Month: February 2016

FileMaker SDK from the Perspective of an iOS Developer

Michelle, 1 Comment

 

Revolution11 developers were pleased to hear the announcement, made in January 2016, that FileMaker released a set of coding tools, the iOS App SDK, that offer developers the means to build native iPhone and iPad apps. From the perspective of a full-time iOS developer, the FileMaker iOS SDK is super simple. All the work is in the setup for the app. However, it is easy to see how this setup process could be daunting for a non-iOS developer.

The basic steps are:

  • Set up an Apple Developer Account
  • Download and work with Xcode, Apple’s developer environment
  • Create signing identities and certificates
  • Create App ID’s
  • Deal with Provisioning Profiles

Even seasoned developers cringe at the potential headache of certificates and provisioning profiles when setting up a project. However, if you’ve been through this process MANY times, you’ve gone through your rite of passage and dealing with this hassle is no problem.

As a developer, if you’re over this hump, setting up the FileMaker iOS SDK will take you 20 to 30 minutes (if that). Speaking strictly from the iOS side, it’s just setting up your App IDs, certificate (which likely is already setup), and provisioning profile. After that, you just drag and drop the FileMaker solution into the Xcode project and update a config file with the solution filename. Once complete, you just setup an app icon and a launch screen if needed.

If your FileMaker solution was made specifically for mobile device usage, then you might want to go back and adjust your FileMaker solutions layout so that it is optimized for the device. If you import the typical desktop solution, there will be a lot of pinch/zooming going on when the user is using the device. Not the end of the world, but not the best user experience either.

Overall, if you’re experienced in setting up an app project with Apple, the FileMaker iOS SDK will be a breeze for you. The resulting app is native and therefore does not require FileMaker Go, FileMaker’s previous iOS solution, to run. Revolution11 has had great success with setting up client projects using this method – feel free to contact us to talk about the time and cost savings that we have experienced.

Get a PDF of this post here: FileMaker SDK

 

FileMaker SDK from the Perspective of an iOS Developer

Client Story: Accu-Bore

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ab photo 1

Accu-Bore Directional Drilling, a Vallejo-based company, serves the underground infrastructure industry by solving complex water, wastewater, natural gas, electrical and communication utility issues. Because their business is growing rapidly, they saw the need to create more efficient processes to track resource hours and provide more effective processing for reconciliation and uploading data into their accounting software.

The Challenge

Prior to joining forces with Revolution11, the Accu-Bore time recording process was paper based with no dedicated format for information to be sent to the payroll department, leaving room for input error. In addition, once the data was reconciled it was then manually entered into the accounting system, creating another opportunity for incorrect data entry.

The Solution

Revolution11 created several easy-to-use FileMaker applications that worked seamlessly on the construction foreman’s iPad so that information could be uploaded from the field and immediately viewable at the main office. One of the main components of the solution was a daily work report that allowed the teams in the field to record equipment, crews, hours, upload photos, and when submitted, the data was immediately in the system for viewing. The timecard and reconciliation process was rolled out next. Revolution11 devised a system where employees in the field could electronically sign their timecards via an iPad, and payroll could immediately start to reconcile the data once the digital signature was captured and submitted. Before this solution was created, the reconciliation process took three days to complete from getting signatures, reconciling, and uploading into the accounting system. Today, that process takes just three hours.

“ Working with Revolution11 has been a real partnership as we have customized a system that allows us to quickly and accurately gather data from individual locations throughout California.”

Mike Robirds – President, Accu-Bore

Download a PDF of this story here Accu-Bore Story

Client Story: Accu-Bore