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FileMaker Server 13
®

Custom Web Publishing with XML

© 2004–2013 FileMaker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
FileMaker, Inc.
5201 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara, California 95054
FileMaker and Bento are trademarks of FileMaker, Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. The file folder logo,
FileMaker WebDirect, and the Bento logo are trademarks of FileMaker, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
FileMaker documentation is copyrighted. You are not authorized to make additional copies or distribute this
documentation without written permission from FileMaker. You may use this documentation solely with a valid licensed
copy of FileMaker software.
All persons, companies, email addresses, and URLs listed in the examples are purely fictitious and any resemblance to
existing persons, companies, email addresses, or URLs is purely coincidental. Credits are listed in the
Acknowledgements documents provided with this software. Mention of third-party products and URLs is for
informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. FileMaker, Inc. assumes
no responsibility with regard to the performance of these products.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.filemaker.com.
Edition: 01

Contents
Preface
About this guide

Chapter 1
Introducing Custom Web Publishing
About the Web Publishing Engine
How a Web Publishing Engine request is processed
Custom Web Publishing with PHP
Custom Web Publishing with XML
Comparing PHP to XML
Reasons to choose PHP
Reasons to choose XML

Chapter 2
About Custom Web Publishing with XML
Creating dynamic websites with the Web Publishing Engine
Key features in Custom Web Publishing with XML
Web publishing requirements
What is required to publish a database using Custom Web Publishing
What web users need to access a Custom Web Publishing solution
Connecting to the Internet or an intranet
Where to go from here

Chapter 3
Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing
Enabling Custom Web Publishing in a database
Accessing a protected database
Protecting your published databases
Web server support for Internet media types (MIME)
About publishing the contents of container fields on the web
Container field objects embedded in a database
Container fields with referenced files
Container fields with externally stored data
How web users view container field data
FileMaker scripts and Custom Web Publishing
Script tips and considerations
Script behavior in Custom Web Publishing solutions
Script triggers and Custom Web Publishing solutions

Chapter 4
Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine
Using Custom Web Publishing with XML
Differences between the Web Publishing Engine and FileMaker Pro XML Import/Export
How the Web Publishing Engine generates XML data from a request
General process for accessing XML data from the Web Publishing Engine

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About the URL syntax for XML data and container objects
About the URL syntax for XML data
About the URL syntax for FileMaker container objects in XML solutions
About URL text encoding
Accessing XML data via the Web Publishing Engine
About namespaces for FileMaker XML
About FileMaker database error codes
Retrieving the document type definitions for the FileMaker grammars
Using the fmresultset grammar
Description of elements in the fmresultset grammar
Example of XML data in the fmresultset grammar
Using other FileMaker XML grammars
Description of elements in the FMPXMLRESULT grammar
Example of XML data in the FMPXMLRESULT grammar
Description of elements in the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar
Example of XML data in the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar
About UTF-8 encoded data
Using FileMaker query strings to request XML data
Switching layouts for an XML response
Understanding how an XML request is processed
Troubleshooting XML document access

Chapter 5
Staging, testing, and monitoring a site
Staging a Custom Web Publishing site
Testing a Custom Web Publishing site
Examples of stylesheets for testing XML output
Monitoring your site
Using the web server access and error logs
Using the Web Publishing Engine log
Using the Web Server Module error log
Using the Tomcat logs

Appendix A
Valid names used in query strings
About the query commands and parameters
Guidelines for using query commands and parameters
Query command parsing
About the syntax for a fully qualified field name
Using query commands with portal fields
About the syntax for specifying a global field
Query command reference
–dbnames (Database names) query command
–delete (Delete record) query command
–dup (Duplicate record) query command
–edit (Edit record) query command
–find, –findall, or –findany (Find records) query commands
–findquery (Compound find) query command

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–layoutnames (Layout names) query command
–new (New record) query command
–scriptnames (Script names) query command
–view (View layout information) query command
Query parameter reference
–db (Database name) query parameter
–delete.related (Portal records delete) query parameter
–field (Container field name) query parameter
fieldname (Non-container field name) query parameter
fieldname.op (Comparison operator) query parameter
–lay (Layout) query parameter
–lay.response (Switch layout for response) query parameter
–lop (Logical operator) query parameter
–max (Maximum records) query parameter
–modid (Modification ID) query parameter
–query (Compound find request) query parameter
–recid (Record ID) query parameter
–relatedsets.filter (Filter portal records) query parameter
–relatedsets.max (Limit portal records) query parameter
–script (Script) query parameter
–script.param (Pass parameter to Script) query parameter
–script.prefind (Script before Find) query parameter
–script.prefind.param (Pass parameter to Script before Find) query parameter
–script.presort (Script before Sort) query parameter
–script.presort.param (Pass parameter to Script before Sort) query parameter
–skip (Skip records) query parameter
–sortfield (Sort field) query parameter
–sortorder (Sort order) query parameter

Appendix B
Error codes for Custom Web Publishing
Error code numbers in XML format
Error code numbers for FileMaker databases

Appendix C
XML query changes in FileMaker 12
XML query changes in syntax
XML query changes in semantics
Differences in query parsing
Differences in query processing
Differences in error codes returned

Index

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Preface
About this guide
This guide assumes you are experienced with XML, developing websites, and using
FileMaker® Pro to create databases. You should understand the basics of FileMaker Pro database
design, and should understand the concepts of fields, relationships, layouts, portals, and
containers. For information about FileMaker Pro, see FileMaker Pro Help.
This guide provides the following information about Custom Web Publishing with XML on
FileMaker Server:

1 what is required to develop a Custom Web Publishing solution using XML
1 how to publish your databases using XML
1 what web users need to access a Custom Web Publishing solution
1 how to obtain XML data from databases hosted by FileMaker Server
Important You can download PDFs of FileMaker documentation from
http://www.filemaker.com/documentation. Any updates to this document are also available from
the website.
The documentation for FileMaker Server includes the following information:
For information about

See

Installing and configuring FileMaker Server

FileMaker Server Getting Started Guide
FileMaker Server Help

Making layouts from FileMaker Pro and
FileMaker Pro Advanced databases accessible
to web browser users over an intranet or the
internet

FileMaker WebDirect™ Guide

Custom Web Publishing with PHP

FileMaker Server Custom Web Publishing with PHP

Custom Web Publishing with XML

FileMaker Server Custom Web Publishing with XML (this book)

