# Questions **URL:** https://the.fmsoup.org/c/help/5.md [Latest](https://the.fmsoup.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://the.fmsoup.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://the.fmsoup.org/tags.md) --- ## [About the Questions channel](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/about-the-questions-channel/11)
**Author:** [@Admin](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Admin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 29, 2019, 6:23am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/about-the-questions-channel/11 "2019-05-29T06:23:49Z")
Looking for information? Ask here. You have an answer? Respond! BEGINNERS and EX-BEGINNERS questions are equally welcome. Nagging unknowns are the broth of our soup. --- ## [General-Purpose Read Method, Take Three](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/general-purpose-read-method-take-three/5722)
**Author:** [@karimhanafi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/karimhanafi)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/general-purpose-read-method-take-three/5722 "2026-09-25T18:07:17Z")
I have tried building a general-purpose read method twice before — one common method that other methods call instead of hand-rolling their own Finds/SQL, returning data in a predictable structure. I ended up retiring bot… --- ## [Working with Claris MCP - A few Issues...](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/working-with-claris-mcp-a-few-issues/5676)
**Author:** [@dealtek](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/dealtek)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/working-with-claris-mcp-a-few-issues/5676 "2026-09-19T16:37:58Z")
Hi all, I have some questions about working with Claris MCP and Claude Desktop. Q1 : How do I add additional tables to an existing connection in Claris MCP? The documentation says I can add connections in Editing state… --- ## [Copy All Records on Claris Cloud Hosting](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/copy-all-records-on-claris-cloud-hosting/5697)
**Author:** [@Malcolm](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Malcolm)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2026, 9:20am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/copy-all-records-on-claris-cloud-hosting/5697 "2026-08-29T09:20:30Z")
Has anyone seen issues with Copy All Records when running on Claris Cloud hosting? The users privilege set has export records privileges and full menus, so they should be able to Copy All Records. As admin I'm able to d… --- ## [Custom Field Display Names](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/custom-field-display-names/5654)
**Author:** [@bdbd](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/bdbd)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/custom-field-display-names/5654 "2026-08-21T23:41:36Z")
Has anyone figured out how to manage multi-lingual custom field display names? I can only get them to work clunkily on layouts. --- ## [User can't connect to FM after IP address of server changed](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/user-cant-connect-to-fm-after-ip-address-of-server-changed/5443)
**Author:** [@phyllo](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/phyllo)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/user-cant-connect-to-fm-after-ip-address-of-server-changed/5443 "2026-08-14T15:56:55Z")
The IP address on our FileMaker server changed after a recent power outage. Most of us were able to reconnect to our databases using the new IP address, some over VPN, some in the office by changing the IP address in th… --- ## [Server File Access](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/server-file-access/4874)
**Author:** [@steverichter](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/steverichter)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/server-file-access/4874 "2026-07-29T22:45:16Z")
I joined the “Problem Solvers Circle” a few years ago and I believe I’m still under a site license associated with that program. I have several files hosted on FMS. I’d like to allow access to a few other people. If I u… --- ## [FileMaker Server 2026 FMSAdmin CLI import certificate error 184](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-server-2026-fmsadmin-cli-import-certificate-error-184/5534)
**Author:** [@apjcs](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/apjcs)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2026, 3:33am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-server-2026-fmsadmin-cli-import-certificate-error-184/5534 "2026-07-01T03:33:20Z")
We have a wildcard SSL with a passcode that we install on new servers with fmsadmin CLI This fails with error 184 file invalid with FileMaker Server 2026 on ubuntu 22 and 24. The identical command line with the same… --- ## [Finding slow spots in a loop - can AI help?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/finding-slow-spots-in-a-loop-can-ai-help/5518)
**Author:** [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/finding-slow-spots-in-a-loop-can-ai-help/5518 "2026-06-30T23:17:23Z")
For a few of my clients I manually cache complex data. HTML graphs that need to be displayed on every student's screen, based on calculations of calculations of their graduation track, credits earned, etc. (~100 steps pe… --- ## [Importing CSV file](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/importing-csv-file/5462)
**Author:** [@steverichter](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/steverichter)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2026, 8:41pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/importing-csv-file/5462 "2026-05-25T20:41:18Z")
Each month, I import a csv product data file consisting of several hundred lines. (The line count varies each month.) The import takes several minutes; therefore, I’m investigating whether this can be migrated to the ser… --- ## [Is it possible to set Export Default to Excel?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/is-it-possible-to-set-export-default-to-excel/5452)
