Distributing runtime solutions

Note  This feature is available when the Use advanced tools general preference is selected. See Using advanced tools.

The final steps in developing your runtime database solution are to bundle all of the necessary files together, choose how you will distribute your solution—for example, on media or over a network—and provide your users with documentation for installing your solution. In addition, your documentation should include instructions for starting the runtime application and what to do if a file is damaged.

Consider the following before you distribute your solution:

•Organize your solution components.

Important  Do not rename the files and folders that Developer Utilities generates.

•Choose a distribution method.

•Choose to use either a custom installation program or a compression utility program.

•For software distributions such as Internet or network downloads, ensure you have a master password to enable or change network access to the files.

•For software distributions, consider reducing the size of your solution files. Deleting dictionaries and language resource files for languages not supported by your database will reduce the size of the application. See below.

Windows: The proper method for distributing Runtime solutions (including the executable) is to use Installer software. This software must install components in the proper location in the Windows filesystem and provide an uninstall capability. See the Microsoft website for information about the location of installed files as well as location restrictions.

•Include the same minimum equipment and software required by the FileMaker Pro Advanced application.

Windows: Runtime solutions for Windows require that the Microsoft .NET framework is installed. Some versions of Windows might not include the required version of .NET. Therefore, your runtime installer should install the required version of .NET if it is not present.

See FileMaker Pro Advanced technical specifications.

To reduce the size of your solution in Windows:

1. Open the Extensions folder that is copied to the runtime solution folder.

2. Delete language resource folders for languages not supported by your solution.

Important  Do not delete the language resource folder for English.

3. Open the Dictionaries folder.

4. Delete dictionaries for languages not supported by your solution.

To reduce the size of your solution in macOS:

1. Open the Extensions folder that is copied to the runtime solution folder.

2. Open the Dictionaries folder.

3. Delete dictionaries for languages not supported by your solution.

4. Control-click the runtime application package and choose Show Package Contents.

5. Locate the Resources folder in the Contents folder.

6. Delete language resource folders (*.lproj) for languages not supported by your solution.