File Maker Interview Questions & Answers
Posted On:July 2, 2019, Posted By: Latest Interview Questions,
Views: 2215, Rating : 
Best File Maker Interview Questions and Answers
Dear Readers, Welcome to File Maker Interview Questions and Answers have been designed specially to get you acquainted with the nature of questions you may encounter during your Job interview for the subject of File Maker. These File Maker Questions are very important for campus placement test and job interviews. As per my experience good interviewers hardly plan to ask any particular questions during your Job interview and these model questions are asked in the online technical test and interview of many IT companies.
1.What is FileMaker Pro?
FileMaker Pro is a 32 bit, Y2K compliant, cross-platform, fully relational, database program. Similar to Microsoft Access, the current version of FileMaker is a fully relational database development tool that allows one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many relations between files (tables). Another one of FileMaker Pro's advantage is the FileMaker Developer tools that allows us to 'bundle' the form files with the FileMaker Runtime engine that allows our outside customers to use WSDOT forms without requiring them to purchase any additional software.
2.What are the symptoms of a corrupt FileMaker file?
Symptoms vary from corruption type and level of corruption. Maybe your FileMaker application freezes when the file is tried to open, or maybe an error message is shown when you click the file to open it.
3.Is it possible to search any FileMaker .fp7 file?
FileMaker Recovery Software has an inbuilt option to search FP7 files in a specified location. File properties like modification date, creation date, size, etc. are shown in the search result for accurate selection.
4.How is FileMaker Recovery Software different from other similar products in market?
Many features have been included in latest version of FileMaker Recovery Software. Latest version of FileMaker Recovery Software supports File Maker Pro 10/11/Pro/Advance and above. Search option in the preview, selective recovery of a specific table, log summary, etc. make it above other similar software applications in the market.
5.What is FileMaker Recovery Software?
FileMaker Recovery Software is used to repair, restore and recover corrupt FileMaker database (.fp7) files. A search feature is provided that helps in searching all the .fp7 files present in a drive or folder. A new FileMaker file is set as target to store the recovered table data. Data of Text, Number, Date, Timestamp, Calculation, Container and Summary data type are recovered back in the repaired database file.
6.Can I repair a FileMaker database for trial and evaluation without payment?
Yes, you can download FileMaker Recovery Software absolutely free of cost. Preview is shown in the demo version for customer evaluation. If you are satisfied by the scanned results, you can register the demo version to save the recovered FileMaker database.
7.What is new in FileMaker Pro 6?
The best just got better with FileMaker Pro 6 database software. It features digital image capture and import; more than 20 modern and powerful templates for "instant productivity" in business, education and home; many time-saving features like Format Painter and Custom Dialog Boxes for users and developers; and integrated XML support so FileMaker can exchange data with a large and growing number of other applications. FileMaker Pro 6 will jump-start the productivity and creativity of workgroups ranging from entire small businesses to departments within the enterprise.
8.Why is the new FileMaker Pro 6 available before other revised products?
FileMaker Pro 6 files share the same file format as FileMaker Pro 5 and 5.5 files. Thus, all three versions may co-exist on the same network. In addition, all versions utilize the current FileMaker Server (now relabeled without a version number) features, enabling large workgroups to share information seamlessly.
9.Is XML import/export support in FileMaker Pro 6 a big deal?
Absolutely the widespread support of XML (Extensible Markup Language) standards means FileMaker Pro 6 can exchange data with a large and growing number of other applications without complex and costly converting of data between proprietary formats.
A developer can easily empower a workgroup using FileMaker Pro 6 to, for example, find and get data from Websites, import accounting data from QuickBooks, or query corporate databases without using ODBC drivers. With XML export, FileMaker Pro 6 users can share information with users of other applications. For example, users can export formatted FileMaker data in an attachment to an email, into Microsoft Excel, or into document-authoring applications.
10.What's new about XML support in FileMaker Pro 6?
