FMTouch

Bug in Apple iPhone 3.0 Causing Syncing Issues

A number of FMTouch users are reporting problems with syncing.

Unfortunately this is a well documented bug in the Apple iPhone OS 3.0 upgrade. Essentially when you upgrade an iPhone to 3.0 (or sometimes even to just 3.0.1) and choose to "Restore from Backup" the wifi becomes unstable.

One workaround at this time (apart from completely reinstalling iPhone OS on the phone) is to put it into airplane mode during syncing - that will keep the wifi connection stable enough to sync.

There are other apps that are affected by the issue, such as Skype, since it also requires a non-interrupted connection to work.

Hopefully Apple will resolve this quickly.

In Kindness
Stephen Knight

Labels: Apple, filemaker, fmtouch, iphone

We are currently working on a new update to be released to the Apple store in about a week for approval. Here is what we are working on :)

• New Licensing - we are working on Developer versions that will allow you to bundle your own application and then resell that app on the Apple iTunes store
• New Developer features to allow bundling to happen
• Improvement on Container sync
• Fix - Value List bug
• Fix - Sound / Container bug
• Fix Previous / Next Horizontal view bug (Previous / Next currently hidden when iPhone is held horizontally)
• Add the ability to run a script on start-up
• The ability to hide and show buttons - functionally governed by scripts
• Dial Telephone Script step
• A few other scripts
• Working on Mac and Windows Server Syncing
• Working on Live data connection

We will have one more major release after this one before the FileMaker convention. I will be posting as to the new features that will be included.

Labels: filemaker, filemaker iphone, fmtouch

FMWebschool is working on a solution that allows you to publish your FileMaker application to the iTunes App store. We are working on the documentation that will tell you exactly what you need to do.

What will the developer version do?

The developer version of FMTouch will enable you to bundle your solution with FMTouch and sell it at whatever price point you desire. Your customer will NOT need to buy FMTouch separately.

* You will need to apply for an Apple developers license (usually takes about 24 hours)
* You will have to submit your application to Apple and go through the same approval process that everyone else goes through.
* FMWebschool is going to create a couple basic solutions bundled with FMTouch and submit them to the App store to see if there are any gotchas. This will help us with documentation and improve our bundling process.
* Customers buying your product will not have to have FileMaker Pro - but if you provide a desktop version - they will be able to sync to that version.

Price Points Open to discussion
(Please don't just say "Too high or Too Low" we need a good discussion)

We would like to discuss price points with everyone as this will enable everyone to bundle their solutions and sell them to all Apple iTunes visitors. Remember this puts your App online, worldwide without you having to write or learn any code.

You could create a FileMaker solution, bundle it with FMTouch and then sell it on the Apple App store for $4.99

Developing such a license will affect our sales of FMTouch as we will lose a lot of Enterprise sales where companies buy 50-100 copies of FMTouch at a time.

So these are the price points that we are considering.

Basic Development License $297 - This will enable you to bundle once FileMaker application with FMTouch and sell it on the iTunes store.

Pro Development License $497 - Allows you to bundle up to 5 FileMaker solutions with FMTouch and sell on the iTunes store.

Unlimited Development License $997 - Allows you to bundle as many apps as you like with FMTouch and sell on the iTunes store.

Further Explanation

You would basically be able to create a FileMaker application, bundle it with FMTouch and sell it as your own application without having to learn Objective C, X-Code etc...

All profits would be yours paid to you by Apple, Inc., and you would pay no royalties to FMWebschool.


Further help with Apple Developer License - App Submission Etc...

For developers that would like help with the process of getting their Apple developers license and submitting an application for the first time (as well as help with bundling) we will offer a service where we will do this for you for $197.

We've built several applications, FMTouch, a Battleship App, and a game called WaitAndPlay" so we know our way around the App store and what is required.

Please, we would like your comments on the pricing, and we will let you know how our bundling testing and Apple approval goes.

In Kindness
The team at FMWebschool

Labels: filemaker iphone, fmtouch, iphone

We've added some cool new features to FMTouch! One of the new features enables you to sync embedded container fields. I know that is a mouthful, but watch this movie and you'll see how useful it truly is!

