# Tips and Techniques **URL:** https://the.fmsoup.org/c/resources/tips-and-techniques/46.md [Latest](https://the.fmsoup.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://the.fmsoup.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://the.fmsoup.org/tags.md) --- ## [About the Tips and Techniques channel](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/about-the-tips-and-techniques-channel/398)
**Author:** [@Cecile](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Cecile)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/about-the-tips-and-techniques-channel/398 "2019-10-26T15:36:35Z")
Please test that what you suggest is ACCURATE and/or specify the conditions for it to work. --- ## [Installing Multiple Versions of FileMaker Pro on Windows](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/installing-multiple-versions-of-filemaker-pro-on-windows/5508)
**Author:** [@MonkeybreadSoftware](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/MonkeybreadSoftware)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 6, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/installing-multiple-versions-of-filemaker-pro-on-windows/5508 "2026-07-06T17:02:31Z")
If you work with different FileMaker solutions, testing environments, or customer deployments, there may be situations where you need multiple versions of FileMaker Pro installed on the same Windows machine. Unfortunate… --- ## [One less layout object](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/one-less-layout-object/5355)
**Author:** [@rivet](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/rivet)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/one-less-layout-object/5355 "2026-03-31T01:45:45Z")
darn… i wish i thought this years ago. --- ## [FMDeveloperTool hints and tricks](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/fmdevelopertool-hints-and-tricks/4935)
**Author:** [@xochi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/xochi)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/fmdevelopertool-hints-and-tricks/4935 "2025-11-08T01:51:45Z")
I started playing around with the FMDeveloperTool with a goal of understanding what is contributing to my database size. First, you can download the standalone tool here: Claris Community (English) Next, be aware … --- ## [Get the best fit for a layout on any iOS device](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/get-the-best-fit-for-a-layout-on-any-ios-device/3380)
**Author:** [@Malcolm](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Malcolm)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/get-the-best-fit-for-a-layout-on-any-ios-device/3380 "2025-08-15T20:04:57Z")
iOS devices have many different screen ratios and DPI. A layout designed for a larger device may work well enough on a slightly smaller screen but it requires the user to know that they can use a pinch gesture to minimis… --- ## [macOS Services to help write FileMaker code](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/macos-services-to-help-write-filemaker-code/1261)
**Author:** [@tonywhitelive](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/tonywhitelive)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2025, 4:02am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/macos-services-to-help-write-filemaker-code/1261 "2025-05-26T04:02:09Z")
You can use macOS Services (built with Automator.app) to help write FileMaker code. (There are many good posts on the internet on what macOS Services are and how they work.) Files go in the ~/Library/Services/ folder. … --- ## [Markdown Editor and Knowledge Graph Notes App](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/markdown-editor-and-knowledge-graph-notes-app/4797)
**Author:** [@greenflux](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/greenflux)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/markdown-editor-and-knowledge-graph-notes-app/4797 "2025-04-06T13:46:38Z")
Here's a guide on how to build a Markdown editor with code syntax highlighting, and a knowledge graph, like in Obsidian. I used Marked.js and Prism.js for the editor, and Vis.js for the network graph. --- ## [Useful pattern for getting JavaScript Results into FM Scripts](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/useful-pattern-for-getting-javascript-results-into-fm-scripts/1035)
**Author:** [@jwilling](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/jwilling)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2025, 12:06am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/useful-pattern-for-getting-javascript-results-into-fm-scripts/1035 "2025-04-05T00:06:10Z")
Here's a cool trick for running JavaScript functions from FileMaker scripts and retrieving the result. Create a FM script called Exit With Parameters that has just one line: Exit Script \[ Get ( ScriptParameter ) \] … --- ## [FileMaker Experiments: New GitHub Repo and Video Series](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-experiments-new-github-repo-and-video-series/4238)
**Author:** [@greenflux](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/greenflux)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2024, 12:16pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-experiments-new-github-repo-and-video-series/4238 "2024-12-03T12:16:20Z")
I’ve been sharing some of my recent experiments here and on Reddit lately as I try to implement different APIs and JavaScript libraries in FileMaker. At first I was making a new GitHub repo to share each file separately,… --- ## [Integrating Llama3 for Local, Offline AI](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/integrating-llama3-for-local-offline-ai/4366)
