Step 2: Understand the capabilities of FileMaker WebDirect

• Although FileMaker WebDirect is similar to FileMaker Pro, it does not have all the features of a FileMaker Pro client.

• Web users can choose layouts and different layout views, but they cannot add, delete, or modify fields, layouts, scripts, relationships, value lists, or other database schema.

• FileMaker WebDirect does not support Table View. Script steps or script step options that change the view to Table View are not supported. If a layout's default view is Table View, the layout displays in a different view. If no other views are enabled, the layout displays in List View.

• FileMaker WebDirect does not allow users to select objects that are located behind other layout objects, even if the frontmost objects are transparent or if users click empty space in an object group. Rather than stacking multiple objects:

  • use calculated values for tab labels

  • add icons to buttons instead of stacking images in front of buttons

  • group multiple objects and apply button settings to the group

• FileMaker WebDirect offers limited text styles. Highlighting, paragraph text styles, and tab stops are not supported. FileMaker WebDirect only supports rich text that is supported by the web browser. Rich text is supported only when applied to buttons and layout text. For fields, only the rich text formatting applied as the object style is displayed in FileMaker WebDirect. Web users cannot enter data with rich text formatting. Editing a field in FileMaker WebDirect removes any existing rich text formatting.

• FileMaker Pro custom menus are not supported for FileMaker WebDirect custom apps.