In the past, accessing FileMaker data as XML required users to make requests to the FileMaker Web Companion from an external application; in other words, it was "pull" only through the Web Companion. Additionally, processing XSLT style sheets required the user to have installed an XSLT processor on the client machine. With FileMaker Pro 6 the XML capabilities are integrated into the product as import/export menu selections without the need for the Web Companion. Alternatively, the customer can script XML data import and export. Also within FileMaker Pro 6 is an XSLT processor allowing style sheets can be processed without the need for the customer to install their own.
11.How hard is it to use XML import/export? Can anyone use it?
While the creation of the XSLT style sheets does require a good understanding of XML and XSLT, the benefits of our XML import/export can be enjoyed by all users. Note that a developer can empower an entire workgroup, very efficiently, to enjoy the benefits of XML data-exchange while hiding the plumbing from the users.
To further assist our customers with better understanding of XML and XSLT, we ship 8 XSLT style sheet examples with FileMaker Pro 6. Furthermore, customers can visit the FileMaker XSLT Library, which is part of our FileMaker XML Central. The FileMaker XSLT Library is a repository of XML/XSLT examples that are available for download at no charge.
12.Why did FileMaker add integrated XML support in FileMaker Pro 6?
XML support is the tool that best accomplishes this task. With the implementation of our XML support, FileMaker Pro 6 users are now able to gather data from more data-sources and share data with more applications.FileMaker Pro 6 customers can benefit from XML import and export.
Through the creation of an XSLT style sheet , a workgroup can:
1. Import XML data from a SQL server without the use of ODBC drivers.
2. Share information with other workgroups who don’t even use FileMaker Pro by sending data from FileMaker directly into a formatted Excel file (*.xls) or other text-based file formats.
3. Create charts and graphics (*.svg) to represent FileMaker data.
13. Is there RAIC support for Instant Web Publishing in FileMaker Pro 6?
There is no support for RAIC technology in FileMaker Pro 6. Use FileMaker Pro 6 Unlimited to deploy Web-based solutions to an unlimited number of users. It also includes the FileMaker Pro Web Server Connector and support for RAIC, which can increase the performance and scalability of your FileMaker Pro web databases. Toolbars are not supported under Mac OS X.
14.What is FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited?
• FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited includes all of the powerful desktop database functionality of FileMaker Pro 5.5, plus it allows databases to be hosted via the Web to an unlimited number of unique visitors with unique IP addresses.
• FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited also includes the Web Server Connector and tools needed to use and access advanced functionalities such as Custom Web Publishing (via CDML), XML, JDBC, Java class libraries, and JavaScript.
15.What is the difference between FileMaker Pro 5.5 and FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited?
There are four major differences between FileMaker Pro 5.5 and FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited:
1. The Web Companion that ships with FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited allows access to the Web Companion for an unlimited number of web browsers. The Web Companion that ships with FileMaker Pro 5.5 is limited to 10 IP addresses in a rolling 12 hour period.
2. FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited includes the FileMaker Web Server Connector. Additional copies of FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited can be used to set up a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Computers (RAIC) structure to take advantage of scalable load balancing, and fault tolerance, to increase the performance of FileMaker web enabled databases. Computers running Mac OS X cannot serve as RAIC machines
3. FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited can be used with various CGIs, middleware, and application servers for deployment across the Web.
4. Tools and information needed to implement solutions using advanced functionalities (JDBC driver, Java class library, Custom Web Publishing [CDML], Custom Workgroup Portal, XML) are not included in FileMaker Pro 5.5.
16.What is the FileMaker Web Server Connector?
The FileMaker Web Server Connector is a Java servlet that is used to connect FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited with powerful web servers.
A servlet is a standard Java based mechanism for extending the functionality of a web server. The FileMaker Web Server Connector is used to pass through (or relay) requests received on a web server to FileMaker. The reasons to use the FileMaker Web Server Connector include.
To take advantage of other web server plug-ins and features including SSL and server-side includes, provide a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Computers (RAIC) structure to increase throughput and reliability, increase performance by storing static pages and graphic images on the Web server, bypassing the Web Companion for pages that don't involve databases, and provide redundancy to allow for operation through failure situations.