Installing and configuring ODBC and JDBC
drivers, and using ODBJ and JDBC

FileMaker ODBC and JDBC Guide

SQL statements and standards supported by
FileMaker software

FileMaker SQL Reference

Chapter 1
Introducing Custom Web Publishing
With FileMaker Server, you can publish your FileMaker database on the Internet or an intranet in
these ways.
FileMaker WebDirect Publishing: With FileMaker WebDirect, you can quickly and easily publish
layouts from a database on the web. You don’t need to install additional software—with compatible
web browser software and access to the internet or an intranet, web users can connect to your
FileMaker WebDirect solution to view, edit, sort, or search records, if you give them access
privileges.
With FileMaker WebDirect, the host computer must be running FileMaker Server. The user
interface resembles the desktop FileMaker Pro application. The web pages and forms that the
web user interacts with are dependent on the layouts and views defined in the FileMaker Pro
database. For more information, see FileMaker WebDirect Guide.
Static publishing: If your data rarely changes, or if you don’t want users to have a live connection
to your database, you can use static publishing. With static publishing, you export data from a
FileMaker Pro database to create a web page that you can further customize with HTML. The web
page doesn’t change when information in your database changes, and users don’t connect to your
database. (With FileMaker WebDirect, the data is updated in the web browser whenever the data
is updated in the database.) For more information, see FileMaker Pro Help.
Custom Web Publishing: To integrate your FileMaker database with a custom website, use the
Custom Web Publishing technologies available with FileMaker Server. FileMaker Server, which
hosts the published databases, does not require FileMaker Pro to be installed or running for
Custom Web Publishing to be available.
With Custom Web Publishing, you can:

1 Integrate your database with another website
1 Determine how users interact with data
1 Control how data displays in web browsers
FileMaker Server provides two Custom Web Publishing technologies:

1 Custom Web Publishing with PHP: Use the FileMaker API for PHP, which provides an object-

oriented PHP interface to FileMaker Pro databases, to integrate your FileMaker data into a PHP
web application. Because you code the PHP web pages yourself, you have complete control
over the user interface and how the user interacts with the data.

1 Custom Web Publishing with XML: Use XML data publishing to exchange FileMaker data with

other websites and applications. By using HTTP URL requests with FileMaker query
commands and parameters, you can query a database hosted by FileMaker Server, download
the resulting data in XML format, and use the resulting XML data in whatever way you want.

Chapter 1 | Introducing Custom Web Publishing

About the Web Publishing Engine
To support FileMaker WebDirect and Custom Web Publishing, FileMaker Server uses a set of
software components called the FileMaker Server Web Publishing Engine. The Web Publishing
Engine handles interactions between a web user’s browser, your web server, and
FileMaker Server.
Custom Web Publishing with XML: Web users access your Custom Web Publishing solution by
clicking an HREF link or by entering a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that specifies the web
server address and a FileMaker query string request. The Web Publishing Engine returns the XML
data specified in the query string request.
Custom Web Publishing with PHP: When a web user accesses your Custom Web Publishing
solution, PHP on FileMaker Server connects with the Web Publishing Engine and responds
through the FileMaker API for PHP.
Using the FileMaker Server Web Publishing Engine for Custom Web Publishing

2
Web Server

Web
Browser

Products.fmp12

Web Publishing Engine

Web Server Module
FM API and PHP code

Customers.fmp12

Database
Server

Web Publishing Core

How a Web Publishing Engine request is processed
1. A request is sent from a web browser or application to the web server.
2. The web server routes the request through FileMaker’s Web Server Module to the Web
Publishing Engine.
3. The Web Publishing Engine requests data from the database hosted by the Database Server.
4. The FileMaker Server sends the requested FileMaker data to the Web Publishing Engine.
5. The Web Publishing Engine converts the FileMaker data to respond to the request.

1 For PHP requests, the Web Publishing Engine responds to the API request.
1 For XML requests, the Web Publishing Engine sends XML data directly to the web server.
6. The web server sends the output to the requesting web browser or program.
Important Security is important when you publish data on the web. Review the security
guidelines in FileMaker Pro User’s Guide, available as a PDF file from
http://www.filemaker.com/documentation.

Chapter 1 | Introducing Custom Web Publishing

Custom Web Publishing with PHP
The FileMaker API for PHP provides an object-oriented PHP interface to FileMaker databases. The
FileMaker API for PHP enables both data and logic stored in a FileMaker Pro database to be accessed
and published on the web, or exported to other applications. The API also supports complex and
compound find commands for extracting and filtering data stored in FileMaker Pro databases.
Originally designed as a procedural programming language, PHP has been enhanced as an objectoriented web development language. PHP provides programming language functionality for constructing
virtually any type of logic within a site page. For example, you can use conditional logic constructs to
control page generation, data routing, or workflow. PHP also provides for site administration and security.

Custom Web Publishing with XML
FileMaker Custom Web Publishing with XML enables you to send query requests to a FileMaker
Pro database hosted by FileMaker Server, and display, modify, or manipulate the resulting data.
Using an HTTP request with the appropriate query commands and parameters, you can retrieve
FileMaker data as an XML document. You can then export the XML data to other applications.

Comparing PHP to XML
The following sections provide some guidelines for determining the best solution for your site.

Reasons to choose PHP
1 PHP is a more powerful, object-oriented procedural scripting language, but is relatively easy to
learn. There are many resources available for training, development, and support.

1 The FileMaker API for PHP enables data and logic stored in a FileMaker Pro database to be
accessed and published on the web, or exported to other applications.

1 PHP lets you use conditional logic to control page construction or flow.
1 PHP provides programming language functionality for constructing many types of logic on a site
page.

1 PHP is one of the most popular web scripting languages.
1 PHP is an open source language, available at http://php.net.
1 PHP enables access to a wide variety of third-party components that you can integrate into your
solutions.

Note For more information about Custom Web Publishing with PHP, see FileMaker Server
Custom Web Publishing with PHP.

Reasons to choose XML
1 FileMaker XML request parameter syntax is designed for database interaction, simplifying
solution development.

1 XML is a W3C standard.
1 XML is a machine and human readable format that supports Unicode, enabling data to be
communicated in any written language.

1 XML is well-suited for presenting records, lists and tree-structured data.
1 You can use FMPXMLRESULT for accessing XML data using Custom Web Publishing and for
XML export from FileMaker Pro databases.

Chapter 2
About Custom Web Publishing with XML
Creating dynamic websites with the Web Publishing Engine
The Web Publishing Engine provides Custom Web Publishing for FileMaker Server using XML
data publishing. Custom Web Publishing provides several benefits:

1 Customization: You can determine how web users interact with FileMaker data, and how the
data displays in web browsers.

1 Data interchange: By using FileMaker XML, you can exchange FileMaker data with other
websites and applications.

1 Data integration: You can integrate FileMaker data into other websites, with other middleware,
and with custom applications. You can make the data look like it belongs to another website
instead of displaying an entire FileMaker layout in the web browser.

