FM BetterForms Docs
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  • Introduction
  • 🏆Features
  • Getting Started
    • Welcome to FM BetterForms!
    • System Overview
    • Quick Tour of the BetterForms IDE
    • 1. Setting Up Your Foundation
      • 1.1 Configure FileMaker Server
      • 1.2 Install BetterForms Helper File
      • 1.3 Add Your Server to BetterForms (IDE)
    • 2. Building Your First Application
      • 2.1 Create an App (Site) in the IDE
      • 2.2 Create Your First Page (Intro to Page Builder)
      • 2.3 Understanding & Managing Environments (IDE)
      • 2.4 Adding Elements to Your Page
      • 2.5 Understanding Validation
      • 2.6 Adding Actions to Your Page
      • 2.7 Creating Your First List View
      • 2.8 Understanding Page Data Flow
      • 2.9 Creating Your First Hook
      • 2.10 Working with Data Tables (Coming Soon)
    • 3. Understanding Core BetterForms Concepts
      • 3.1 Introduction to Hooks (and where to find them in the IDE)
      • 3.2 Running Your First Hook (Practical Example)
      • 3.3 Introduction to Actions & Action Scripts (IDE Context)
      • 3.4 Understanding the Data Model (and Page Data Model UI)
    • 4. Common Customizations & Expanding Your App
      • 4.1 Adding & Configuring Buttons (Page Builder)
      • 4.2 Implementing Page Navigation (Actions & Site Navigation UI)
      • 4.3 Displaying Data in Tables (Page Builder & Element Config)
      • 4.4 Basic App Styling (Site Styling UI)
    • 5. Mastering the BetterForms Environment & Advancing Your Skills
      • 5.1 Understanding & Managing Environments (In-Depth)
      • 5.2 Deep Dive: Page Configuration & Settings
        • Navigating the Page Builder Interface
        • Working with Page-Level Action Scripts
        • Configuring the Page Data Model
        • Page Integration Settings Explained
        • Managing Page Info & Other Settings
      • 5.3 Working with Global Scripts
      • 5.4 Managing App (Site) Settings & Navigation
      • 5.5 Exploring Further: What to Learn Next
    • Support & Resources
      • Getting Help
      • Learning JSON
  • Reference
    • Site Settings
      • Navigation
      • App Model
      • DOM Header Insertions
      • Global Named Actions
      • Site Structure
      • Slots / Code Injection
    • Developer Mode
    • Page Settings
      • Data Model
      • Card / Window Modals
      • Validation
        • Custom Validators
      • Misc Page Settings
    • Page Elements
      • Copy of Site Structure
      • BetterForms Elements
        • Checkbox
        • Checklist
        • Cleave.js Input Masking
        • DateTime Picker
        • Google Address Autocomplete
        • Image Display Element
        • Input
        • Masked Input
        • Range Slider (noUiSlider)
        • Radios
        • Select
        • Advanced Select (selectEx)
        • TextArea
      • Common
        • Input
        • Button
        • Data Table
        • HTML
      • Grouping Elements
        • Tabs
        • Panel
        • accordion
        • accordion2
        • listrows
      • Uploading Files
        • dropzone
        • dropzone to S3
        • uploadCare
        • 🏗️Uppy File Upload Widget Integration with AWS S3
      • Misc Elements
        • Plain Text / Code Editor
        • signature
        • fullCalendar
        • rangeSlider
      • Payment Gateways
        • Authorize.net
        • PayPal
        • Stripe
      • Adding Custom Page Elements
    • Actions Processor
      • Named Actions (Action Scripts)
      • Actions
        • runUtilityHook
        • path
        • debounce
        • throttle
        • showAlert
        • showModal / hideModal
        • function
        • clipboard
        • cookie
        • setFocus
        • scrollTo
        • wait
        • emit
        • validate
        • channelJoinAnon
        • channelLeaveAnon
        • messageSend
        • messageSendAnonChannel
        • consoleError
        • showStripeCheckout
      • Authentication Actions
    • Script Hooks
      • Globals Variables
        • $$BF_Model
        • $$BF_App
        • $$BF_State
      • Keeping Keys Private
      • Reducing Payload Size
      • API Callback Endpoint
      • Common Hooks
      • Scoped Hooks
    • Users & Authentication
      • Managing User Accounts
      • Custom Login Pages
      • OAuth
    • Advanced Configuration
      • Custom Domains
    • BF Utility Functions
      • Example Usage
        • BF.i18n()
    • BF Error Codes
    • Messaging
      • Adding users to channels
      • Removing users from channels
      • Sending messages
      • Get connected users
      • Get active channels
    • Practices for File Downloads
    • BF Streaming Proxy
    • Updating the Helper File
    • Connection Trouble Shooting Guide
    • Software Testing Overview
    • JavaScript Libraries
    • FM BetterForms - Quality Assurance
    • Rollbacks and Version Control
    • BF Server Proxy
    • Setting up Auth0
    • Create an S3 Bucket on AWS
    • ApexCharts - Getting started
    • BF Enterprise Documentation
    • BetterForms Error Pages API
    • BF Streaming API
    • LLM Query API
    • Creating a PWA
  • Usage Tips
    • Troubleshooting
      • Debugging
      • Frozen Actions Queue
      • Vue Variables
    • JavaScript Tips
      • Calling Named Actions from HTML Vue Events
      • Calculations
    • Hacking a Webpage
    • System Overview
    • Forms Processor
      • Form Types
      • HTML & VueJS
      • Styling and Design
    • Customizing and Styling
      • Custom CSS
      • Custom Components
        • Components Editor
        • Component Best Practices
      • Page Pre-loaders
      • Favicon
    • Design Patterns and Best Practices
      • Working with environments
      • Handling Data
      • Saving Data
      • Data Optimization
      • Business Logic
      • UI / UX
      • Debugging
      • Script Engine Optimization
    • Getting Started
    • Installation
  • Security
    • Authentication
    • Security White Paper
    • Firewalls
    • Technology Stack
  • Compatibility
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Features