**Author:** [@greenflux](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/greenflux)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/integrating-llama3-for-local-offline-ai/4366 "2024-11-13T17:28:17Z")
This weekend, I set up the Llama3.2 model running locally, and connected from FileMaker Pro to build an AI chat, with no external dependencies. The Llama3.2 model is optimized to run on standard hardware, without the nee… --- ## [Performance update from 24u and server side script queues](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/performance-update-from-24u-and-server-side-script-queues/4339)
**Author:** [@Kirk](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Kirk)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/performance-update-from-24u-and-server-side-script-queues/4339 "2024-10-02T17:06:25Z")
24u is a great resource for lots of FM things and Honza is truly focused on performance. This new blog post on their site has some good info. For those not aware of the “server side script queue” mentioned in the post… --- ## [Keeping a specific FileMaker version while upgrading macOS](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/keeping-a-specific-filemaker-version-while-upgrading-macos/3735)
**Author:** [@Torsten](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Torsten)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/keeping-a-specific-filemaker-version-while-upgrading-macos/3735 "2024-04-04T18:24:15Z")
Developers who want to keep a particular FileMaker version and need to upgrade their machine's macOS to a version not supported by the FM version in question, can install that FMP in a virtual machine like UTM. The UTM … --- ## [Dynamic background colour](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/dynamic-background-colour/4048)
**Author:** [@rivet](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/rivet)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/dynamic-background-colour/4048 "2024-04-02T21:30:27Z")
I needed to create a badge/label with a dynamic width/background. I was able to achieve this using two line of text stacked. dynamic-background-colour.fmp12.zip (84.8 KB) --- ## [FMPDUDE-VIDEO: Creating a micro-service in a couple minutes (with FMP example)](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/fmpdude-video-creating-a-micro-service-in-a-couple-minutes-with-fmp-example/474)
**Author:** [@anon45965781](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/anon45965781)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/fmpdude-video-creating-a-micro-service-in-a-couple-minutes-with-fmp-example/474 "2024-02-16T23:00:46Z")
I created a quick video showing how utterly simple it is to create a "hello world" (that is, a starting point on which to build other methods) micro-service. The "sparkjava" framework, and the IDE shown (Intellij IDEA - … --- ## [Query current found set with Execute FileMaker Data API as JSON](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/query-current-found-set-with-execute-filemaker-data-api-as-json/3771)
**Author:** [@MonkeybreadSoftware](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/MonkeybreadSoftware)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2023, 7:26pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/query-current-found-set-with-execute-filemaker-data-api-as-json/3771 "2023-11-08T19:26:59Z")
Today we have a tip for you without using MBS FileMaker Plugin and in pure FileMaker. Let's say you like to query current records in your found set as JSON, how would you do this? First you need the list of the primary … --- ## [JSON Tips - Don't use GetAsText() to generate JSON data](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/json-tips-dont-use-getastext-to-generate-json-data/3635)
**Author:** [@Malcolm](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Malcolm)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2023, 8:13am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/json-tips-dont-use-getastext-to-generate-json-data/3635 "2023-07-14T08:13:54Z")
Do not use GetAsText() to generate JSON I saw the question about JSON data and I was reminded that I have seen a lot of people use GetAsText() on different datatypes to push data into JSON. Yes, JSON is text, and your d… --- ## [Install FileMaker Server on Windows 11 on Apple Silicon](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/install-filemaker-server-on-windows-11-on-apple-silicon/3186)
**Author:** [@MonkeybreadSoftware](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/MonkeybreadSoftware)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2023, 11:00am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/install-filemaker-server-on-windows-11-on-apple-silicon/3186 "2023-04-28T11:00:35Z")
You like to have a FileMaker Server on the go with your Macbook (Pro) M1 or M2? Install Parallels and let it install Windows 11. Within the ARM version of Windows 11, you can install FileMaker Pro 19.5 and it seems to w… --- ## [Cut and Copy across multiple lines](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/cut-and-copy-across-multiple-lines/3517)
**Author:** [@Malcolm](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Malcolm)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/cut-and-copy-across-multiple-lines/3517 "2023-04-20T23:36:03Z")
@tonywhitelive provided this tip for Mac users on Twitter way back in 2019. but it deserves to be better known. Hold down the option key to select a column of text that crosses many lines. When you hold the option key d… --- ## [Running a test environment on a separate VLAN](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/running-a-test-environment-on-a-separate-vlan/3116)