1 Security: The FileMaker Server administrator can individually enable or disable XML web

publishing for all databases hosted by the server. As the FileMaker database owner, you can
control web user access to or XML web publishing for each database.

1 Control and filtering of published data: You can control and filter the data and the type of

database information you want to publish, which prevents unauthorized use of the database.
You can also hide metadata, such as database and field names.

1 Based on an open standard: You have more access to tools, resources and skilled personnel

for Custom Web Publishing solutions. If you know standard XML, then you can start developing
solutions after learning a few unique details about Custom Web Publishing with XML, such as
the URL syntax and query parameters to use.

Custom Web Publishing with XML allows you to retrieve data from FileMaker databases, and
easily use the data in other output formats. By using an HTTP request with the appropriate query
commands and parameters, you can retrieve FileMaker data as an XML document. You can then
use the XML data in other applications. See “Accessing XML data via the Web Publishing Engine”
on page 25.

Key features in Custom Web Publishing with XML
FileMaker Server Custom Web Publishing with XML provides several important features:

1 Databases are hosted on FileMaker Server, and FileMaker Pro is not required to be running.
1 You can use server-side processing of the XML using JavaScript.
1 Like FileMaker Pro, access to data, layouts, and fields is based on the user account settings

defined in the database’s access privileges. The Web Publishing Engine also supports several
other security enhancements. See “Protecting your published databases” on page 14.

1 Web users can perform complex, multi-step scripts. FileMaker supports about 65 script steps
in Custom Web Publishing. See “FileMaker scripts and Custom Web Publishing” on page 18.

Chapter 2 | About Custom Web Publishing with XML

1 You can pass a parameter value to a FileMaker script. For more information, see “–script.param
(Pass parameter to Script) query parameter” on page 59, “–script.prefind.param (Pass
parameter to Script before Find) query parameter” on page 60, and “–script.presort.param
(Pass parameter to Script before Sort) query parameter” on page 60.

1 The fmresultset XML grammar enables you to access fields by name and manipulate
relatedset (portal) data.

1 To access data in a database, you must specify a layout. See appendix A, “Valid names used
in query strings.”

Web publishing requirements
What is required to publish a database using Custom Web Publishing
To publish databases using Custom Web Publishing with XML, you need:

1 a FileMaker Server deployment that includes
1 a web server, either Microsoft IIS (Windows) or Apache (OS X)
1 the FileMaker Database Server, enabled for Custom Web Publishing
1 the Web Publishing Engine, installed and configured
1 one or more FileMaker Pro databases hosted by FileMaker Server
1 the IP address or domain name of the host running the web server
1 a web browser and access to the web server to develop and test your Custom Web Publishing
solution

For more information, see FileMaker Server Getting Started Guide.

What web users need to access a Custom Web Publishing solution
To access a Custom Web Publishing solution that uses XML, web users need:

1 a web browser
1 access to the Internet or an intranet and the web server
1 the IP address or domain name of the host running the web server
If the database is password-protected, web users must also enter a user name and password for
a database account.

Chapter 2 | About Custom Web Publishing with XML

Connecting to the Internet or an intranet
When you publish databases on the Internet or an intranet, the host computer must be running
FileMaker Server, and the databases you want to share must be hosted and available. In addition:

1 Publish your database on a computer with a full-time Internet or intranet connection. You can

publish databases without a full-time connection, but they are only available to web users when
your computer is connected to the Internet or an intranet.

1 The host computer for the web server that is part of the FileMaker Server deployment must

have a dedicated static (permanent) IP address or a domain name. If you connect to the
Internet with an Internet service provider (ISP), your IP address might be dynamically allocated
(it is different each time you connect). A dynamic IP address makes it more difficult for web
users to locate your databases. If you are not sure of the type of access available to you, consult
your ISP or network administrator.

Where to go from here
Here are some suggestions to get started developing Custom Web Publishing solutions:

1 If you haven’t already done so, use FileMaker Server Admin Console to enable Custom Web
Publishing. See FileMaker Server Help and FileMaker Server Getting Started Guide.

1 In FileMaker Pro, open each FileMaker database that you want to publish and make sure the

database has the appropriate extended privilege(s) enabled for Custom Web Publishing. See
“Enabling Custom Web Publishing in a database” on page 13.

1 To learn how to access data in FileMaker databases using XML, see “Accessing XML data via
the Web Publishing Engine” on page 25.

Chapter 3
Preparing databases for Custom Web
Publishing
Before you can use Custom Web Publishing with a database, you must prepare the database and
protect it from unauthorized access.

Enabling Custom Web Publishing in a database
You must enable Custom Web Publishing with XML in each database you want to publish. If you
don’t enable Custom Web Publishing with XML in the database, web users won’t be able to use
Custom Web Publishing to access the database even if it is hosted by FileMaker Server that is
configured to support a Web Publishing Engine.
To enable Custom Web Publishing for a database:
1. In FileMaker Pro, open the database you want to publish using an account that has the Full
Access privilege set. Alternatively, you can open the database using an account that has the
Manage Extended Privileges access privileges.
2. Assign the Custom Web Publishing with XML extended privilege by using this keyword: fmxml
3. Assign the privilege set(s) that include the Custom Web Publishing with XML extended privilege
to one or more accounts, or to the Admin or Guest account.
Note When defining account names and passwords for Custom Web Publishing solutions, use
printable ASCII characters, for example a-z, A-Z, and 0-9. For more secure account names and
passwords, include punctuation characters such as “!” and “%,” but do not include colons. For
information on setting up accounts, see FileMaker Pro Help.

Accessing a protected database
Custom Web Publishing with XML enables you to restrict access to your published databases
through database password protection, database encryption, and secure connections. When
using a Custom Web Publishing solution to access a database, web users may be prompted for
their account information. If the Guest account for the database is disabled or does not have a
privilege set enabled that includes a Custom Web Publishing extended privilege, the Web
Publishing Engine uses HTTP Basic Authentication to request authentication from web users. The
web user’s browser displays the HTTP Basic Authentication dialog box for the user to enter a user
name and password for an account that has a Custom Web Publishing extended privilege.
The following list summarizes the process that occurs when a web user uses a Custom Web
Publishing solution to access a database:

1 If you have not assigned a password for an account, web users only specify the account name.
1 If the Guest account is disabled, then users will be prompted for account name and password
when they access the database. The account must have a Custom Web Publishing extended
privilege enabled.

Chapter 3 | Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing

1 If the Guest account is enabled and has a privilege set enabled that includes a Custom Web

Publishing extended privilege, all web users automatically open the database with the access
privileges assigned to the Guest account. If the Custom Web Publishing extended privilege is
assigned to the Guest account:

1 Web users are not prompted for an account name and password when opening a file.
1 All web users will automatically log in with the Guest account and assume the Guest account
privileges. You can let users change their login accounts from a web browser with the ReLogin script step (for example, to switch from the Guest account to an account with more
privileges).