17.Can I use the FileMaker Web Server Connector with FileMaker Pro 5.5?
The FileMaker Web Server Connector is designed to work only with FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited, the dedicated web publishing product in our product family.
18.Can I use the FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited Web Server Connector with Instant Web Publishing?
No. The improved FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited Web Server Connector is intended for use with Custom Web Publishing.
19.How can I run reports and print labels via browser in databases hosted under FileMaker Pro Unlimited?
If you need more functionality than browsing, searching, adding, updating, or deleting records, you will want to access the database using a copy of FileMaker Pro, rather than a browser.
20.How can I set up a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Computers (RAIC) with FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited to increase scalability, performance and robustness?
The FileMaker Web Server Connector, included with FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited, lets you set up a RAIC. A RAIC increases the scalability of your web-based FileMaker Pro solutions and helps ensure operation through fail-over situations. To set up a RAIC, an additional copy of FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited is required for each CPU you wish to add to the RAIC.
21.What languages will FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited be available in?
FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited in Worldwide English, French, Italian, German, Swedish, Dutch, Japanese and Spanish.
22.What are the price and availability of FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited?
FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited is currently available. Estimated retail price in the U.S. is $999. Upgrade price for licensed owners of FileMaker Pro 5 Unlimited is US $499. Volume license pricing is available.
23.Do I have to use the FileMaker Web Server Connector when I install FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited?
No. If you want to use FileMaker and simply have more than 10 IP addresses accessing your copy of FileMaker in a rolling 12 hour period and do not need to add scalability and load balancing to your FileMaker web solutions, you can simply install the "unlocked" version of FileMaker Pro 5.5 that ships with FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited.
24.Is FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited certified for Windows 2000?
FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited is certified for Windows 2000 Professional.
25.Why did we build FM Starting Point?
When we worked with FileMaker, Inc. to rebuild and clean up the “Starter Solution Templates,” a premium was placed on simple functionality that would be easy for brand new FileMaker users to take apart and customize. Of course, with simplicity elevated to such a high degree, overall usefulness of a database can be quite limited. There is, therefore, a genuine need for a more robust FREE starter solution for FileMaker users; this tool meets those needs.
26.What is new in FM Starting Point 2?
With the release of FileMaker 11, we decided to update our FM Starting Point template with a few new features. A few of these include Charting throughout the system, inventory tracking between the Invoice and Products module, and hourly rates in the Timesheets module. You will find a brand new Summary tab in the Projects Module that collects information from the Inventory, Expenses, and Timesheets tables to produce graphs showing the current status and profitability of a project. All this and more you will find in the new version. Once again, FM Starting Point 2 is a FREE solution so you can go ahead and download it as soon as you get FileMaker 11.
27.Will FM Starting Point 1 still be available?
A new link has be put onto the FM Starting Point website for downloading our last release, FM Starting Point 1.0v15.
28.Is FileMaker Inc. responsible for this Database?
No. FM Starting Point was influenced by the redevelopment of FileMaker’s “Starter Solution Templates” which are already included for FREE with each install of FileMaker Pro. FileMaker Inc. has not underwritten this enhanced solution. FMI staff provided feedback for the included features, and we greatly appreciate their assistance. All quality assurance testing was performed by RCC and not FMI.
29.How is this different than Data4Life?
Some FileMaker users are aware of another FREE database offered, called Data4Life. Data4Life is designed for personal use, and not business use. FM Starting Point targeted towards small businesses, work groups, and non-profit organizations.
30.Does FM Starting Point connect to QuickBooks?
FM Starting Point can connect to QuickBooks (on Windows only) via the use of third party plug-ins. The Mac version of QuickBooks has some limitations that prevent it from communicating with a Plug-in unless you are a FileMaker “power user” then you might need to get some help from a FileMaker developer with this task.
31.Does FM Starting Point connect to iCal or Address book on a Mac?
FM Starting Point can connect to these other applications via the use of third party plug-ins. Unless you are a FileMaker “power user” then you might need to get some help from a FileMaker developer with this task.