**Author:** [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2026, 2:13pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/is-it-possible-to-set-export-default-to-excel/5452 "2026-05-21T14:13:48Z")
Sorry if I asked this years ago, but is there really no way to globally set it so every export uses excel format? Or even CSV? Anything but Tab... I'd love to set it on my Filemaker client and have it stick. Barring that… --- ## [What is causing an external FileMaker file reference to evaluate immediately?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/what-is-causing-an-external-filemaker-file-reference-to-evaluate-immediately/5411)
**Author:** [@flybynight](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/flybynight)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/what-is-causing-an-external-filemaker-file-reference-to-evaluate-immediately/5411 "2026-05-06T22:38:50Z")
We have a client solution that we have inherited support after their internal developer moved on. It's a multi-file solution (not separation model) that has not had a dev\>production workflow before. We are creating a se… --- ## [Looking for Non-Profit's that need FileMaker development help](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/looking-for-non-profits-that-need-filemaker-development-help/5372)
**Author:** [@tgbolwerk](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/tgbolwerk)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2026, 9:23pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/looking-for-non-profits-that-need-filemaker-development-help/5372 "2026-05-06T21:23:19Z")
Everyone or anyone, I am almost completed with my first FileMaker App for a Non-profit in Nova Scotia Canada. The APP manages their contacts, members, donors, and Volunteers. I did it “Pro-Bono” for a 2 week vacation… --- ## [Sending HTML Emails on macOS - Copy from WebViewer](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/sending-html-emails-on-macos-copy-from-webviewer/2486)
**Author:** [@xochi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/xochi)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/sending-html-emails-on-macos-copy-from-webviewer/2486 "2026-05-04T19:29:21Z")
Due to a long-standing bug in AppleScript and macOS Mail, you can't send HTML format emails: The applescript tell theMessage to set html content to "\..." has not worked in recent versions of Mail.app for several… --- ## [Displaying Multiple Tables Info on a single layout or Portals](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/displaying-multiple-tables-info-on-a-single-layout-or-portals/5407)
**Author:** [@BohannanRob](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/BohannanRob)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2026, 3:44am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/displaying-multiple-tables-info-on-a-single-layout-or-portals/5407 "2026-05-03T03:44:38Z")
I am designing an application to track government programs. As a Property Analyst, my job is to manage the Disposition process of government property. There are many steps that take place from creating a "Case", submitt… --- ## [FileMaker/FMS stress testing tools?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-fms-stress-testing-tools/5392)
**Author:** [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2026, 10:37am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-fms-stress-testing-tools/5392 "2026-04-29T10:37:33Z")
For APIs, I generally use either Apache JMeter or (for Python), Locust to stress test. Wanted to know what folks use to stress test FileMaker/FMS apps for 50, 100, 500 users. Thanks, --- ## [ExecuteSQL, How to . .](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/executesql-how-to/5381)
**Author:** [@TKnTexas](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/TKnTexas)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/executesql-how-to/5381 "2026-04-24T20:06:48Z")
I need to use ExecutiveSQL to grab a value from an External Data Source, to use in a script. The value is the path from where I want to grab a file to use in a File. I have never used SQL. I did google but it did not … --- ## [FMDataMigrationTool - error 64?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/fmdatamigrationtool-error-64/5373)
**Author:** [@Malcolm](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Malcolm)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/fmdatamigrationtool-error-64/5373 "2026-04-20T02:17:19Z")
As I try to run the data migration tool I get an error 64 returned and it returns the help instructions. The guide doesn't include any more information. It says \* The data migration tool returns zero (0) when it is suc… --- ## [Containers: Import from URL vs. Insert File](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/containers-import-from-url-vs-insert-file/5377)
**Author:** [@xochi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/xochi)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2026, 7:01am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/containers-import-from-url-vs-insert-file/5377 "2026-04-19T07:01:24Z")
When using Container fields, hosted on FileMaker Server, where the container fields have External and Open Storage, there are several ways to import PDF files into the container, and they have slightly different results. … --- ## [ODATA Issue](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/odata-issue/5375)
**Author:** [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2026, 5:25pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/odata-issue/5375 "2026-04-14T17:25:25Z")
We have a situation where we do a JDBC INSERT into a FileMaker table. This works fine. However we follow up that INSERT with an ODATA call to run a Script and passing a parameter. Here's the problem: If the script does… --- ## [Import Folder vs. Insert From URL : Error 1630](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/import-folder-vs-insert-from-url-error-1630/5376)