1 The default privilege set for Guest accounts provides “read-only” access. You can change the
default privileges, including Extended Privileges, for this account. See FileMaker Pro Help.

Note By default, web users cannot modify their account password from a web browser. You can
build this feature into a database with the Change Password script step, which allows web users
to change their passwords from their browser. See FileMaker Pro Help.

Protecting your published databases
When using Custom Web Publishing with XML, you can limit who can access your published
databases.

1 Assign passwords to database accounts that are used for Custom Web Publishing.
1 Enable Custom Web Publishing with XML only in the privilege sets for accounts that you want
to allow access to your published databases.

1 Disable Custom Web Publishing with XML for a specific database by deselecting the fmxml
extended privilege for all privilege sets in that database. See FileMaker Pro Help.

1 Enable or disable Custom Web Publishing for all Custom Web Publishing solutions in the Web
Publishing Engine using FileMaker Server Admin Console. See FileMaker Getting Started
Guide and FileMaker Server Help.

1 Configure your web server to restrict the IP addresses that can access your databases via the

Web Publishing Engine. For example, you can specify that only web users from the IP address
192.168.100.101 can access your databases. For information on restricting IP addresses, see
the documentation for your web server.

Chapter 3 | Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing

FileMaker Server supports encryption for data written to disk and for data transmitted to clients.

1 Encrypt your database by using the Database Encryption feature of FileMaker Pro Advanced.

Encryption protects the FileMaker database file and any temporary files written to disk. For
more information on encrypting a database, see FileMaker Pro User’s Guide, FileMaker Server
Getting Started Guide and FileMaker Pro Help.

1 An encrypted database that is hosted on FileMaker Server is opened by using the Admin

Console or the command line interface (CLI). As the FileMaker Server administrator, you
open the file with its database encryption password, so that FileMaker clients can use the
encrypted database.

1 Once the FileMaker encrypted database is opened with the encryption password by the

FileMaker Server administrator, FileMaker clients don’t need the encryption password to
access the encrypted database. For more information about opening an encrypted
database, see FileMaker Server Help.

1 Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption for communication between your web server and

web browsers. SSL encryption converts information exchanged between servers and clients
into unintelligible information using mathematical formulas known as ciphers. These ciphers are
used to transform the information back into understandable data through encryption keys. SSL
connections are accessed through an HTTPS connection. No action is required by the client
once they are set up and operational. For information on enabling, configuring, and maintaining
your SSL connections, see the documentation for your web server.

For more information on securing your database, see FileMaker Pro User’s Guide, available as a
PDF file from http://www.filemaker.com/documentation.

Web server support for Internet media types (MIME)
Your web server determines the support for the current MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail
Extensions) types registered for the Internet. The Web Publishing Engine does not change a web
server’s support for MIME. For more information, see the documentation for your web server.

About publishing the contents of container fields on the web
The contents of a container field can be embedded in the database, linked by reference using a
relative path, or stored externally.

Container field objects embedded in a database
If a container field stores the actual files in the FileMaker database, then you don’t need to do
anything with the container field contents if the database file is properly hosted and accessible on
FileMaker Server. See “About the URL syntax for FileMaker container objects in XML solutions”
on page 24.
Notes

1 The Web Publishing Engine supports progressive download of audio files (.mp3), video files

(.mov, .mp4, and .avi recommended), and PDF files for interactive containers. For example, a
web user may start viewing a movie even if the entire movie file has not yet downloaded. To
allow for progressive download, you may need to create the files using options that support
streaming or that optimize for display on the web. For example, create PDF files using the
“Optimize for Web Viewing” option.

Chapter 3 | Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing

1 When the FileMaker Server setting Enable secure connections is not selected, the

connections that FileMaker Server uses to transmit data are not encrypted during transmission.

1 FileMaker clients see the interactive container data with little delay.
1 FileMaker Server decrypts the container field data to a cache folder on the server when a

FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, or web client requests the data. The data may remain
decrypted in the cache folder on the server for two hours, until FileMaker Server periodically
empties the cache folder. The data is not cached locally on the client.

1 When the FileMaker Server setting Enable secure connections is selected, FileMaker Server

uses secure connections to transmit data. FileMaker clients completely download the container
data before the user can interact with it. The data is as secure as if the solution were a local
database, since no temporary cache files are created and the data is encrypted during
transmission.

The Database Server must be stopped and restarted when the Enable secure connections
setting is changed in order for the new setting to take effect.

Container fields with referenced files
If a container field stores a file reference, then you must follow these steps to publish the
referenced files using the Web Publishing Engine:
To publish container field objects that are stored as a file reference:
1. Store the container object files in the Web folder inside the FileMaker Pro folder.
2. In FileMaker Pro, insert the objects into the container field and select the Store only a
reference to the file option.
3. Copy or move the referenced object files in the Web folder to the same relative path location in
the root folder of the web server software.

1 For IIS (Windows):
[drive]:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\HTTPServer\conf
where [drive] is the drive on which the Web Publishing Engine component of your
FileMaker Server deployment resides.

1 For Apache (OS X): /Library/FileMaker Server/HTTPServer/htdocs
Notes

1 For container objects stored as file references, your web server must be configured to support

the MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) types for the kinds of files you want to serve,
such as movies. Your web server determines the support for the current MIME types registered
for the Internet. The Web Publishing Engine does not change a web server’s support for MIME.
For more information, see the documentation for your web server.

1 All QuickTime movies stored in a container field are stored by reference.

Chapter 3 | Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing

Container fields with externally stored data
If a container field stores objects externally — that is, if you selected Store container data
externally in the FileMaker Pro Field Options dialog box — then use FileMaker Pro to transfer
database files from the client file system to FileMaker Server. When you use FileMaker Pro to
upload a database, the externally stored container field data is uploaded to FileMaker Server as
part of the process. See FileMaker Pro Help for information on transferring the database files to
FileMaker Server.
When you manually upload a database that uses a container field with externally stored objects,
then you must follow these steps to publish the externally stored container objects using the Web
Publishing Engine.
To upload a database manually:
1. Place the database file in the proper location on the server. Place the FileMaker Pro database
files that you want FileMaker Server to open — or shortcuts (Windows) or aliases (OS X) to
those files — in the following folders:

1 Windows:
[drive]:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Data\Databases\
where [drive] is the primary drive from which the system is started.

