This article is the second part of a two-part series diving into some new features of FileMaker 19. In the previous article (https://www.metasyssoftware.com/blogs/integrating-jquery-datatable-in-filemaker-application-using-perform-javascript-in-web-viewer), we explored the new FileMaker script step “Perform JavaScript in Web Viewer”. Using this feature, we added the jQuery data table in FileMaker Web Viewer. In this article, we will explore how we can call a FileMaker script from JavaScript function within FileMaker Web Viewer.
Demonstration
The example we will be using is a follow-on from the previous article, in which we showed a method for displaying data of companies and contacts. We displayed the FileMaker data in a jQuery datatable in the FileMaker Web Viewer, which allowed us to include jQuery features like pagination and sorting without any coding. Using the FileMaker.PerformScript() function, we can add the functionality through which, once the user clicks on any of the contact records from datatable in Web Viewer, the chosen contact details are shown on the FileMaker card window.
The FileMaker.PerformScript() function takes two input parameters:
- FileMaker Script Name – A non-case-sensitive name of the script we wish to run
- Script input parameters (optional) – a string that contains the required parameters, which can be read using the function Get(ScriptParameter).
This FileMaker script can be called from the WebViewer using the following JavaScript function: function performFileMakerScript() {
FileMaker.PerformScript ( “FileMaker Script Name”, “Optional Parameter” );
The highlighted section from the above screenshot shows how to call the FileMaker script using ‘FileMaker.PerformScript() function from Web Viewer. In it we write a JavaScript function called showContacts(), in which we can specify the execution for a double click event. We specify that a double click event calls the FileMaker script called “Show Contact Details”, passing the ID parameter as the optional second parameter. The ID parameter is retrieved from the double click event, by identifying the datatable row that has been clicked. This id parameter is further used in the FileMaker script to get more details of the selected contact record and displayed in the FileMaker card window.
A few notes regarding this implementation:
- In the Web Viewer Setup dialog, you must select the setting “Allow JavaScript to perform FileMaker scripts”. Otherwise, the FileMaker.PerformScript()function will not work.
- The FileMaker script name which we pass as a first parameter is not case-sensitive.
- The FileMaker.PerformScript() function doesn’t wait for the FileMaker script to finish. That means the FileMaker script doesn’t return a value to the FileMaker.PerformScript() function that called it.
- The FileMaker script is executed in the current context. So if the user or script changes the layout or record while the script is running, then the FileMaker script will run in a new context. To deal with such a situation, we can pass the context information as a second parameter to the function.
The JavaScript integration in FileMaker 19 platform allows creating custom apps that can use the existing JavaScript libraries to incorporate amazing functionality easily. It enables a seamless ability to pass data back and forth between FileMaker and JavaScript.
If you are looking for support with FileMaker, or FileMaker integration, feel free to contact our us. For more details, please visit – www.metasyssoftware.com/filemaker