# FileMaker 2023, second release **URL:** \ **Category:** Floating Topics\ **Tags:** announcement\ **Created:** [September 27, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721 "2023-09-27T18:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [September 27, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/1 "2023-09-27T18:14:56Z")
Claris released today FileMaker 2023 in version 20.2.1. You get an integration to Claris Connect and Claris Studio. You can now place text with calculations directly on a layout. FileMaker is compatible to macOS Sonoma with some known issues and you may enjoy a few bug fixes. But please read details in the release notes: [Announcement](https://community.claris.com/en/s/question/0D53w00006G25vECAR/an-update-to-claris-filemaker-2023-version-202-is-now-available) [FileMaker Pro 20.2.1 release notes](https://help.claris.com/en/pro-release-notes/content/index.html) [FileMaker Go 20.2.1 release notes](https://help.claris.com/en/go-release-notes/content/index.html) [FileMaker Server 20.2.1 release notes](https://help.claris.com/en/server-release-notes/content/index.html) [macOS Sonoma (14.0) and iOS 17 compatibility](https://community.claris.com/en/s/article/Claris-FileMaker-and-macOS-Sonoma-14-0-and-iOS-17-compatibility) You can download it on the ESD website. The link is in the license email from Claris. For MBS Plugin, just make sure you have a 13.x version. We fixed a few minor things over the beta test period, so recommended version is 13.4. ---
**Author:** ![xochi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/0ea827/32.png) [@xochi](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/xochi)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 6:59pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/2 "2023-09-27T18:59:56Z")
Is this the second or third release? Release notes show releases in April, June, and September 2023. Is this one of those European / American things where we can't agree on which floor the 1st floor is? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Torsten](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/torsten/32/1574_2.png) [@Torsten](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/Torsten)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/3 "2023-09-27T19:09:26Z")
This is how I read [version tags](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_versioning). Don’t know if Claris published the versioning schema to which they adhere. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/4 "2023-09-27T19:14:08Z")
20.1.1, then 20.1.2 and now 20.2.1. I would count this as 2 major releases and a small bug fix one in-between. Not sure if Claris does a third one this year or move it to early 2024. ---
**Author:** ![OliverBarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/5 "2023-09-27T19:42:11Z")
I really like the new ability to place calculations on a layout without defining a field. I've been used to this capability for a long time in other environments and always having to create a field (in FileMaker) to just about everything was a pain. This update helps modernize FileMaker. Hope there are other future updates like this one. Good update! ---
**Author:** ![planteg](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/planteg/32/627_2.png) [@planteg](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/planteg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/6 "2023-09-27T21:53:56Z")
> [@MonkeybreadSoftware](#): > > **20.2.1** , then 20.1.2 and now **20.2.1** Did you mean 20. **1.1** , then 20.1.2 and now **20.2.1**? ---
**Author:** ![planteg](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/planteg/32/627_2.png) [@planteg](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/planteg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/7 "2023-09-27T21:54:43Z")
> [@OliverBarrett](#): > > I really like the new ability to place calculations on a layout without defining a field. Oh, I have to learn about this ! ---
**Author:** ![OliverBarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 10:28pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/8 "2023-09-27T22:28:00Z")
It's about 25 years late, as other environments could do this in the 90s, but a great feature nonetheless....I hope they keep implementing (actually useful) things like this. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2023, 4:41am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/9 "2023-09-28T04:41:03Z")
Yes. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![AndyHibbs](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/andyhibbs/32/3089_2.png) [@AndyHibbs](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/AndyHibbs)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 5:26am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/10 "2023-09-28T05:26:12Z")