1 OS X: /Library/FileMaker Server/Data/Databases/
Or you can place the files in an optionally specified additional database folder.
2. In the folder where you placed the database, create a folder named RC_Data_FMS, if it
doesn’t already exist.
3. In the RC_Data_FMS folder, create a folder with a name that matches the name of your
database. For example, if your database is named Customers, then create a folder named
Customers. Place the externally stored objects in the new folder you created.
Note When databases are hosted on FileMaker Server, there is no way for multiple databases
to share a common folder of container objects. The container objects for each database needs
to be in a folder identified by that database’s name.
4. For files that will be shared from OS X, change the files to belong to the fmsadmin group.
For more information about manually uploading databases, see FileMaker Pro Help.
Notes

1 The Web Publishing Engine supports progressive download of audio files (.mp3), video files

Chapter 3 | Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing

1 When the FileMaker Server setting Enable secure connections is not selected, the

connections that FileMaker Server uses to transmit data are not encrypted during transmission.

1 FileMaker clients see the interactive container data with little delay.
1 FileMaker Server decrypts the container field data to a cache folder on the server when a

1 When the FileMaker Server setting Enable secure connections is selected, FileMaker Server

The Database Server must be stopped and restarted when the Enable secure connections
setting is changed in order for the new setting to take effect.

How web users view container field data
When you publish a database using the Web Publishing Engine, the following limitations apply to
container field objects:

1 Web users cannot modify or add to the contents of container fields. Web users cannot use
container fields to upload objects to the database.

1 For databases that use a container field with thumbnails enabled, the Web Publishing Engine
downloads the full file, not a thumbnail.

FileMaker scripts and Custom Web Publishing
The Manage Scripts feature in FileMaker Pro can automate frequently performed tasks and
combine several tasks. When used with Custom Web Publishing, FileMaker scripts allow web
users to perform more tasks or a series of tasks.
FileMaker supports over 65 script steps in Custom Web Publishing. Web users can perform a
variety of automated tasks when you use scripts in a query string for a URL. To see script steps
that are not supported, select Custom Web Publishing from the Show Compatibility list in the
Edit Script window in FileMaker Pro. Dimmed script steps are not supported for Custom Web
Publishing. For information on creating scripts, see FileMaker Pro Help.

Script tips and considerations
Although many script steps work identically on the web, there are several that work differently. See
“Script behavior in Custom Web Publishing solutions” on page 20. Before sharing your database,
evaluate all scripts that will be executed from a web browser. Be sure to log in with different user
accounts to make sure they work as expected for all clients. Check the Web Publishing Engine log
file (wpe.log) for any scripting-related errors; for more information, see “Using the Web Publishing
Engine log” on page 41.

Chapter 3 | Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing

Keep these tips and considerations in mind:

1 Use accounts and privileges to restrict the set of scripts that a web user can execute. Verify that
the scripts contain only web-compatible script steps, and only provide access to scripts that
should be used from a web browser.

1 Consider the side effects of scripts that execute a combination of steps that are controlled by

access privileges. For example, if a script includes a step to delete records, and a web user
does not log in with an account that allows record deletion, the script will not execute the Delete
Records script step. However, the script might continue to run, which could lead to unexpected
results.

1 In the Edit Script window, select Run script with full access privileges to allow scripts to

perform tasks that you would not grant individuals access to. For example, you can prevent
users from deleting records with their accounts and privileges, but still allow them to run a script
that would delete certain types of records under conditions predefined within a script.

1 If your scripts contain steps that are unsupported, for example, steps that are not web-

compatible, use the Allow User Abort script step to determine how subsequent steps are
handled.

1 If the Allow User Abort script step option is enabled (on), unsupported script steps stop the
script from continuing.

1 If Allow User Abort is off, unsupported script steps are skipped and the script continues to
execute.

1 If this script step is not included, scripts are executed as if the feature is enabled, so
unsupported script steps stop scripts.

1 Some scripts that work with one step from a FileMaker Pro client may require an additional

Commit Record/Request step to save the data to the host. Because web users don’t have a
direct connection to the host, they aren’t notified when data changes. For example, features like
conditional value lists aren’t as responsive for web users because the data must be saved to
the host before the effects are seen in the value list field.

1 Any script that modifies data should include the Commit Record/Request step, because data

changes aren’t visible in the browser until the data is saved or “submitted” to the server. This
includes several script steps like Cut, Copy, Paste, and so on. Many single-step actions should
be converted into scripts to include the Commit Record/Request step. When designing scripts
that will be executed from a web browser, include the Commit Record/Request step at the end
of a script to make sure all changes are saved.

1 To create conditional scripts based on the type of client, use the Get(ApplicationVersion)

function. If the value returned includes “Web Publishing Engine” then you know that the current
user is accessing your database with Custom Web Publishing. For more information on
functions, see FileMaker Pro Help.

Chapter 3 | Preparing databases for Custom Web Publishing

Script behavior in Custom Web Publishing solutions
The following script steps function differently on the web than in FileMaker Pro. For information on
all script steps, see FileMaker Pro Help.
Script step

Behavior in Custom Web Publishing solutions

Perform Script

Scripts cannot perform in other files, unless the files are hosted on FileMaker Server and Custom Web
Publishing is enabled in the other files.

Exit Application

Logs off web users, closes windows, but does not exit the web browser application.

Allow User Abort

Determines how unsupported script steps are handled. Enable to stop scripts from continuing, and
disable to skip unsupported steps. See “Script tips and considerations” on page 18 for more details.
Web users cannot abort Custom Web Publishing scripts, but this option allows unsupported script steps
to stop the script from continuing.

Set Error Capture

This is always enabled with Custom Web Publishing. Web users cannot abort Custom Web Publishing
scripts.

Pause/Resume script

Although this script is supported in Custom Web Publishing, you should avoid using it. When a Pause
step is executed, the script pauses. Only a script containing the Resume script step can make it resume
execution. If the script remains in a paused state until the session times out, then the script will not be
completed.

Sort Records

You must save a sort order with the Sort Records script step to execute in Custom Web Publishing.

Open URL

This script step has no effect in a Custom Web Publishing solution.

Go to Field

You cannot use Go to Field to make a particular field active in the web browser, but you can use this
script step in conjunction with other script steps to perform tasks. For example, you can go to a field,
copy the contents, go to another field and paste the value. To see the effect in the browser, be sure to
save the record with the Commit Record script step.

Commit
Record/Request

Submits the record to the database.

Script triggers and Custom Web Publishing solutions
In FileMaker Pro, both scripts and user actions (such as the user clicking a field) can activate script
triggers. But in Custom Web Publishing, only scripts can activate script triggers. For more
information on script triggers, see FileMaker Pro Help.
Note For FileMaker Pro 13, to specify that you want a script performed when a file is opened,
you need to use the OnFirstWindowOpen script trigger. Similarly, to specify that you want a script
performed when a file is closed, you need to use the OnLastWindowClose script trigger.

