Finding and Updating 32-bit Codec Video Files on a Macintosh


With Apple phasing out 32-bit applications in the next macOS (Fall 2019), a number of important applications will stop working. One of the most notable and useful is Apple’s QuickTime 7 Player. Also disappearing is support for a number of popular codecs (or file formats). Here is how to find and convert these files before you lose your chance.

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How to Launch Right into Movie Mode on your iPhone Camera


Straying from my usual FileMaker blogging routine here, I decided to do something on the Camera app on iPhones for a change. Wouldn’t it be great to have an app that launched your camera app and put you immediately in video mode and start recording immediately? If you are a biker and concerned about crazy […]

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Word Cloud D3 Javascript in a Web Viewer in FileMaker


I built a Word Cloud to run in FileMaker using an existing D3 Javascript that generates a Word Cloud. I designed it to work on the Desktop or iOS, using the same layout.

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Exporting UTF-8 Files from FileMaker Pro


In FileMaker 16, a new function was introduced called ‘TextEncode’. It was a lifesaver and an answer to my repeated whinging about how much trouble it was in previous versions of FileMaker to export plain Jane utf-8 files.

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Scraping Tables – Pulling Data Tables from Web Pages into FileMaker Pro


In an ideal world, this data would be published to a JSON file and FileMaker could easily parse that data into records. Unfortunately, many organizations are not there yet, in terms of sharing their data easily. That is where this parsing routine comes in handy.

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Building Folder Structures in the Finder with FileMaker Pro 17


In keeping with the principle, “Why use a screwdriver, when I have this hammer right here?”, I decided, instead of just downloading a free utility from the Mac App Store, I would build folder creation functionality using FileMaker Pro Advanced 17.

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Elapsed Time Display in a Web Viewer


A simple approach, easy to integrate into other FileMaker solutions. A Web Viewer is being sent an HTML page with a Javascript timer displaying the elapsed time. Using the same FileMaker Start Timer script, a Start Time field is set at the same start time and then ended when clicking a FileMaker End Timer button/script.

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Deleting Files from Your Computer Using Native FileMaker Pro


Why would you want to delete files in the Finder from FileMaker Pro? Once the files are imported into FileMaker, they are removed from the user’s ‘Scanner Document’ folder on the Desktop of their computer.

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How to Delete Attachments from Messages in Apple Mail


Someone recently asked me “I have a malware in my MacBook that Sophos can’t deal with and supposedly, they are all in email attachments. I’d like to get rid of any problems.”

Here is how to get rid of just the attachments in Apple Mail.

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Time Picker for FileMaker Go on iOS


I watched this short video by Angel City Data and was inspired to create my own Time Picker for FileMaker Go on iOS.

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Using AppleScript to send FileMaker data to Apple Notes App


Recently, a friend asked me about automating the export of data from FileMaker to Evernote. A web search found that someone had already figured this out. I thought this might be useful to send data to Notes, the app that I use.

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Set a Keyboard Shortcut for “Save as PDF” in Mac OS


This is a really useful shortcut. I think it should be built in to Mac OS, but until the powers that be get around to doing this, you can add this feature for yourself.  It is now second nature for me to go Command P, Command P to create a PDF.

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Org Charts in FileMaker Pro


…using the Google Chart API Javascript library to generate a decent looking Org Chart right in FileMaker Pro. 

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Backup FileMaker 17 Databases to the Cloud


FileMaker 17 introduces a useful new feature called “Create Directories” when creating files. This works with saving a copy or clone of the database, as well as exporting PDFs or text files. I decided this was a good time to update my old Backup database script.  I use this script when developing locally. If I […]

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How to Download a Batch of Instagram Photos in Safari on a Macintosh


Now that Instagram allows you to view your Saved Bookmarked photo collection in a web browser, here is a method of downloading your favorite photos to your hard drive. Safari: Preferences With Safari open, go to the Safari menu and select ‘Preferences’. Advanced tab: Turn on “Show Develop Menu…” option In the Advanced tab, select […]

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