- The new layout calculation allows you to place a calculated value on a layout without creating a calculation field or setting a variable in a script. **To insert a layout calculation onto a layout:** 1. In Layout mode, click in the layout where you want to insert the layout calculation, then choose **Insert** menu \> **Layout Calculation**.Don't insert layout calculations over a field or any other object that you want to view. 2. In the **Specify Calculation** dialog, enter the a formula for your calculation, then click **OK**.A layout calculation, including the specified calculation, (**\<\<Æ’:_[calculation]_\>\>**) appears on the layout. **To modify a layout calculation:** 3. In Layout mode, right-click the layout calculation, then choose **Edit Layout Calculation**. 4. In the **Specify Calculation** dialog modify the calculation, then click **OK**. ---
**Author:** ![FabriceN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/fabricen/32/2506_2.png) [@FabriceN](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/FabriceN)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 7:33am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/11 "2023-09-28T07:33:57Z")
Everything about layout calculations here: > **[FileMaker 2023 20.2 - Layout Calculations - Video - 1-more-thing](https://www.1-more-thing.com/en/filemaker-layout-calculations-video/)** > > Claris has just announced a new release of FileMaker, 20.2. Among other new features and improvements, let’s take a closer look at layout calculations. Video by Fabrice Nordmann New to FileMaker? Watch our Quick Start video and get started in 10... ---
**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:** [September 28, 2023, 7:58am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/12 "2023-09-28T07:58:13Z")
That link doesn't work. Also I don't see a new article on your [blog](https://www.1-more-thing.com/blog/)!? ---
**Author:** ![AndyHibbs](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/andyhibbs/32/3089_2.png) [@AndyHibbs](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/AndyHibbs)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 10:15am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/13 "2023-09-28T10:15:49Z")
> **[FileMaker 2023 20.2 - Layout Calculations - Video - 1-more-thing](https://www.1-more-thing.com/en/filemaker-layout-calculations-video/)** > > Claris has just announced a new release of FileMaker, 20.2. Among other new features and improvements, let’s take a closer look at layout calculations. Video by Fabrice Nordmann I think this works ---
**Author:** ![OliverBarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 10:40am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/14 "2023-09-28T10:40:25Z")
I had no issues using this feature, but thanks for the step-by-step. 🙂 ---
**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:** [September 28, 2023, 11:41am UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/15 "2023-09-28T11:41:05Z")
Great video. Lot's of ways to do this with different pro and cons. Kudos to @FabriceN ---
**Author:** ![bdbd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/bdbd/32/620_2.png) [@bdbd](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/bdbd)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/16 "2023-09-28T15:12:00Z")
Fantastic video @FabriceN! Many thanks! @RosemaryTietge: Please convey my many thanks to all involved at Claris. This is a truly wonderful feature. I suggest that all other merge features be rolled into the new layout calculation feature. Merge text, fields, variables and functions can all be expressed as a calculation. This would simplify the user interface and training for new users. ---
**Author:** ![OliverBarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/17 "2023-09-28T15:41:50Z")
I agree, this is probably the best new feature in a long time! ---
**Author:** ![FabriceN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/fabricen/32/2506_2.png) [@FabriceN](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/FabriceN)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/18 "2023-09-28T17:13:03Z")
Fun fact. We're not supposed to talk about ETS. ETS doesn't exists, you know, but everyone knows what it is. The first ETS I participated in was for FileMaker 8.5, which introduced named objects and web viewers. I immediately caught the potential of layout level calculations (I then developed a complete framework, LayoutProperties, which is still used by some developers), so my first feature request ever was… exactly what we have now. Sometimes you've got to be patient 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OliverBarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@OliverBarrett](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/OliverBarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/19 "2023-09-28T18:20:57Z")
I just noticed that the layout calculations don't seem to work in FMS (just show up as \<\ **Author:** ![planteg](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/the.fmsoup.org/planteg/32/627_2.png) [@planteg](https://the.fmsoup.org/u/planteg)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://the.fmsoup.org/t/filemaker-2023-second-release/3721/20 "2023-09-28T19:48:52Z") > [@OliverBarrett](#): > > I just noticed that the layout calculations don't seem to work in FMS (just show up as \<\