Chapter 4
Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing
Engine
You can obtain and update FileMaker data in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format by using
the Web Publishing Engine. In the same way that HTML has become the standard display
language for communication on the World Wide Web, XML has become the standard language
for structured data interchange. Many individuals, organizations, and businesses use XML to
transfer product information, transactions, inventory data, and other business data.

Using Custom Web Publishing with XML
If you know standard XML, you can start using the Web Publishing Engine after learning a few
unique details about Custom Web Publishing with XML, such as the URL syntax and query
parameters to use.
By using HTTP URL requests with FileMaker query commands and parameters, you can query a
database hosted by FileMaker Server and download the resulting data in XML format. For
example, you can query a database for all records in a certain postal code, and use the resulting
XML data in whatever way you want to.
For more general information on XML, see the FileMaker Knowledge Base
(http://help.filemaker.com).
Note The Web Publishing Engine generates XML data that is well-formed and compliant with the
XML 1.0 specification. For details about the requirements for well-formed XML, see the XML
specification, which is available at http://www.w3.org.

Differences between the Web Publishing Engine and FileMaker Pro XML
Import/Export
The Web Publishing Engine and FileMaker Pro both enable you to use XML data with FileMaker
databases. There are, however, some important differences between the two methods:

1 For accessing XML data, the Web Publishing Engine supports the fmresultset,

FMPXMLRESULT, and FMPXMLLAYOUT grammars. For XML import, FileMaker Pro uses the
FMPXMLRESULT grammar, and for export, FileMaker Pro uses the FMPXMLRESULT grammar.
See “Accessing XML data via the Web Publishing Engine” on page 25.

1 To access XML data with the Web Publishing Engine, you use a Web Publishing Engine query
string in a URL. To import and export XML with FileMaker Pro, you use FileMaker Pro menu
commands or scripts.

1 The Web Publishing Engine is server-based and can be installed on the same or a different host
than FileMaker Server. FileMaker Pro XML import and export is desktop-based.

1 You can dynamically access XML data from FileMaker databases by using URL requests with
the Web Publishing Engine. The FileMaker Pro XML export feature generates a pre-specified
XML data file.

1 Working with XML data via the Web Publishing Engine is an interactive operation.
FileMaker Pro XML import and export is a batch operation.

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

1 The Web Publishing Engine can access XML data from a FileMaker portal, but FileMaker Pro
cannot.

1 The Web Publishing Engine can access data in a container field, but FileMaker Pro cannot.
1 The Web Publishing Engine provides real-time access to FileMaker data via HTTP or HTTPS,
but FileMaker Pro cannot.

Note For information on using FileMaker Pro to import and export data in XML format, see
FileMaker Pro Help.

How the Web Publishing Engine generates XML data from a request
After a request for XML data is sent to the web server, the Web Publishing Engine queries the
FileMaker database and returns the data as an XML document.
Web
Browser
1. HTTP or
HTTPS request
for XML data is
sent from web
browser or
program to web
server.

2. Web server routes
request to Web
Publishing Core.

FileMaker Server Web
Publishing Engine

3. Web Publishing
Core requests data
from database hosted
by FileMaker
Database Server.

Web Publishing Core

FileMaker
Database Server

Web Server
Web Server Module

Custom Web
Publishing Engine
(CWPE)

Products.fmp12

Customers.fmp12

Orders.fmp12

Catalog.fmp12

Request for XML data is routed from web browser or program to FileMaker Database Server

XML data is routed back from FileMaker Database Server to web browser or program
Web
Browser
6. Web server
sends output to
web browser or
program.

5. Web Publishing Core
converts data to XML and
sends it to web server.

FileMaker Server Web
Publishing Engine
Web Publishing Core

Web Server
Web Server Module

Custom Web
Publishing Engine
(CWPE)

4. FileMaker Database
Server sends requested
data to Web Publishing
Core.

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

General process for accessing XML data from the Web Publishing Engine
Here is an overview of the process for using the Web Publishing Engine to access XML data in a
FileMaker database:
1. In the FileMaker Server Admin Console, make sure XML Publishing is enabled. See
FileMaker Server Help.
2. In FileMaker Pro, open each FileMaker database that you’re publishing and make sure the
database has the fmxml extended privilege enabled for XML Custom Web Publishing. See
“Enabling Custom Web Publishing in a database” on page 13.
To access XML data in a portal, set the view for the database layout to View as Form or View
as List. If a user or script changes the view of the database layout to View as Table, only the
first related record (first row of the portal) is accessible as XML data.
The XML data is output in an order that corresponds to the order in which field objects were
added to the layout. If you want the XML data order to match the order in which fields appear
on the screen (top-to-bottom, left-to-right order), then select all fields, group them, and then
ungroup them. This procedure resets the layout order to match the screen order.
3. Send an HTTP or HTTPS request in the form of a URL that specifies the FileMaker XML
grammar, one query command, and one or more FileMaker query parameters to the Web
Publishing Engine through an HTML form, an HREF link, or a script in your program or web
page. You can also type the URL in a web browser.
For information on specifying the URL, see the next section, “About the URL syntax for XML
data and container objects.” For information on query commands and parameters, see “Using
FileMaker query strings to request XML data” on page 35, and appendix A, “Valid names used
in query strings.”
4. The Web Publishing Engine uses the grammar you specified in the URL to generate XML data
containing the results of your request, such as a set of records from the database, and returns
it to your program or web browser.
5. The web browser, if it has an XML parser, displays the data, or the program uses the data in
the way you specified.

About the URL syntax for XML data and container objects
This section describes the URL syntax for using the Web Publishing Engine to access XML data
and container objects from FileMaker databases.

About the URL syntax for XML data
The URL syntax for using the Web Publishing Engine to access XML data from FileMaker
databases is:
://[:]/fmi/xml/.xml[?]

where:

1 can be the HTTP or HTTPS protocol.
1 is the IP address or domain name of the host where the web server is installed.
1 is optional and specifies the port that the web server is using. If no port is specified,
then the default port for the protocol is used (port 80 for HTTP, or port 443 for HTTPS).

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

1 is the name of the FileMaker XML grammar. Possible values are

fmresultset, FMPXMLRESULT, or FMPXMLLAYOUT. See “Using the fmresultset grammar” on
page 27 and “Using other FileMaker XML grammars” on page 30.

1 is a combination of one query command and one or more query parameters

for FileMaker XML publishing. (The –dbnames command doesn’t require any parameters.) See
“Using FileMaker query strings to request XML data” on page 35, and appendix A, “Valid
names used in query strings.”

