[FX.php List] FileMaker 7/8 and PHP WITHOUT FX.php?

[DC]

And for your own sake in convincing your PHP developers, when it comes 
time to demo FMP on the web with FX.php, please create a *streamlined* 
layout that has only the fields you need for a particular task - and no 
container fields!

If you use a layout with too many fields filemaker goes REALLY SLOW. And 
PHP will have to parse a bunch of stuff it throws away. And nobody will 
come away impressed.

FX.php is a godsend to Filemaker people and PHP people. It just doesn't 
make any sense to deal with XML right out of FMP - in addition, if you 
don't use FX.php you will have to use FMP's ugly URL syntax for 
specifying queries. I know everyone here prefers the nice set of FX.php 
functions to help them create the FMP-required weird URLs.

The thing about using the Filemaker UI for local data entry and 
management is spot on and probably your trump card. Don't let the 
developers tell you they will give you web pages that recreate the tasks 
you do locally - it's hogwash if they do - Filemaker layout mode rules.

Since you mentioned CDML why don't you check out my pages on the Smarty 
wiki about my Filemaker PHP experience and a CDML plugin I wrote for 
Smarty.

http://smarty.incutio.com/?page=SmartyFilemakerPro

If you are using FMP6 my writeup shows how you can even call your old 
CDML templates directly from PHP! Basically, you just manage your CDML 
templates via and write them on the fly to the disk in a place where FMP 
can see them, then call the CDML page. Viola! Embedded CDML. But only 
try to do this if you are on FMP6 and have a ton of good CDML 
(oxymoron?) you don't want to waste.

What about Instant Web Publishing (IWP)? If you are using FMP7 then it 
can be pretty decent for some things.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

dc

Elleni B Fellows had written:
> So, I work in an environment that has both FileMaker lovers and haters. 
> I had hoped our web developers would work with us and our FM databases 
> to get them on the web with php. They currently use lots of php with 
> MySQL. Today the lead developer told me he doesn't really want to use 
> FX.php and wants us to find a way to use the XML out of FileMaker 
> without the FX library. Don't ask me what his deal is... I come from the 
> old CDML school of FM on the web and am just starting to get interested 
> in using php instead. I had hoped we FileMaker folks could use FXForge 
> to create to basics of our sites and get the "web team" folks to help 
> dress them up later. Anyway, I need to meet with him next week and 
> explain why I want to use FM and FXphp for our solutions. My answer 
> right now would be because that's what most of the FM community is 
> using! But I don't think that will be enough for him.
> 
> Thanks for any advice!
> 
> Elleni
> 
> 
> -- 
> <http://www.elleni.com> 	*Elleni B. Fellows*
> /IT Professional/, CLA-OIT <http://www2.cla.umn.edu/admin/claoit/>
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