FMS WhistleBlower is finally here ! (BETA release)

FMS WhistleBlower is finally here ! (BETA release)

by | Jun 11, 2018 | FileMaker, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server

After 2 years in the making, we finally decided to release the first beta.

There will be a new version within 2-3 weeks, but we encourage you to start looking and testing this tool.

The History

At dotFMP in Berlin in 2016, we got to talk about the hassle of having to manage and monitor multiple FileMaker Servers and talked about how we could work on this. Basically, within a couple of hours, we cooked up the concept and started building the tool.

Since this has been a sparetime project, it has taken us some time. But we have been using the tool for our work the last almost 2 years, so we feel that it is pretty thoroughly tested.

As this tool was something we needed and we just want to share it with the community, it’s being released as Freeware/Open Source and we really like to have your input.

What is FMS WhistleBlower ?

It’s a monitoring tool, that will help you monitor and manage your FileMaker servers. It consist of 3 components; 

* WB Daemon/Service

This is something we developed and it’s a component you install on all the servers you want to monitor and manage. The daemon/service will collect log entries as well as CPU usage of FMS related processes and feed this information into the MySQL database.

* MySQL server

The database will have tables, which the daemon/service will write to. The reason for this choice is that we will be generating millions of records.

* FMS WhistleBlower FileMaker file

This file is the central point, where you can put in logics. Currently it provides an interface for viewing log entries directly from the MySQL, via ESS as well as providing a dashboard, that shows you the current status of all the server in the level of files, clients as well as whether each of the FMS specific processes are running and how much CPU each process takes up.

There is already a bunch of tools in this file, but the great thing is that it’s Open Source, so you can build your own modifications and tools.

One example that we’ve built, is a function that watch for whether the Script Engine has crashed. In that case, WhistleBlower will restart the Script Engine automatically.

How to set it up

* Download the file, which is a FileMaker file, which contains the bits you need.

* Upload the FileMaker file to a FileMaker server. (preferable your development server or server admin server)

* On the Dashboard screen, you’ll see an icon for installation. Press it and you’ find the SQL creation script for MySQL as well as WB Daemon/Service installers (MAC/WIN)

* Install or setup a MySQL server, where the servers you monitor, can access it via port 3306

* Run the SQL creation script, to create a database with the tables we need.

* Setup MySQL accounts for the daemon/service. You can create an account for each server you want to monitor, or just a shared account. Then create an account for the FileMaker file as well.

* Setup ODBC connection from your WB FileMaker server to the MySQL server. Also setup a connection from your local machine with the same DSN name. Only needed when you first setup the FileMaker file.

* Open the WB FileMaker file and make sure to connect your file in ESS using the DSN to your MySQL. Look through the scripts and look for import SQL steps and Execute SQL Query script steps and make sure to change them to use the DSN to your MySQL.

* Add servers as records. Use a serverID, which is what the system uses as unique identifier. Use a short serverID.

* Install the Daemon/Service on your Mac or Windows server. After installation, you’ll need to set it up. A screen will ask you to fill out the ServerID you created, the address to MySQL, database name, username and password. Follow the instructions and then the daemon/service will start feeding MySQL with information.

* Finally, create a server side scheduled script, that runs every minute. You should pick the script named “SRV || WB Master Serverside Script”. This script is fetching data from MySQL as well as requesting file and clients information from all the servers.

There is interfaces for FileMaker Pro, Go, WebDirect. We even built a screen that is specific for a WebDirect entrance from e.g. a Linux box, connected to a HD screen. We have such a screen in our office, which shows us the status, while we are working.

Currently we support FileMaker Servers from version 12 to 17 (as long as the daemon can run on the OS version. Mac OS 10.6 is not supported anymore) and we just put in support for FileMaker Cloud (some features) as well as FileMaker 17 via the admin REST API.

We know the above instructions are not at all complete documentation or description, but we know you are clever, so hopefully you’ll be able to get up and running. We are working on a release version right now and hope the community will want to contribute. With features, ideas and documentation.

On this site, you’ll be able to download the project, by providing your name and email address. We will only use your email address to notify you about updates and new releases.