Note The URL syntax, including the names of the query command and parameters, is case
sensitive except for portions of the query string. The majority of the URL is in lowercase, with the
exception of the two uppercase grammar names: FMPXMLRESULT and FMPXMLLAYOUT. For
information on the rules for case sensitivity of the query string, see “Guidelines for using query
commands and parameters” on page 44.
Here are two examples of URLs for accessing XML data via the Web Publishing Engine:
http://server.company.com/fmi/xml/fmresultset.xml?-db=products&-lay=sales
&-findall
http://192.168.123.101/fmi/xml/FMPXMLRESULT.xml?-db=products&-lay=sales
&-findall

About the URL syntax for FileMaker container objects in XML solutions
In a generated XML document for an XML solution, the syntax used to refer to a container object
is different for container fields that store the actual object in the database, as opposed to container
fields that store a reference to the object.
If a container field stores the actual object in the database
The container field’s element uses the following relative URL syntax to refer to the object:
/fmi/xml/cnt/data.?

where is the filename extension identifying the type of object, such as .jpg. The
filename extension sets the MIME type to allow the web browser to properly identify the container
data. For information on , see the previous section, “About the URL syntax for
XML data.”
For example:
/fmi/xml/cnt/data.jpg?-db=products&-lay=sales&-field=product_image(1)
&-recid=2

Note In the generated XML for a container field, the value for the –field query parameter is a
fully qualified field name. The number in the parentheses indicates the repetition number for the
container field, and is generated for both repeating and non-repeating fields. See “About the
syntax for a fully qualified field name” on page 46.
To retrieve the container data from the database, use the following syntax:
://[:]/fmi/xml/cnt/data.?

For information about , , or , see the previous section, “About the URL
syntax for XML data.”

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

For example:
http://www.company.com/fmi/xml/cnt/data.jpg?-db=products&-lay=sales
&-field=product_image(1)&-recid=2

If a container field stores a file reference instead of an actual object
The container field’s element contains a relative path that refers to the object. For
example:
/images/logo.jpg

Note The referenced container object must be stored in the FileMaker Pro Web folder when the
record is created or edited, and then copied or moved to a folder with the same relative location
in the root folder of the web server software. See “About publishing the contents of container fields
on the web” on page 15.
If a container field is empty
The container field’s element is empty.

About URL text encoding
The URLs for accessing XML data and container objects must be encoded in UTF-8 (Unicode
Transformation 8 Bit) format. See “About UTF-8 encoded data” on page 35.
For example, to set the value of the “info” field to fiancée, you could use the following URL:
http://server.company.com/fmi/xml/fmresultset.xml?-db=members
&-lay=relationships&-recid=2&info= fianc%C3%A9e&-edit

In this example URL, %C3%A9 is the URL encoded UTF-8 representation of the é character.
For more information on URL text encoding, see the URL specification, which is available at
http://www.w3.org.

Accessing XML data via the Web Publishing Engine
To access XML data via the Web Publishing Engine, you use a URL that specifies the name of the
FileMaker grammar to use, one FileMaker query command, and one or more FileMaker query
parameters. The Web Publishing Engine generates XML data from your database that is
formatted by one of the following types of XML grammars:

1 fmresultset: This is the recommended grammar for the Web Publishing Engine for accessing
XML data. It is flexible and is optimized for easier field access by name and for easier
manipulation of relatedset (portal) data. This grammar is also more directly linked to
FileMaker terminology and features such as global storage options and identification of
summary and calculation fields. To facilitate web publishing, this grammar is designed to be
more verbose than the FMPXMLRESULT grammar. See “Using the fmresultset grammar” on
page 27.

1 FMPXMLRESULT and FMPXMLLAYOUT: You can also use the FMPXMLRESULT and

FMPXMLLAYOUT grammars with the Web Publishing Engine for accessing XML data. To use
one stylesheet for both XML export and Custom Web Publishing, you must use the
FMPXMLRESULT grammar. To access value lists and field display information in layouts, you
must use the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar. See “Using other FileMaker XML grammars” on
page 30.

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

Depending on the grammar you specify in the URL request, the Web Publishing Engine will
generate an XML document using one of the grammars. Each XML document contains a default
XML namespace declaration for the grammar. See the next section, “About namespaces for
FileMaker XML.” Use one of these grammars in your document or web page to display and work
with FileMaker data in XML format.
Note XML data generated by the Web Publishing Engine is encoded using UTF-8 format
(Unicode Transformation Format 8). See “About UTF-8 encoded data” on page 35.

About namespaces for FileMaker XML
Unique XML namespaces help distinguish XML tags by the application they were designed for.
For example, if your XML document contains two elements, one for FileMaker XML
data and another for Oracle XML data, the namespaces will identify the element for
each.
The Web Publishing Engine generates a default namespace for each grammar.
For this grammar

This default namespace is generated

fmresultset

xmlns="http://www.filemaker.com/xml/fmresultset"

FMPXMLRESULT

xmlns="http://www.filemaker.com/fmpxmlresult"

FMPXMLLAYOUT

xmlns="http://www.filemaker.com/fmpxmllayout"

About FileMaker database error codes
The Web Publishing Engine returns an error code in the error code elements at the beginning of
each XML document that represents the error, if any, in the execution of the most recently
executed query command. A value of zero (0) is returned for no error.
For this grammar

This syntax is used

fmresultset

FMPXMLRESULT

FMPXMLLAYOUT

The error code element in the XML document indicates errors related to the database and query
strings. See appendix B, “Error codes for Custom Web Publishing.”

Retrieving the document type definitions for the FileMaker grammars
You can retrieve the document type definitions (DTDs) for the FileMaker grammars by using an
HTTP request.
For this grammar

Use this HTTP request

fmresultset

http://[:[:[: instruction in the second line of the document,
immediately after the instruction. The instruction specifies the URL for
downloading the DTD for the fmresultset grammar.

Description of elements in the fmresultset grammar
The fmresultset grammar consists primarily of the element, the
element, and the element.
element
In the fmresultset grammar, the element contains the table, layout, dateformat, time-format, timestamp-format, total-count, and database attributes.