**Author:** [@Code-J](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Code-J)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2022, 1:59am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/running-a-test-environment-on-a-separate-vlan/3116 "2022-10-03T01:59:23Z")
Intro One of my customers in a Mac based environment wanted to have a test/dev set of files running in parallel with the live version of their system, but did not want to have any risk of of near identical files becomin… --- ## [Silding total fields inside a portal](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/silding-total-fields-inside-a-portal/2625)
**Author:** [@mrocharde](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mrocharde)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2022, 5:32pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/silding-total-fields-inside-a-portal/2625 "2022-02-25T17:32:38Z")
Wouldn't it be cool if you could always see your portal totals immediately below the last used portal row, instead of having them at the bottom of the portal? https://www.nautilusfm.com/portaltotals --- ## [QR Codes](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/qr-codes/2499)
**Author:** [@AndyHibbs](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/AndyHibbs)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2021, 10:52am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/qr-codes/2499 "2021-09-30T10:52:44Z")
I hope that @skywillmott will not mind me posting again here from the original: Claris Community (English) post, but I have found his attached example file for creating QR Codes from within FileMaker without using an ext… --- ## [Data Normalization Guide - 1st in a series](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/data-normalization-guide-1st-in-a-series/2489)
**Author:** [@mrocharde](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mrocharde)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2021, 10:56am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/data-normalization-guide-1st-in-a-series/2489 "2021-09-23T10:56:42Z")
--- ## [Building Related Value List - Part 1 - Simple (Cheat sheet)](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/building-related-value-list-part-1-simple-cheat-sheet/2490)
**Author:** [@mrocharde](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mrocharde)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2021, 10:58am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/building-related-value-list-part-1-simple-cheat-sheet/2490 "2021-09-23T10:58:39Z")
--- ## [Related Value Lists - Part 2](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/related-value-lists-part-2/2493)
**Author:** [@mrocharde](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mrocharde)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/related-value-lists-part-2/2493 "2021-09-24T05:22:13Z")
https://www.nautilusfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Related\_P2.png --- ## [Related Value Lists. A step-by-step tutorial](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/related-value-lists-a-step-by-step-tutorial/2481)
**Author:** [@mrocharde](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mrocharde)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2021, 12:59pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/related-value-lists-a-step-by-step-tutorial/2481 "2021-09-22T12:59:58Z")
--- ## [Related Value Lists - Part 2 - Complex](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/related-value-lists-part-2-complex/2484)
**Author:** [@mrocharde](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mrocharde)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/related-value-lists-part-2-complex/2484 "2021-09-20T15:04:56Z")
--- ## [Data Normalization. A step-by-step tutorial](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/data-normalization-a-step-by-step-tutorial/2482)
**Author:** [@mrocharde](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mrocharde)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2021, 10:38am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/data-normalization-a-step-by-step-tutorial/2482 "2021-09-19T10:38:03Z")
--- ## [\[Mac OS\] Undeleting files in the Trash Bin](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/mac-os-undeleting-files-in-the-trash-bin/2438)
**Author:** [@Malcolm](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Malcolm)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/mac-os-undeleting-files-in-the-trash-bin/2438 "2021-09-14T05:22:49Z")
If you press "Command-Delete" on selected files that are in the Trash they will be placed back into the folders that they were in before they were moved to the Trash. This is a pretty simple thing, and only for Mac use… --- ## [Passing Script Parameters](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/passing-script-parameters/2013)
**Author:** [@Malcolm](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Malcolm)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/passing-script-parameters/2013 "2021-04-26T18:57:38Z")
This is a quick "how-to" for people new to scripting and script parameters. Scripts are easily called from menus, buttons and script triggers. When we call a script FileMaker allows us to pass information into the scrip… --- ## [Introductory level blog post and sample file regarding FM OData](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/introductory-level-blog-post-and-sample-file-regarding-fm-odata/2053)
**Author:** [@steve\_ssh](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/steve_ssh)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/introductory-level-blog-post-and-sample-file-regarding-fm-odata/2053 "2021-04-22T16:06:32Z")
Hello Friends, A relatively new topic in the world of FM Development is that of the FileMaker OData API. When I first started learning about this API in late 2020, I was particularly intrigued by how simple/streamlined… [Next page](https://the.fmsoup.org/c/resources/tips-and-techniques/46.md?page=1)