workspace on macOS you can enjoy code folding for blocks. If you select a line with an If or Loop, we show a litte widget on the left to fold the block. The plugin hides the lines. Since FileMaker doesn't notice this, it is not aware of non showing lines. When you save the script or switch to another script, the lines all show again.
For the contextual menu in Script Workspace got new collapse all and expand all commands for the list of scripts. We can find duplicate script names with the "Find Duplicate Names" menu command. In the script area, the contextual menu has hide and unhide commands to hide script lines as needed.
We improved JSON.Import and XML.Import to optionally skip table and field creation. The functions now better report progress for a slow server connection.
This version includes an important fix for IsError not reporting correctly if a MBS function is called in-between a MBS function running, e.g. via Evaluate(). This also fixes ErrorLog reporting the wrong function in that case. We now better cleanup after a server script finished.
If you use our data structures like Matrix and List, we have a new Matrix.Rotate function to rotate a mask. And List.MatchesSubString can walk over a list and look for matches.
6. September 2022 - Monkeybread Software veröffentlicht heute das MBS FileMaker Plugin für Claris FileMaker in Version 12.4, mit inzwischen über 6800 Funktionen eines der größten FileMaker Plugins überhaupt. Hier einige der Neuerungen:
Wir erweitern unsere MongoDB-Funktionen: Mit der MongoDB.InsertMany Funktion können Sie mehrere Datensätze in einem Vorgang einfügen. Übergeben Sie ein JSON mit einem Array von einzufügenden Datensätzen. Die Funktion MongoDB.Rename kann eine Collection umbenennen und MongoDB.FindIndexes kann die Indizes finden. Sie können eine Collection oder Datenbank explizit schließen und das Fehlerdokument nach einem Cursor abfragen oder einen Cursor aus einer Antwort erstellen.
Für unsere CURL-Funktionen haben wir eine CURL.Options-Funktion hinzugefügt, die alle von Ihnen gesetzten Optionen als JSON ausgibt. Dies sollte bei der Fehlersuche helfen, da es eine zentrale Möglichkeit bietet, die gesetzten Optionen abzufragen. Wir haben neue Eigenschaften zur Steuerung von Mime-Options-Flags, eine neue Einstellung für die maximale Lebensdauer der Verbindung und eine Eigenschaft für den SHA256-Hash eines öffentlichen SSH-Host-Schlüssels. Wir haben die zstd-Unterstützung für CURL aktiviert, falls ein Server dies zur Komprimierung verwendet.
Im Skript-Arbeitsbereich unter macOS können Sie jetzt Blöcke einklappen. Wenn Sie eine Zeile mit einem If oder einer Schleife auswählen, zeigen wir ein kleines Widget auf der linken Seite an, um den Block zu falten. Das Plugin blendet die Zeilen aus. Da FileMaker dies nicht bemerkt, ist er sich nicht bewusst, dass die Zeilen nicht angezeigt werden. Wenn Sie das Script speichern oder zu einem anderen Script wechseln, werden alle Zeilen wieder angezeigt.
Für das Kontextmenü im Skript-Arbeitsbereich gibt es neue Befehle "Collapse All" und "Expand all" um Order in der Skriptliste zu öffnen oder zu schließen. Wir können doppelte Skriptnamen mit dem Menübefehl "Find Duplicate Names" finden. Im Skriptbereich verfügt das Kontextmenü über Hide und Unhide Befehle, um Skriptzeilen nach Bedarf auszublenden.
Wir haben JSON.Import und XML.Import verbessert, um die Erstellung von Tabellen und Feldern optional zu überspringen. Die Funktionen zeigen jetzt den Fortschritt bei einer langsamen Serververbindung besser an.
Diese Version enthält eine wichtige Korrektur für IsError, die nicht korrekt gemeldet wird, wenn eine MBS-Funktion zwischen der Ausführung einer MBS-Funktion aufgerufen wird, z. B. über Berechne(). Dies behebt auch ErrorLog, das in diesem Fall die falsche Funktion meldet. Wir räumen jetzt besser auf, nachdem ein Server-Skript beendet wurde.
Wenn Sie unsere Datenstrukturen wie Matrix und List verwenden, haben wir eine neue Matrix.Rotate Funktion, um eine Maske zu drehen. Und List.MatchesSubString kann eine Liste durchlaufen und nach Übereinstimmungen suchen.
Recently a client tried our MongoDB functions in MBS FileMaker Plugin. They asked us how to store binary data in the MongoDB in an efficient way. For example that may be a picture in a container field in their FileMaker database. While we can store Base64 or Hex encoded data as text in a text field, we prefer to store it as binary data to save space.
MongoDB has a binary data typein BSON to store various things. This includes several sub types like the binary version of UUID, MD5 hashes, encrypted data, compressed time series data or generic binary data. The UUID version for example uses only 16 bytes instead of 36 characters for the text representation.
We can use the binary version by passing a JSON object as value which contains $binary and that has a JSON object with two keys: subType and base64. We can create such a JSON easily in FileMaker with either the built-in JSON functions or the MBS functions. The sub type is just a decimal to specify the type and we pass zero for this value. The base64 field receives the base64 encoded data of our image. We pass it in the JSON base64, but the MongoDB will store it in binary way, so our encoding here is just for the transfer between FileMaker and the MBS FileMaker Plugin. It will go over the network connection in the binary form.
Let's add a record with the following script. First we build the json as required:
(more)
Do you already know our LibXL functions for FileMaker, with which it is possible to read, create and edit Excel documents although you don't have Excel installed? This part of the plugin requires an additional LibXL license and you need to attach an additional library to your database. I will show you in this blog article how to make the preparations to use the LibXL functions in your solution.
Claris just announced a price increase for all of their products going effective on 24th September 2022. All prices are said to raise by 10%.
While pricing adjustments are often unavoidable, it brings the opportunity to buy at the old prices until 23rd September 2022. So if you have a license of Claris FileMaker, please consider to order updates for adding additional years to it. You may pay for a license 3 or 5 years in advance. Even if your license expired in 2023 or 2024, you may be able to add more time now.
save around 10% by buying now.
save more by ordering multi year licenses.
Also be aware that the around September/October, Claris may be introduce their new pricing for the Claris Studio part of the product. That offer will be more expensive than the existing licenses as the Studio part has an additional cost and you may be able to upgrade.
For MBS Plugin, you can of course also order at current price list and enjoy our multi year offers. Please contact us if you like to order bigger.
For MBS Plugin 12.4 we implemented a long standing wish from various FileMaker developers: Code Folding.
As you know our plugin highlights matching script lines for If and Loop blocks. So you see what lines belongs to what other line. Now when we detect such a block, we add a little control on the between the line number and the text. You can click that control to hide some lines and later click it again to show them.
When you save the script, FileMaker reloads it or you start dragging a line, all lines show again. Our line hiding is only temporary until something unhides them.
Please try and let us know the if you find issues.
As usual, this feature is macOS only. If you like to see a Windows version, please contact Claris Inc. directly to implement this cross platform in a future version.
For the upcoming MBS FileMaker Plugin 12.5 we add a new shortcut with Command-] to move the selected text rows to the right by adding one tab. With Command-[, we can remove the tabs.
Nickenich, Germany - (September 6th, 2022) -- MonkeyBread Software today is pleased to announce 