**Author:** [@xochi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/xochi)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/import-folder-vs-insert-from-url-error-1630/5376 "2026-04-14T14:29:06Z")
I realized that there's an issue with file URLs in FileMaker. If you Import from a folder ( Importing a folder of files all at once ) you get 4 fields like this: The File Path comes in as file URLs like this: fil… --- ## [bds\_ThemeEditor and ThemeImporter with v \> FMP 20?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/bds-themeeditor-and-themeimporter-with-v-fmp-20/5365)
**Author:** [@Cecile](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Cecile)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/bds-themeeditor-and-themeimporter-with-v-fmp-20/5365 "2026-04-13T17:15:09Z")
I was trying to use them yesterday, which requires being able to right click on a theme in the list of themes in the Manage Themes dialog. That is when I discovered that right clicking and using the copy from the conte… --- ## [Grow text dynamically?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/grow-text-dynamically/5330)
**Author:** [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2026, 9:34am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/grow-text-dynamically/5330 "2026-04-09T09:34:21Z")
I’m sure this has been asked before, but I cannot find a good solution. In a FileMaker report, is it possible to dynamically grow a field like “Description” in an invoice and have the report adjust for that field? Sett… --- ## [Insert from URL failing silently on the server when inserting a file](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/insert-from-url-failing-silently-on-the-server-when-inserting-a-file/5364)
**Author:** [@PattyB](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/PattyB)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/insert-from-url-failing-silently-on-the-server-when-inserting-a-file/5364 "2026-04-08T17:07:23Z")
I have a script that I'm running PSOS to export some records, and insert it into a container field. I've done this many times before, but I can't figure out why it isn't working this time. Here is a screenshot of the rel… --- ## [Searching on summary fields](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/searching-on-summary-fields/5348)
**Author:** [@cpking](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/cpking)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/searching-on-summary-fields/5348 "2026-03-31T14:24:32Z")
Scenario: Two tables. 1) Main table with product ID and details; 2) related table with orders of Product ID. Relationship is one-to many, similar to invoices. I create a summary field (Number of Orders) in the related t… --- ## [LetsEncrypt renewal - require server restart?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/letsencrypt-renewal-require-server-restart/5179)
**Author:** [@xochi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/xochi)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/letsencrypt-renewal-require-server-restart/5179 "2026-03-19T14:27:04Z")
I was playing around with Lets Encrypt SSL certificates on my FMS server and got this email after running the script manually: Schedule "Let's Encrypt Renewal Script" completed. The certificate renewed successfully. Res… --- ## [How did I forget this?](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/how-did-i-forget-this/5326)
**Author:** [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2026, 8:59pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/how-did-i-forget-this/5326 "2026-03-16T20:59:11Z")
For whatever reason (not using FileMaker that often I guess), I’ve forgotten how to included multiple portals on a layout with different TOs (and have them display data). The first portal that is a direct child works OK… --- ## [Method to prevent the conversion of an FM file into an ADD-on](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/method-to-prevent-the-conversion-of-an-fm-file-into-an-add-on/5319)
**Author:** [@wowomac](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/wowomac)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/method-to-prevent-the-conversion-of-an-fm-file-into-an-add-on/5319 "2026-03-12T15:26:01Z")
Hello colleagues, Does anyone know of a way to deliberately prevent an FM file from being converted into an add-on? I want to prevent this because I only allow conversion after a licence check. The AI ‘Copilot’ suggests… --- ## [AutoEnter calculation in portal failing when scripted](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/autoenter-calculation-in-portal-failing-when-scripted/5296)
**Author:** [@xochi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/xochi)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/autoenter-calculation-in-portal-failing-when-scripted/5296 "2026-02-24T14:59:58Z")
I have a Table (Table A) and layout with a portal to Table B. Table B has a Number field defined with an auto-enter calculation. The calculation is complicated (and probably not important) but basically it refers to an… --- ## [Custom Installer Package blocked by macOS (and maybe Windows 11) - cross posted on Claris Community](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/custom-installer-package-blocked-by-macos-and-maybe-windows-11-cross-posted-on-claris-community/5281)
**Author:** [@Leish](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Leish)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/custom-installer-package-blocked-by-macos-and-maybe-windows-11-cross-posted-on-claris-community/5281 "2026-02-12T21:38:28Z")
I created a “.pkg” file as per Claris instructions for making a Custom install file … but when my client runs it on their computer they get an error: "FileMaker Pro" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to… [Next page](https://the.fmsoup.org/c/help/5.md?page=1)