# Automatically open Data Viewer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128 "2022-10-04T16:04:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JasonMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/1 "2022-10-04T16:04:49Z")
The first thing I do when I open Filemaker is open the data viewer. Every time. And most of the time I got to the "Watch" tab. Is there some way in code, or with Monkey Brain or something else to make it "just open automatically". It's a little thing but it's a few times every day for me. ---
**Author:** ![Bobino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/bobino/32/194_2.png) [@Bobino](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Bobino)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/2 "2022-10-04T20:15:05Z")
on mac, I'm sure you could customize your keyboard shortcuts and assign a shortcut to that menu item. So not automatically, but perhaps even better, because the shortcut should let you toggle the dataviewer visibility. ---
**Author:** ![JasonMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/3 "2022-10-04T20:52:01Z")
that's a darn good idea... ---
**Author:** ![soup2nuts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@soup2nuts](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/soup2nuts)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/4 "2022-10-05T13:51:56Z")
On the Mac, in Keyboard Maestro, you can create a macro to open the Data Viewer window with an Application Trigger, being when the FileMaker app launches. You can also set up multiple triggers for a macro, so you could also set a hot key trigger for it, too, so you can open and close the window manually. Keyboard Maestro is quite powerful and you can set up If/Then logic. Personally, I have set a hot key trigger of ⌃D to open both the Data Viewer and Script Debugger windows before debugging a script. But if the front window title contains "Manage Database", then the macro instead clicks the Duplicate button when a field is selected. You can set up conditions for a macro to do its logic, like if a button is enabled, or if a menu item exists, or is marked, or does not exist, or exists but is not marked. ---
**Author:** ![bowdendata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@bowdendata](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/bowdendata)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/5 "2022-10-05T14:59:45Z")
Agree 100% with this. Keyboard Maestro is the way to go to automate your FM dev environment. It has been a very long time since I have played with it, but MacroExpress Pro on windows is a similar product. It was less intuitive than KM on the Mac, but maybe is better now. ---
**Author:** ![rivet](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/rivet/32/1727_2.png) [@rivet](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/rivet)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 3:04pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/6 "2022-10-05T15:04:41Z")
Keyboard Maestro is a fantastic app. Here is a macro to set up some watch defaults. [Debug Data Viewer Defaults.zip](https://the.fmsoup.org/uploads/short-url/6S60EJxi51ljAnnLJ3HniBAjbtU.zip) (4.9 KB) ![watch-default](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fmsoup/original/2X/8/847da6349297bfba7539a90c251364bb10d6cb2b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![JasonMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/7 "2022-10-05T18:33:32Z")
Nice. I just used the built in Keyboard / App Shortcuts to set it. It can't do the "whenever Filemaker is opened" trick, but it's _good enough_. ---
**Author:** ![Bobino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/bobino/32/194_2.png) [@Bobino](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Bobino)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 5:59am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/8 "2022-10-06T05:59:41Z")
I keep hearing good things about keyboard maestro and better touch tool. I'll need to look into that some day. Right now my focus is on Typinator, for something different altogether. ---
**Author:** ![mipiano](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/mipiano/32/1074_2.png) [@mipiano](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mipiano)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 9:05am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/9 "2022-10-06T09:05:35Z")
Typinator is great! It's a great time saver! Some time ago I downloaded a Typinator set with many shortcuts for FileMaker script steps. I think from [filemakerstandards.org](http://filemakerstandards.org). It is not yet back on the newly relaunched site. Since I have FileMaker set to German language, I translated the set to German. Also the shortcuts. If and case conditions and others nicely laid out with indentations. If anyone is interested, I could share it: EN and DE ---
**Author:** ![Bobino](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/bobino/32/194_2.png) [@Bobino](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Bobino)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/10 "2022-10-06T13:40:40Z")
> [@mipiano](#): > > If anyone is interested, I could share it: EN and DE Please do share! ---
**Author:** ![mipiano](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/mipiano/32/1074_2.png) [@mipiano](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/mipiano)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/11 "2022-10-06T14:05:50Z")
Here's the English Typinator Set that I got some time ago: [FileMakerCode\_EN.tyset.zip](https://the.fmsoup.org/uploads/short-url/7p7Mg8gACsKMtXPNS3DT39vCuj5.zip) (31,9 KB) The German Set I have to clean a bit first. It is still evolving. ---