32.Is there an instruction manual for FM Starting Point?
No. There are several instructional on screen help videos to help get users rolling in the new system. We are also commenting on the scripts and various features within the database template. FM Starting Point is design for new users so it is not too complex. Few people read the manuals anyway. They just hack their way through a product. However, if someone wants to write a manual, and then give it away to everyone, let us know and we’ll post it for you.
33.What are the different kinds of Email I can send from FM Starting Point?
Primarily, the email capabilities are within the "contacts" modules, where you can shoot off a myriad of different "canned" emails. These will be plain text emails, since that is what the new built in FileMaker 10 feature supports. Email may be sent through a users email client OR use the new “Direct Send” capability of FileMaker Pro 10.
34.When I am reviewing a specific to-do, from the to-do list, and I select a due date, the Window will flash. Why is this?
We had to use a script trigger. When the due date is modified, it selects the to-do list window, and causes a refresh to occur. We did this because FileMaker 10’s new sticky sort capability would frequently re-sort the new to-do item off the visible list (above or below), and would confuse the user when the to-do pop up is closed.
35.In the FileMaker 10 Starter Solutions, there is frequent use of "Type Ahead" aka Clairvoyance. Why is this missing from FM Starting Point?
Normally, we added functionality to the system, but not in this case. Type ahead causes a performance drain that is very noticeable for medium sized data sets, when accessed over a Wide Area network or Internet connection. We expect a fair number of people to access FMSP, hosted at their offices, or at a Hosting company, and then accessing the database remotely. These people would be highly disappointed by the huge slow down of FileMaker when using “Type Ahead” features. So to prevent nasty phone calls and flaming emails, we dropped this capability out of FMSP. If you run FMSP as a single user, on your local computer, feel free to turn “Type Ahead” back on.
36.What is FREE SuperContainer Hosted Lite?
SuperContainer Hosted Lite is a FREE limited version of SuperContainer that is hosted by 360Works and is built specifically into FM Starting Point.
The Lite Hosting Plan includes the following:
• No limit on number of users within your organization.
• Maximum of 2 megabytes per file.
• Limit of 10,000 total items.
• 250 megabytes total storage.
• Up to 1 gigabyte of download/upload traffic per month.
• Thumbnails display at a maximum resolution of 300x300.
• For use exclusively with the FM Starting Point solution.
37.What is SuperContainer Hosted Pro?
SuperContainer Hosted Pro is a more powerful version of SuperContainer that is hosted by 360Works and is built specifically into FM Starting Point.
The “Hosted Pro” version includes the following:
• No limit on number of users within your organization.
• Unlimited file size, total items, and thumbnail resolution.
• 20 gigabytes total storage.
• Up to 20 gigabytes of download/upload traffic per month.
• For use with any solution, not just Starting Point.
• Monthly charge of $49 US.
38.What is SuperContainer Enterprise?
SuperContainer Enterprise is for an unlimited number of users and access via the web, running on your own in-house FileMaker Server.
The Enterprise version includes the following:
• No limit on number of users within your organization.
• Accessible only with a Web Viewer in FileMaker Pro, or via a web browser for viewing and uploading files from the web.
• Unlimited file size, total items, thumbnail resolution (limited only by space on your server).
• Unlimited total storage (limited only by space on your server).
• Unlimited download/upload traffic per month (limited only by bandwidth to your server).
• Supports SSL encryption.
• For use with any solution, not just Starting Point.
• One-time charge of $695 US.
39.What is SuperContainer Workgroup?
SuperContainer Workgroup is for up to 10 FileMaker users, running on your own in-house FileMaker Server.
The Workgroup version includes the following:
• Up to 10 users within your organization.
• Accessible only with a Web Viewer in FileMaker Pro (not via the a web browser).
• Unlimited file size, total items, thumbnail resolution (limited only by space on your server).
• Unlimited total storage (limited only by space on your server).
• Unlimited download/upload traffic per month (limited only by bandwidth to your server).
• Supports SSL encryption.
