Category: JSON

JSON, Level: Advanced, Level: Intermediate, Version: FM 16 or later

FastRange Custom Function

Kevin Frank

Recently I needed to produce a large range of consecutive numbers. FileMaker doesn’t provide a built-in function for this but it’s easy enough to accomplish, for example, using the While function or a recursive custom function. In this case, I decided to go a different route based on a tip I’d seen someone post years ago (I’ve forgotten whom so cannot give proper credit) that you can leverage a couple of FileMaker’s JSON functions to facilitate this task, with the advantages being blazingly fast performance and an opportunity to think outside the box.

Demo file:  fastrange-cf-v1.04.zip
Continue reading “FastRange Custom Function” →

JSON, Level: Intermediate, Version: FM 18 or later, Virtual List

JSON Currency Exchange Rates, v3

Kevin Frank

Demo file: json-currencyapi.com.v2.zip

This is a quick follow up to a pair of articles I published earlier this year, and will assume the reader is familiar with that material.

Having first blogged about this back in 2020, I had hoped to be finished with this topic, not because it isn’t interesting (it is) or because getting comfortable working with APIs isn’t fun, educational, and potentially profitable (ditto), but because I didn’t really have much left to say on the subject. Unfortunately, for the third or fourth time now, the API my demo was based on stopped working after the service provider was purchased by another company with the aim of monetizing the formerly-free service. Continue reading “JSON Currency Exchange Rates, v3” →

JSON, Level: Intermediate

Generating Spreadsheets with LibXL

Kevin Frank

Introduction

From time to time FileMaker developers are tasked with generating Excel spreadsheet output. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this, in some cases via native FileMaker commands (Export, Save/Send Records), and in other cases using various workaround methods — some of which have appeared on this site in years past.

Today we’re going to look at producing spreadsheet output via LibXL, with help from a plug-in. Why bother? Several benefits immediately come to mind, including… power and flexibility, ease of implementation, and not having to add helper fields, tables, etc., to your database schema. With a plug-in you will typically do all the work at the script level, and generate feature-rich spreadsheets that otherwise would be difficult or impossible to produce from within FileMaker.

Demo file: Generating-Spreadsheets-with-LibXL.zip
(requires FM 19.5 or later)

Goya FMXL plug-in: https://goya.com.au/excel-plugin-for-filemaker

This plug-in is required for the demo to function. If unregistered it will add a trial notice banner at the top of the spreadsheet.

Note: if you are a Monkeybread user, MBS also offers an add-on plug-in for LibXL. The function calls are similar in both, and if you’re so inclined today’s demo file can be adapted to work with the MBS version. See documentation here, which can be helpful when using the Goya plug-in as well.

Continue reading “Generating Spreadsheets with LibXL” →

JSON, Level: Intermediate, Version: FM 19.5 or later

JSON Custom Functions for FM, part 3

Kevin Frank

This article is part of a series. See also…
•  JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 1
•  JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 2

Demo file: json-custom-functions-part-3.zip

Note: some of these CFs make use of JSONGetElementType so require FM 19.5 or later.

Disclaimer: use at your own risk, these CFs may contain bugs, these CFs may not be performant when processing large amounts of data, always test carefully before deployment, etc., etc., etc.

Continue reading “JSON Custom Functions for FM, part 3” →

JSON, Level: Intermediate, Version: FM 19.5 or later

JSON – Force Standard Notation

Kevin Frank

Update 30 September 2023: Free end point no longer available for this service. See JSON Currency Exchange Rates, v3 for a revised, functioning demo.

Introduction

This is a follow up to a behavior I mentioned last month where FileMaker’s JSON functions can transform a number into scientific notation when you might prefer to have that number remain in standard notation.

Demo file: json-force-standard-notation.zip

Note: demo file uses JSONGetElementType so requires FM 19.5 or later.

The overall functionality of the demo was covered last time. This time we’re going to focus on working around the behavior, followed by some related observations… but first let’s review. Continue reading “JSON – Force Standard Notation” →

JSON, Level: Intermediate, Version: FM 18 or later, Virtual List

JSON Currency Exchange Rates revisited

Kevin Frank

Update 30 September 2023: Free end point no longer available for this service. See JSON Currency Exchange Rates, v3 for a revised, functioning demo.

Demo file: json-rates-via-api-exchangerate-host.zip

Today we’re going to take a fresh look at pulling currency exchange rates into FileMaker, and this article is directly based on its predecessor. Why the re-visitation? Two reasons actually:

  1. The “free” endpoints I relied on back in 2020 (and in 2021 when I revised the original demo) have been monetized, and apart from any cost considerations, I want this demo to work out of the box without requiring an API token.
  2.  The check box set I used for symbol selection last time was designed to accommodate a fixed and relatively small number of entries. That was a short-sighted decision that could not possibly scale gracefully. This time around I’m using an approach that will automatically accommodate any number of symbols.

Continue reading “JSON Currency Exchange Rates revisited” →

JSON, Level: Advanced, Version: FM 19.5 or later

JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 2

Kevin Frank

This article is part of a series. See also…
• JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 1
• JSON Custom Functions for FM, part 3

Demo Files

Note: some of the CFs have been revised and/or renamed since part 1, so if you plan to use these CFs, make sure to download today’s “part 2” file. Continue reading “JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 2” →

JSON, Level: Advanced, Version: FM 19.5 or later

JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 1

Kevin Frank

This article is part of a series. See also…
• JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 2
• JSON Custom Functions for FM, part 3

Demo File

Introduction

Today we have some custom functions (CFs) that can help you accomplish various JSON-related tasks in FileMaker. Back in 2018 I had this to say about JSON custom functions…

My inclination is to really understand something before I use a custom function to simplify things, but that’s a matter of personal choice… and one which can vary depending on the situation.

And four years later I find myself using JSON custom functions on a daily basis, to save time and to boost productivity — for example, to merge two objects into a single object, or to deduplicate an array. Continue reading “JSON Custom Functions for FM 19.5, part 1” →

JSON, Level: Intermediate, Version: FM 19.5 or later

Thinking About JSON, part 4

Kevin Frank

This article is part of a series. See also…
•  Thinking About JSON, part 1
•  Thinking About JSON, part 2
•  Thinking About JSON, part 3

Demo Files

Make sure to download the correct version for your locale:

Introduction

Welcome back to the fourth installment in this ongoing series. It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since the last segment, but in the meantime some exciting developments have occurred at the intersection of FileMaker and JSON, including… Continue reading “Thinking About JSON, part 4” →

JSON, Level: Advanced, Version: FM 18 or later

Button Bar Segment Fun

Kevin Frank

Demo Files

Today we’re going to look at some ways single-segment button bars (SSBBs) can help produce dynamic column headings for list views and/or reports, with a goal of concentrating logic into the segment calculation and reducing schema dependencies elsewhere. This is a work in progress, rather than a finished, battle-hardened methodology. The aim is to explore possibilities and stimulate discussion.

Note: the demo files are built on top of an “empty” virtual list table. The point is not to (once again) dive into virtual list or clickable/sortable column headings, but to provide a list view we can pretend contains valid entries, while we focus on what’s going on in the layout header part.

Disclaimer: these techniques are in the proof-of-concept stage. As with all techniques on this (and any other) site, use with a healthy dose of common sense and at your own risk.

Continue reading “Button Bar Segment Fun” →