**Author:** ![JasonMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2022, 2:48pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/12 "2022-10-06T14:48:18Z")
Thanks. I just grabbed a copy of Typinator. I've tried Keyboard Maestro a couple of times in the past and it just seems like more overhead for such a small gain. The built in preferences in MacOS does most of what I need so not sure if I'll stick with Typinator, but appreciate the heads up. I'd never heard of it. ---
**Author:** ![EfficientBizz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/efficientbizz/32/252_2.png) [@EfficientBizz](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/EfficientBizz)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 7:27am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/13 "2022-10-13T07:27:17Z")
> [@JasonMark](#): > > Is there some way in code, or with Monkey Brain or something else to make it "just open automatically". It's a little thing but it's a few times every day for me. I'm glad I can help (if so?). I don't find much time to participate here. I hope you don't spend too much time with 3 Party-Tools such as Keyboard Maestro, when a solution is already there with MBS. MBS-PlugIn Functions (as I use as a Script to be prompted via cmd & 1 / cmd & 2 / etc.) Open Debugger: set Var [$r ; Value: MBS ( "Schedule.EvaluateAfterDelay" ; .01 ; "MBS ( "Menubar.RunMenuCommand" ; 49260 )" )] Open DataViewer: … MBS ( "Schedule.EvaluateAfterDelay" ; .01 ; "MBS ( "Menubar.RunMenuCommand" ; 49297 )" ) Open CustomFunction Window: … MBS ( "Schedule.EvaluateAfterDelay" ; .01 ; "MBS ( "Menubar.RunMenuCommand" ; 51191 )" ) There seem to be a code (51191 - cf-Window, 49297 - DataViewer for example) for every Menu option of FM. ---
**Author:** ![JasonMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 12:47pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/14 "2022-10-13T12:47:34Z")
This is awesome, but I think your quotes got messed up in your example. I couldn't get your examples to work, but the following worked for me when I took out the delay: Open CustomFunction Window: Open Debugger: set Var [$r ; Value: MBS ( "Menubar.RunMenuCommand" ; 49260 )] Open DataViewer: MBS ( "Menubar.RunMenuCommand" ; 49297 ) Open CustomFunction Window: MBS ( "Menubar.RunMenuCommand" ; 51191 ) So I just added it to my startup script keyed to my user. Woot! PS: In terms of triggering menu items, if you're on Mac you don't need typinator or anything fancy, that's been built into MacOS (OSX) since day one in the keyboard preferences. I use it to reassign quick keys for apps often. For example I have command-B to be "bold" and command-shift-b to be "Browse Mode". ---
**Author:** ![EfficientBizz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/efficientbizz/32/252_2.png) [@EfficientBizz](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/EfficientBizz)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/15 "2022-10-13T13:40:11Z")
check my file: [Shortcuts.fmp12.zip](https://the.fmsoup.org/uploads/short-url/dfgnsDnJ76s2YvHopLzg0tCUmVf.zip) (625.9 KB) ---
**Author:** ![JasonMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/16 "2022-10-13T13:58:22Z")
Yeah the second quotes (around Menubar.RunMenuCommand) need escapes: This is the code in your example file: MBS ( "Schedule.EvaluateAfterDelay" ; .01 ; "MBS ( "Menubar.RunMenuCommand" ; 49260 )" ) I just removed the delay and it worked also. Thanks again for this, EXACTLY what I was hoping for and it works like a charm! ---
**Author:** ![EfficientBizz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/efficientbizz/32/252_2.png) [@EfficientBizz](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/EfficientBizz)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/17 "2022-10-13T14:28:56Z")
Using this delay is according to a recommendation by @MonkeybreadSoftware. If it works on your 64-core 5,6GHz M2 Mac without the delay doesn't mean it works on your customers macs 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MonkeybreadSoftware](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/monkeybreadsoftware/32/361_2.png) [@MonkeybreadSoftware](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/MonkeybreadSoftware)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/18 "2022-10-13T14:44:59Z")
The delay is there, because some menu commands don't run while a script runs. So delaying for 0.1 second lets FileMaker finish the script step and then run the menu command after it. ---
**Author:** ![JasonMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@JasonMark](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/JasonMark)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/19 "2022-10-13T15:02:39Z")
OK I figured out the confusion. FMsoup uses \ as escape as does Filemaker so if you copy some filemaker code that has \ and " then only the quotes are displayed so you have to wrap the "code" in the `code` tag when posting it here for it to be correct... 🙂 Open Debugger: `MBS ( "Schedule.EvaluateAfterDelay" ; .01 ; "MBS ( \"Menubar.RunMenuCommand\" ; 49260 )" )` Open DataViewer: `MBS ( "Schedule.EvaluateAfterDelay" ; .01 ; "MBS ( \"Menubar.RunMenuCommand\" ; 49297 )" )` Open CustomFunction Window: `MBS ( "Schedule.EvaluateAfterDelay" ; .01 ; "MBS ( \"Menubar.RunMenuCommand\" ; 51191 )" )` Thanks for clarifying! ---
**Author:** ![ByteTheBullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@ByteTheBullet](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/ByteTheBullet)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128/20 "2022-10-17T19:12:17Z")
This is exactly what I've done. I have a shortcut to open the Data Viewer, and another for the Script Debugger. Makes it super easy to turn them on and off. [Next page](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/automatically-open-data-viewer/3128.md?page=2)