Note: This HTML Conversion Feature has been made obsolete by the PHP Conversion Feature. The PHP Conversion Feature builds a functional PHP web application from the original FileMaker Pro database file.
Top 10 Features
Automated
conversion of FileMaker Pro layouts to HTML files.
Precise
object positioning duplicates look of original layout.
Custom
Value Lists converted into HTML menus.
Layout
images exported as web-compatible PNG, GIF or JPG image files.
De-duping
of layout image files reduces web page load times.
Cross-browser
and cross-platform compatible HTML files.
Drop-down
Calendar fields converted into JavaScript calendar picker.
Layout
vector graphics objects converted to JavaScript graphics library
code.
Portals
converted to ExtJS Data Grid objects.
Leverages
FmPro Migrator Developer Edition features.
Description
The FmPro Migrator Developer Edition layout to HTML
conversion feature instantly converts FileMaker Pro layouts into cross
platform/cross browser compatible HTML pages. Embedded layout graphic
images are converted into web compatible PNG, GIF or JPEG files. Embedded
layout vector graphic objects are rendered using the high performance
JavaScript VectorGraphics library. The generated HTML files are suitable
for use as a starting point for developing a database enabled web
solution using graphical development tools such as Embarcadero
Delphi® for PHP or Adobe
Dreamweaver CS4.
Automated
Conversion
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Each FileMaker Pro layout is converted into a separate HTML
file, along with JavaScript and embedded image files. FmPro
Migrator can typically process each layout within about 100ms,
much faster than you could perform the task manually!
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Precise
Object Positioning - FmPro Migrator uses CSS styles to precisely position
each HTML object to match its original size and location within the
original FileMaker Pro layout. The generated HTML files are smaller
in size and and easier to edit either manually or with graphical tools
like Dreamweaver. The header graphic at the top of this web page shows
a FileMaker Pro layout on the left which has been converted to the
equivalent HTML page on the right. Click
the image to load the converted HTML file. Try out the FmPro
Migrator demo to see how your converted layouts will look.
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Individual HTML page elements can easily be selected, edited,
resized or moved using Dreamweaver. Using CSS styles to set
absolute object positioning means that there are no table
cell or alignment restrictions for each object.
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Custom
Value Lists
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Custom FileMaker Pro Value Lists are converted into HTML
menus, for every field where a Drop-down List, Pop-up Menu,
Checkbox or Radio Button set has been configured on the original
layout.
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Embedded
Image Export - The export of embedded images makes it possible to
re-purpose layout images for documentation, marketing or the creation
of web prototypes from existing FileMaker Pro solutions. FmPro Migrator
performs this image export task much faster than manually extracting
each embedded layout image.
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FileMaker Pro stores GIF, PNG and JPEG images in their native
formats within the layout. All other image types are also
converted and stored in the JPEG file format in order to guarantee
compatibility with Instant Web Publishing. Therefore the conversion
process follows this same compatibility implementation when
extracting GIF, PNG and JPEG images for use on the HTML page.
Only unique copies of images are stored within the /images
folder, in order to reduce HTML page loading time space due
to duplicate images. This means that if an image such as a
company logo is used on 100 different layouts, only one single
copy of that graphic will be saved, as all of the other 99
copies are duplicates of the original image. Storing only
unique copies of image files also means that only one image
file needs to be updated in order to update the company logo
on all of the web pages.
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Cross
Browser/Platform Compatibility - The CSS styles, XHTML tags and JavaScript
code libraries used within the generated HTML files are designed and
tested with multiple browsers and platforms.
Drop-down
Calendar
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Layout fields configured with a drop-down calendar are converted
to use a configurable open
source pop-up JavaScript DateTime Picker. The size/color
of the DateTime Picker can be changed by editing the calendar.js
file which is written to the /app directory by FmPro Migrator.
The formatting of the returned data can also be customized
within the HTML file on a field by field basis.
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Layout
Vector Graphics Objects
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Embedded vector graphic objects including rectangles, rounded
rectangles, circles/ovals and lines are drawn with the high
performance Walter
Zorn VectorGraphics Library. Fill colors, borders and
border colors are extracted from the layout definition XML
code and converted into JavaScript code which draws each
object.
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Portal
Conversion
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Portal objects are converted into ExtJS Data Grid objects
with resizable columns. A JavaScript file is created for every
portal on each layout, allowing individual customization for
each Data Grid.
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Layout Objects Supported
Field
Field with Drop-down Calendar
Field with Value List Menu
Field with Checkbox
Field displayed as Radio Button Set
Text
Button (including non-button objects configured as buttons)
Portal
Line
Rectangle
RoundedRectangle
Oval
Embedded Layout Image Graphics
Processing Steps & Requirements
Requirements:
FmPro Migrator Developer Edition - FmPro
Migrator Developer Edition is used for capturing the structure info
from the source FileMaker Pro database file. FmPro Migrator Developer
Edition utilizes the DDR XML file generated by FileMaker Pro Advanced,
along with AppleScript(Mac OS X) or WinAutomation(Windows) software
in order to automate the capturing of Tables/Fields, Layouts, Relationships
and Scripts. This process is documented in a PDF
file on the support page. Once the info has been captured by FmPro
Migrator Developer Edition, press the Convert Layouts to HTML button
on the GUI tab of the Migration Process window.
FmPro Migrator Developer Edition is also
used to perform the conversion of the FileMaker Pro database tables
and data into one of the supported
SQL database servers.
FileMaker Pro Developer/Advanced 7+ - FileMaker Pro Advanced
is used for creating a DDR XML export file providing the structure
of the FileMaker Pro database file. This file is used for importing
the relationships and layout display order info associated with
the layouts.
AppleScript(MacOSX)/WinAutomation(Windows) Software - FmPro
Migrator Developer Edition utilizes one of these two utilities to
drive the FileMaker Pro user interface to automate the capturing
of layouts via the clipboard from FileMaker Pro.
ExtJS
- The dual licensed ExtJS JavaScript library is a rich internet
application framework providing a wide variety of dynamic web objects
including Data Grid, Tab Panel, Tree Panel, Toolbar, Drag &
Drop, Progress Bar and Slider controls. The ExtJS library is freely
downloadable and free for use in open source projects and requires
licensing for commercial projects.