Please check back at this site for news, as we are planning to create a wiki or forum thing and when that is in place, we’ll link from here.

Please provide your name and email address for your free* download.

Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year
with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Distributed as-is; no warranty is given.Use of the material is at your own responsibility. If you use techniques from our solutions, you are welcome to credit DataManix (optional of course).
Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Your information stays with us!
I agree with the Terms & Conditions
Get Download Link
FMS 17 Missing Admin Tool

FMS 17 Missing Admin Tool

by | May 13, 2018 | FileMaker, FileMaker Server, Technical

FMS17Tool_MainImage

Claris has terminated the Admin API of FMS17 which means that this tool does not work as of September 27th, 2019. Please upgrade your FileMaker server to version 18 and download The Missing Admin Tool 18 from this site.

FileMaker, Inc. has just released the FileMaker 17 platform.

While we are excited about some of the new great features, the FileMaker 17 Server now features a new web admin console, that looks like the FileMaker Cloud Admin Console.

While the web console is nice looking, it lacks several features, that can be vitale in order to manage your FileMaker server.

Most features are not completely gone, but now you will need to use Command Line commands or use the new Admin REST API. For many Server admins, this new way of managing FileMaker Server, might be difficult to master all these interfaces.

In order to help our colleagues, we built this tool, that combines all the interfaces you will need in order to manage your FileMaker Server 17.

When you install FileMaker Server 17, you will need to install a Custom SSL Certificate. Unfortunately, the web admin console will no longer have a feature to generate a Certificate Signing Request, which you need in order to purchase your custom SSL certificate. In order to do so, you will need to do this via CLI commands.

The FMS 17 Missing Admin Tool has a feature to generate this command, so the process will be easier.

We also include a lot of information and links to videos, we’ve done with Richard Carlton in the past, in order to help you through this process.

The tool is completely free and completely unlocked, so you can dig in and learn from the code.

The only thing we ask of you, is your name and email address so we can send you an email, when we publish new helpful tools and articles.

If you like this tool, please let us know and let your colleagues know.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ADMIN API WILL CEASE WORKING ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019.
THIS IS AN EXPIRATION SET BY FILEMAKER INC. IN THE FILEMAKER SERVER 17.
AFTER THIS DATE, THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS TOOL, THAT USES THE ADMIN API, WILL ALSO CEASE WORKING.
HOWEVER, THE OTHER PARTS WILL STILL FUNCTION AFTER THIS DAY.

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DM Migration Helper Tool

DM Migration Helper Tool

by | May 13, 2018 | FileMaker, FileMaker Server, Technical

MigrationHelper_mainImage

FileMaker, Inc. has just released the FileMaker 17 platform.

We are very excited about the FMDataMigrator tool as it will allow us to do deployments of solutions much, much faster than in the past. This will reduce the argument to do development in live solutions drastically.

Since this new tool is a Command Line Interface tool, it means that you will need to write CLI commands to use it.

We wanted to build a tool, that will help us, using the tool. And so we decided to share it with our colleagues in the community.

The way we built it, is reflecting how most of our solutions are built. We use the data separation model and in several large solutions, we have multiple data files.

So we wanted to build a tool, that can do the data migration on several files in the same process.

This tool will loop through the files in the source and clone folders and do data migration on all these files.

However, if you only need to do data migration on a single data file, you can just place this in the folder.

Please read the informations in the tool, in order to understand how it works and the assumptions we make on filenames etc.

If you need the process to work differently, you can modify the code.

The tool is completely free and completely unlocked, so you can dig in and learn from the code.

The only thing we ask of you, is your name and email address so we can send you an email, when we publish new helpful tools and articles.

Please note that you will need to download the FileMaker Data Migration Tool from FileMaker directly, which requires a paid FDS membership. You can find it here: http://store.filemaker.com/product/FDS

If you like this tool, please let us know and let your colleagues know.

 

Please provide your name and email address for your free* download.

Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year
with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Distributed as-is; no warranty is given.Use of the material is at your own responsibility. If you use techniques from our solutions, you are welcome to credit DataManix (optional of course).
Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Your information stays with us!
I agree with the Terms & Conditions
Get Download Link
Weighing scale demo

Weighing scale demo

by | Mar 2, 2017 | FileMaker, Technical

Screen Shot 2017-03-02 at 01.35.26

Here is a short video on how you can integrate a weighing scale with your FileMaker App.

