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Setting up files for developer solutions (FileMaker Pro Advanced)

FileMaker Pro Advanced provides Developer Utilities that let you:

•	bind your database files into a stand-alone runtime database solution that does not require FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Pro Advanced in order to be used on a computer

•	rename a set of database files and automatically update the internal links to related files and scripts

•	display your database files in Kiosk mode

•	remove administrative access from all accounts and prevent users from modifying most design or structural elements of your databases

•	add the FileMaker Pro filename extension to a set of non-runtime files

•	create an error log for processing errors

Note  FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced now allow you to include as many database tables as you need in a database file. This capability eliminates one of the main reasons for using multiple files. However, other elements, like scripts and access privileges, are stored at the file level and so some complex solutions will still benefit from using multiple files.

To set up your files for developer solutions:

1.	Close all of your database files that you are going to customize.

2.	Choose Tools menu > Developer Utilities.

3.	If you have used the Developer Utilities on the same database solution before and saved your settings, click Load Settings.

The Select a file dialog box opens so that you can browse to find your settings file.

4.	Click Add to locate the files that you want to customize.

5.	When you have added all the files that you want to customize, do one or more of the following:

 

To	Do this
Select the primary file for a runtime solution	Double-click the file in the list.
Rename a file	Select the file in the list, type the new name in the Rename file box, and click Change. This also updates any internal links to related files and scripts. Note  Do not type a filename extension. For information on adding the FileMaker filename extension to non-runtime files, see Adding filename extensions to files (FileMaker Pro Advanced). For information on adding filename extensions to runtime files, see Naming runtime solutions (FileMaker Pro Advanced).
Remove a file	Select the file in the list and click Remove.

6.	For Project Folder, click Specify to choose a location for the solution.

7.	In the Choose a Folder dialog box, select or create a folder and click OK (Windows) or Choose (Mac OS).

8.	If you do not want the new files to overwrite earlier versions of the files, clear the Overwrite matching files within the Project Folder checkbox.

Important  If Overwrite matching files within the Project Folder is selected, the Developer Utilities will overwrite files with the same names as those in the list of files.

9.	For Solution Options, click Specify, and select options. For example, you can customize your database files or bind the files into a runtime solution. See Specifying options for developer solutions (FileMaker Pro Advanced).

10.	To be able to quickly repeat the process, click Save Settings, and choose a folder and location for your settings file. See Saving solution settings (FileMaker Pro Advanced).

11.	Click Create.

The Developer Utilities copy all the selected database files, with the modifications made by the Utilities, to the Project Folder. If the default option to overwrite the destination files has been left on, the specified Project Folder will be used to store the files copied by the Developer Utilities. If the default option to overwrite the files has been cleared, the specified Project Folder will be used if it is empty or a new one based on the name of the Project Folder will be created.

Related topics 

About creating runtime solutions (FileMaker Pro Advanced)

Displaying databases in Kiosk mode (FileMaker Pro Advanced)