Labels: filemaker, filemaker iphone, fmtouch

iPhone 3.0 has some very exciting new things to offer for iPhone developers and iPhone users. Let's start with - copy, cut and paste. Macworld's iPhone Central has a great article on many of the new features and goes into a lot of detail about - you guessed it, the lovely ability to cut and paste.

iPhone Central article

One of the exciting new features is a subscription model in the App store. This will allow software developers selling games and business applications to include modules, and extended levels that they can sell as additions to their core product.

There are many other exciting features in this update, you can read about them here.

Labels: filemaker, filemaker iphone, fmtouch, iphone 3.0

Hello everyone, I've received several emails on how to delete database files off of the iPhone. So, here you go, a fast and furious tutorial.

Step 1. Click on the lovely FMStudio icon on your iPhone or iPod touch.

Step 2. Once FMTouch launches, click on the little "i" in the right hand bottom corner.





Step 3. Select the database from the list by touching it with your finger.




















Step 4. Select the trashcan image.




















Step 5. Select either Delete or Cancel from the list












Enjoy FMTouch!

Labels: filemaker, filemaker iphone, fmtouch

As a child I used to drive my father crazy with my constant questions. I'd wait for his favorite TV show, sit on his lap and then ask "why did he do that?" What's he gonna do now?" "Why does he have a gun?" So now, a year later I no longer sit on my fathers lap (my stint with the Adkins diet being totally unsuccessful) - but I do still incessantly ask questions. It seems to annoy him just ever so slightly and let's face it I'm amused by simple things. I'm a programmer and my life is filled with 1's and 0's.

I'm sure you didn't notice but I had to pause from typing for a moment just to go on. You may be asking yourself now, what the heck is this blog post all about? Well please don't, if you read the first paragraph you know that I am the one asking the questions.

Ok, I digress the blog post is actually about following us programmers on Twitter. If you would like to be a part of our rantings, or get updates immediately on product releases, updates, new features, rants and great cookie recipes then by all means, please follow us at Twitter.

Now you have a couple of options, you can either follow me the good looking modest developer here at FMWebschool, or Michael Petrov who wears shorts to work and is on a badminton team. I don't know, ocassionally I will wear a kilt to work or some sort of Davy Crockettish clothing but, shorts and a "logo ridden" t-shirt - it just is to much.

So anyways if you would like some serious dialog with me please twitter me - Stephen Knight at
Twitter hyper good looking genius at Twitter

Or you can Twitter Mr. Petrov - world class badminton player and culinary expert at - Michael Petrov Twitter extraordinare.

Labels: filemaker iphone, filemaker ipod, filemaker mobile, fmtouch, rockford files, twitter

While the rest of the FMWebschool team are busily working on the next update of FMTouch, I have surreptitiously removed myself from the great think tank long enough to fire off yet another amazing tome of literary genius. Actually I believe my only job is bringing the developers coffee and cookies, they seem to thrive on copious amounts of sugar.

Onward before I am accused of pontificating. Each month I write a newsletter and release it to the FileMaker community. Currently we have over 7000 subscribers - and I have to think that it's because of my amazing writing skills and not the fact that we give away numerous FileMaker centric applications in each issue.

Next week our newsletter will focus on FileMaker and the iPhone. I'll be discussing all types of iPhone tips as well as developing FileMaker databases for the iPhone. Some of the other articles to be discussed in the Newsletter are - "What computer tools do you use to make your life easier", "How do you handle customer refunds and exhanges", "The future of the mobile market", "How to build a website for the iPhone", and I will be reviewing the book "Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3,000".

We spend on average 40 hours each month researching articles and creating sample files for the our newsletter. So if you like FileMaker, and you like the iPhone, and here's the kicker - and you like to read (or at least look at pictures) then by all means subscribe to our fascinating newsletter. Subscribe to the Newsletter I know there will still be people asking how to subscribe to the Newsletter. For those of you who fall into this category count backwards 25 words and click on the letters in orange.

Well my short escape has thusly been discovered - back to programming I go.

In Kindness
Stephen Knight

Labels: Elizabeth Taylor, filemaker, filemaker mobile, filemaker newsletter, fmtouch