Script variables, both local and global, can be set within any calculation. Then, while a script step in the script is highlighted, you can use Ctrl-Up and Ctrl-Down to move the step up and down in the execution order. For example, when building a script, you can use the tab key to focus on the list of script steps, then type a few letters of the step you want, which will highlight it, and press return, which will add it to the script. This will allow you to tab through all of the controls, such as buttons, which makes it much easier to select deep dialog options from the keyboard. If you're a keyboard-centric person like myself, turn on Full Keyboard Access (in the Keyboard System Preference within the Shortcuts tab). Having said that, I can offer a few tips for some of your complaints: The closest second-place (for OS X/iOS) I can think of would be Cocoa/Cocoa Touch with Core Data with Ruby on Rails for a web interface a distant third. The short answer is: Despite it's shortcomings (and I'll admit it has many), FileMaker is still the best rapid-development platform for OS X and iOS (and Windows, for that matter). No clear and obvious way to print out a calling tree/dependency tree. No clear and obvious way to print out all your scripts. No clear and obvious guide to how to document your database so that it can be maintained. If a script calls a script, you must call it with any local variables you want it to have access to.ĭebugging is very difficult in the FM Pro version.ĭoesn't seem to be any provision for building a library of functions in a single file. Near as I can figure variable scope is either local or global. (Excel is a write only language.) Or COBOL. Set Variable Some of the examples start to look like excel formulas. It is routine to have them layered 3 deep. The number of modal dialog boxes is astounding. In particular constructing a script with mouse clicks is painful. I'm looking for a rapid application development platform for small relational databases to run on iOS and OS XĬan make reasonable looking layouts quite quickly.Ĭan access the database from an iPad with Filemaker Go.ĮVERYTHING takes a half a dozen clicks. I've been playing with a trial for a week now. I'm looking for an alternative to FileMaker Pro.

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