FMBetterForms is a high-performance single-page web application (SPA) platform that allows FileMaker developers to build modern responsive web apps without learning all new technology.

User Interface

  • Fully Responsive UI: Compatible with desktop, tablet, and mobile devices for an optimal user experience.

    • Build installable progressive web apps (PWA's)

  • Custom Themes: Create and apply custom themes to enhance the visual appeal of your apps.

Authentication and Security

  • Multi-Mode Authentication System:

    • Authenticate via URL hash.

    • Authenticate via username (email) and password.

    • Enable web sign-up and account creation.

  • Developer Hooks: For password reset, forgot password, and email verification.

  • Role-Based Access Control: Manage user permissions based on roles.

  • House / Custom Domains Bring your own custom domain or use a house one.

Pages and Workflow

  • Page Design and Workflow Engine:

    • Multiple page types including plain, multi-step wizard, and Master-Detail layouts.

    • In-browser client-side JavaScript validation for common needs, including custom validation.

    • Optional server-side validation on page/tab change via developer hooks (in FileMaker).

  • Actions Processing Engine:

    • Allows script-like workflow execution.

    • Automate nearly all aspects of the web application.

    • Actions can be initiated from both the client browser and the FileMaker Server application.

Data Handling and Integration

  • Reactive JavaScript Calculation Engine:

    • Perform on-the-fly reactive calculations for nearly any element or parameter.

    • Write full JavaScript functions that can be called from any action.

  • Data API Gateway: Integrate with the Data API.

  • XML Gateway: Integrate with the XML gateway.

  • Multiple Payment Gateways: Monetize your app with various payment options.

User Interaction

  • Summary Modals and Alert Actions: Facilitate interaction and communication with users.

  • Place Layouts within Modal Card Windows: Enhance user experience with organized content display.

Development and Deployment

  • Hooks Scripts: Run locally within the existing developer's app, keeping all business logic together.

  • No Installation and Deployment:

    • Cloud-hosted PaaS application.

    • Single FileMaker Helper file installed on the target FMS box.

    • Seamless updates and rollbacks of your app's base code.

  • Multistage Development Environments:

    • Develop in an add development environment.

    • Deploy to testing and staging environments.

    • Each environment can have its own or shared FileMaker servers and files.

Additional Features

  • Internationalization: Use the BF.i18n('key') function for multi-language support.

  • Analytics and Reporting: Track app visitation and user interactions for insights.

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Last updated 25 days ago

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