1 The date-format attribute of the element specifies the format of dates in the
XML document:
MM/dd/yyyy

where:

1 MM is the 2-digit value for the month (01 through 12, where 01 is January and 12 is December)
1 dd is the 2-digit value for the day of the month (01 through 31)
1 yyyy is the 4-digit value for the year
1 The time-format attribute of the element specifies the format of times in the
XML document:
HH:mm:ss

where:

1 HH is the 2-digit value for hours (00 through 23, for the 24-hour format)
1 mm is the 2-digit value for minutes (00 through 59)
1 ss is the 2-digit value for seconds (00 through 59)
1 The timestamp-format attribute of the element combines the formats of dateformat and time-format into one timestamp:
MM/dd/yyyy HH:mm:ss

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

element
The element of the fmresultset grammar contains one or more and elements, each containing attributes for one
of the fields of the result set.
The attributes specify:

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

whether the field is an auto-enter field (“yes” or “no”)
whether the field is a four-digit-year field (“yes” or “no)
whether it is a global field (“yes” or “no”)
the maximum number of repeating values (max-repeat attribute)
the maximum number of characters allowed (max-characters attribute)
whether it is a not-empty field (“yes” or “no”)
whether it is for numeric data only (“yes” or “no”)

1 result (“text”, “number”, “date”, “time”, “timestamp”, or “container”)
1 whether it is a time-of-day field (“yes” or “no”)
1 type (“normal”, “calculation”, or “summary”)
1 and the field name (fully qualified as necessary)
The element represents a portal. Each related field in a portal is
represented by the element contained within the
element. If there are multiple related fields in a portal, the field
definitions for the related fields are grouped within a single
element.
element
The element contains the elements returned as the result of a query
and an attribute for the total number of records found. Each element contains the field
data for one record in the result set—including the mod-id and the record-id attributes for the
record, and the element containing the data for one field in the record.
Each record in a portal is represented by a element within the
element. The count attribute of the element specifies the number of records in
the portal, and the table attribute specifies the table associated with the portal.

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

Example of XML data in the fmresultset grammar
The following is an example of XML data generated with the fmresultset grammar.

Spring in Giverny 3

Claude Monet

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

Using other FileMaker XML grammars
The other FileMaker XML grammars contain information about field types, value lists, and layouts.
FMPXMLRESULT is functionally equivalent to fmresultset. To access value lists and field display
information in layouts, you must use the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar. The FMPXMLRESULT and
FMPXMLLAYOUT grammars are more compact for data interchange.
To use the FMPXMLRESULT grammar, specify the following grammar name in the URL requesting
the XML document from the Web Publishing Engine:
FMPXMLRESULT.xml

For example:
http://192.168.123.101/fmi/xml/FMPXMLRESULT.xml?-db=employees&-lay=family
&-findall

To use the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar, specify the following grammar name with the –view query
command in the URL requesting the XML document from the Web Publishing Engine:
FMPXMLLAYOUT.xml

For example:
http://192.168.123.101/fmi/xml/FMPXMLLAYOUT.xml?-db=employees&-lay=family
&-view

Note When specifying the FMPXMLRESULT and FMPXMLLAYOUT grammars, be sure to enter the
grammar name in uppercase.
In the generated XML document, the Web Publishing Engine will reference the document type
definition for the grammar in the instruction in the second line of the document,
immediately after the instruction. The instruction specifies the URL for
downloading the DTD for the grammar.

Description of elements in the FMPXMLRESULT grammar
In the FMPXMLRESULT grammar, the element contains the NAME, RECORDS,
DATEFORMAT, LAYOUT, and TIMEFORMAT attributes.
The DATEFORMAT attribute of the element specifies the format of dates in the XML
document. The TIMEFORMAT attribute of the element specifies the format of times
in the XML document. The date and time formats for the FMPXMLRESULT and the fmresultset
grammars are the same. See “Description of elements in the fmresultset grammar” on page 27.
The element of the FMPXMLRESULT grammar contains one or more
elements, each containing information for one of the fields/columns of the result set—including the
name of the field as defined in the database, the field type, the Yes or No allowance for empty
fields (EMPTYOK attribute) and the maximum number of repeating values (MAXREPEAT
attribute). Valid values for field types are TEXT, NUMBER, DATE, TIME, TIMESTAMP, and
CONTAINER.

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

The element contains all of the elements returned as the result of a query
and an attribute for the total number of records found. Each element contains the
field/column data for one row in the result set. This data includes the RECORDID and MODID for
the row (see “–modid (Modification ID) query parameter” on page 56), and the element.
The element contains the data for one field/column in the row where multiple
elements represent one of the values in a repeating or portal field.

Example of XML data in the FMPXMLRESULT grammar
The following is an example of XML data generated with the FMPXMLRESULT grammar.

Spring in Giverny 4

Claude Monet

/fmi/xml/cnt/data.jpg?-db=art&-lay=web&-recid=15&field=Image(1)

The order of the elements corresponds with the order of the elements in the
element—for example, where the “Title” and “Artist” fields are listed in the
element, “Village Market” and then “Camille Pissarro” are listed in the same order
in the and elements.

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

Description of elements in the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar
In the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar, the element contains the name of the layout, the
name of the database, and elements for each field found in the corresponding layout in
the database. Each element describes the style type of the field, and contains the
VALUELIST attribute for any associated value list of the field.
The element contains one or more elements for each value list
found in the layout—each including the name of the value list and a element for each
value in the list.
Depending on the options selected in the Specify Fields for Value List dialog box in the
FileMaker database, the element contains a DISPLAY attribute that contains the value
in the first field only, the second field only, or both fields of a value list. For example, suppose the
first field in a value list stores the art style’s ID number (such as “100”), and the second field
displays the art style’s associated name (such as “Impressionism”). Here is a summary of the
contents of the DISPLAY attribute when the various combinations of options are selected in the
Specify Fields for Value List dialog box:

1 If Also display values from second field is not selected, the DISPLAY attribute contains the
value in the first field of a value list only. In the following XML data example, the DISPLAY
attribute contains the art style’s ID number only:

100
101
102

1 If Also display values from second field and Show values only from second field are both

selected, the DISPLAY attribute contains the value in the second field only. In the following XML
data example, the DISPLAY attribute contains the art style’s name only:

100
101
102

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

1 If Also display values from second field is selected and Show values only from second

field is not selected, the DISPLAY attribute contains the values in both fields of a value list. In
the following XML data example, the DISPLAY attribute contains both the art style’s ID number
and the art style’s name:

100
101
102

For date, time, and timestamp fields, data for value lists are formatted using the “fm” format for
that field type. The “fm” formats are MM/dd/yyyy for date, HH:mm:ss for time, and MM/dd/yyyy
HH:mm:ss for timestamp. For example, if a “birthdays” value list is used for a pop-up menu on a
“birthdate” field of a layout, and the “birthdate” field is of type date, then the values output for that
value list will all be in the “fm” date format.
Note If two fields with different field types on a layout share the same value list, the first field’s
type determines the format of the value list data.

Chapter 4 | Accessing XML data with the Web Publishing Engine

Example of XML data in the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar
The following is an example of XML data generated with the FMPXMLLAYOUT grammar.