It is fairly simple and in the video I show you 2 ways of doing it.
One way is to use a serial plugin, another is by using a serial-to-bluetooth dongle.

The serial plugin way has the advantages that you can script all interactions. Basically, you are telling the plugin to listen for data from the weighing scale and run a particular script, whenever it receives any data. This script will then process the input from the weighing scale, which could be to put the weight into a field.

The serial-to-bluetooth dongle method is more simple as you just need to purchase the dongle, insert batteries and connect the bluetooth to either a computer or iOS device. Then it will work just as if you were typing on a keyboard, except that it will be the weighing scale, that types the weight. The downside of this method is that you will need to have the cursor active in a field and you will need to setup onObject trigger to format the content. Also, most scales do NOT send a return character, which makes this a bit more tricky than if you e.g. integrate with a barcode scanner.

You can download the FileMaker file below.

Have a lot of FileMaker fun!

 

 

Please provide your name and email address for your free* download.

Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year
with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Distributed as-is; no warranty is given.Use of the material is at your own responsibility. If you use techniques from our solutions, you are welcome to credit DataManix (optional of course).
Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Your information stays with us!
I agree with the Terms & Conditions
Get Download Link
FileMaker Cloud and SSL Certificates

FileMaker Cloud and SSL Certificates

by | Dec 15, 2016 | FileMaker, FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server

 

Screen Shot 2016-12-15 at 03.03.58

The FileMaker Cloud is here, and we are excited!

There are many great things to say about the FileMaker Cloud and we think this is a very important and great addition to our platform.
One thing we must realize is that what we have now is a 1.0 release, which means that there can be some “rough edges” that needs to be polished in future releases. One such edge is the process of renewing the SSL certificate, that your FileMaker Cloud instance is installed with. (you get 90 days free)
Frankly, the process is very complex, even for seasoned developers and server admins and involve several terminal commands.

Wouldn’t it be great, if there was an app for that ?

That’s what we thought, so we have created a FileMaker Custom App, that helps you with the process of renewing your FileMaker Cloud SSL Certificate. Not only is this app completely free, it is also completely open source. And you can download it below.

Now, how do I use this tool ?

I’m glad you asked. Richard Carlton and Claus Lavendt did a video on this topic, where we are walking through the tool and explains the process. Beside a walkthrough of the tool, we also discuss the concepts behind and we think this video is worth a watch.

 

 

Richard Carlton Consulting is producing awesome videos for the community as well as several video courses for everyone that wants to learn FileMaker. Check out their offerings at www.learningfilemaker.com

Claus Lavendt is Senior Consultant and owner of DataManix. We are leading FileMaker experts and beside creating great custom solutions for our customers, we have a deep passion for our platform. We also consult for our colleagues in the community and is among the top experts on FileMaker Server, FileMaker Go and several other areas of our platform. If you need help with your server, you can contact us. We also have a Managed FileMaker Server service, where we can take care of your server, so you can focus on creating great apps for your users. www.datamanix.com

PLEASE NOTE: We have found a bug in the tool.
If you already downloaded this tool, please download this new version 1.3.0 and follow these instructions:

1) Open the tool, use the slide panel dots to navigate to the second panel (step 1). Fill out your Instance URL
2) Make sure you still have the working folder in your Documents folder: /Documents/FMC_SSL/
3) Navigate to the second last slide panel, using the slide panel dots
4) Follow the instructions in step 5 and press the button “OK – I have done that”
5) Now the tool concatenate the 2 files from Comodo and you can now re-import the certificate file into your FileMaker Cloud instance.

 

Please provide your name and email address for your free* download.

Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year
with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Distributed as-is; no warranty is given.Use of the material is at your own responsibility. If you use techniques from our solutions, you are welcome to credit DataManix (optional of course).
Free means “Yes please, I´d like to receive up to four mails a year with relevant information about TheBrainBasket universe.”
Your information stays with us!
I agree with the Terms & Conditions
Get Download Link