ScriptMaster Allows Java Code Use- Without Expertise

360Works Releases New Version

Jul. 14, 2008 02:45 PM

360Works, a FileMaker product developer, will be releasing a new version of its ScriptMaster tool later this month. A completely free, modular plugin for FileMaker, ScriptMaster allows developers to use Java code even without Java expertise. Version 2.0 includes modules for file manipulation, URL downloads, XML Web Services, encoding/encryption, FileMaker script triggering, shell scripting, audio and video, email sending, and much more. FileMaker developers can also extend ScriptMaster functionality by writing their own Java modules.

ScriptMaster 2.0 adds a new function registration feature allowing developers to use ScriptMaster modules just like regular FileMaker custom functions. Using a module from the ScriptMaster.fp7 library requires checking a 'register this function' box. Thereafter, the ScriptMaster module appears in the FileMaker external functions list just like a FileMaker Pro custom function. Unlike custom functions, ScriptMaster functions are available in every FileMaker file, eliminating the need to copy and paste between files.

"The ScriptMaster 2.0 plug-in is awesome,” said SolutionMakers, Inc. developer Angelo Luchi. SolutionMakers, Inc., are the developers of the 123sync QuickBooks integration “in as little as an hour” application.

“It is so much faster than its predecessor. Plus I love the new register function,” he added. FileMaker developer Jennifer Shook works in house for American Classifieds in Kansas City, MO. She shares her FileMaker development work with other American Classifieds who are still doing their record keeping by hand, and cutting and pasting their papers up on layout boards. Shook recently downloaded ScriptMaster for the first time.

“Are you sure this valuable plug in is free to deploy with my program?” she asked. “I feel like I am stealing something. This is coming from a girl that is happy to pay for her mp3s.”

In addition to the plugin registration feature, there are numerous other improvements in ScriptMaster 2.0:

Speed - ScriptMaster was fast before, but because registering a module pre-compiles it, script speed execution is orders of magnitude faster. For example, the UUID function for generating unique serial numbers has increased from 25 UUIDs per second to approximately 1,000 UUIDs per second
No installation required - The ScriptMaster.fp7 database uses the auto-update feature of FileMaker Server to download the plugin from your FileMaker Server to each user's desktop
Easy SOAP access - ScriptMaster.fp7 now includes Java Web Service libraries, for easy SOAP Web Service access from developers’ ScriptMaster modules
Java code editing support - Developers writing Java modules have better support for editing Java code within the ScriptMaster.fp7 database, including syntax error highlighting, allowing tab characters, better error reporting, plus links to Groovy and Java documentation

Several new modules that ship with ScriptMaster 2.0 include:

Formatted dialog module allows the display of dialogs with formatted HTML content in the FileMaker solution
BASE64 encoding and decoding modules for interacting with web services
Gradient drawing module dynamically generates smooth gradient containers perfect for use in layouts with user-specified color preferences
FedEx module uses SOAP web services to get shipping rates from FedEx
Popup menu demonstrates how to draw a popup menu anywhere on the FileMaker user interface in response to a mouse click
Encryption/decryption with the DES-128 algorithm and MD5 hashing modules to store credit cards, social security numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information in a FileMaker database

ScriptMaster is a Universal Binary plugin that will run at full native speed on OS X Intel, OS X PowerPC, and Windows. It will also run in the Web Publishing Engine and on FileMaker Server, so you can use it with IWP, custom web publishing, and server scripts scheduled with FileMaker Server 9.

Published Jul. 14, 2008— Reads 1,476
Copyright © 2008 SYS-CON Media. All Rights Reserved.

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