• For use with any solution, not just Starting Point.
• One-time charge of $195 US.
40.Does FileMaker Work on the iPhone and iPad?
Yes! The product is called “FileMaker Go,” and can be installed on either the iPhone or iPad, after being purchased from the App Store. You need this software before you can use FM Starting Point on these devices. Once you have FM Go installed, you have the choice of accessing the database as shared from a FileMaker Server, or as shared from a single desktop with peer to peer sharing turned on. Also, for maximum speed, you can email or otherwise transfer FMSP to your iPhone or iPad and have it run on the device locally.
41.How do I download the iPhone or iPad version of FMSP?
The iPhone and iPad version of FMSP are all “rolled together” into a single FileMaker file – the same file that is accessed by the desktop copy of FileMaker Pro. All three versions are in a single file. This way, users with different devices can log onto the same database and share data.
42.Did you make some screens designed just for the iPhone or iPad?
We did actually develop some screens specific to these devices. Building an interface for a touchscreen device is somewhat different than for a desktop computer with a mouse.
For the iPhone, we built out screens that allow user to find, view, edit and add contacts to FMSP. Plus, if you click the contact's phone number, it will actually dial the number and make the call on the iPhone.
For the iPad, we took all the screens and functionality of FMSP and duplicated them. Then we weaked these duplicated screens so they have bigger buttons and fields things you need for a touchscreen device.
43.Does FMSP and FileMaker Go on the iPhone work with the camera built into my iPhone?
Unfortunately, no: integration with the iPhone's camera is not supported in this initial release of FileMaker Go.
44.Where did the charts go in FMSP on my iPhone and iPad? Why can't I save as PDF or Print?
• Charting is not yet a supported feature of FileMaker Go. Same for making PDFs and printing.
45.Can Recovery for FileMaker repair my FileMaker Pro database?
• The effective way to find out if a FileMaker Pro database is recoverable is to try the demo version of Recovery for FileMaker on it.
46.What limitations does the demo version of Recovery for FileMaker have?
Demo version recovers limited number of the database rows. The remaining rows will be blank. Full version will restore demo-limited rows as well.
47.I have tried the demo. How do I decide whether to purchase the full version of Recovery for FileMaker?
Evaluating the results of demo recovery can help in making the decision.
48. Why is WSDOT using FileMaker Pro for electronic forms?
In October 1992, the department started researching and testing different software packages to develop and deploy electronic forms department wide. None of the software provided all of the features initially defined. FileMaker Pro (version 2.0) was chosen, providing the most features, flexibility, and usability within the WSDOT IT infrastructure.
49.After successful recovery of the original database a new .DBF file is created. What is the procedure for transferring data from this temporary file to a database?
You should simply import data from the resulting file in .DBF format into a new database.
50.Will FMTouch support the Apple iPad?
Yes, we have already tested and written the new code for FMTouch and the Apple iPad.
51.Will FMTouch work with FileMaker 11?
Yes, FMTouch works with FileMaker 11. There was an update to a new plug-in for FMTouch FileMaker 11 support. If you are using FileMaker 11, please make sure you download the new plug-in.
52.Will FMTouch work on both the iPhone and the iPod iTouch?
Yes, FMTouch works with both the iPhone and the iPod iTouch.
53.Do I have to be connected to the internet?
No, you do not have to be connected to the internet. FMTouch runs locally on your mobile device as a local application. You can sync FMTouch while you have FileMaker running with the sync plug-in - sync once an hour, once a day on your own schedule.
54.Will Runtime solutions run on FMTouch?
Yes, runtime solutions work on FMTouch.
55.What versions of FileMaker are supported?
FMTouch works with FileMaker version 8-11 and beyond. We will not be releasing versions for FileMaker 7 and below.
56.Do I have to design special layouts or databases?
You should make database layouts that would render effectively on the iPhone. Many developers are simply adding iPhone specific layouts. Smaller databases are also faster and take less time to load.
57.Is FMTouch Relational?
Yes, and you will find that the ability to use and edit portals is great bonus. You have the ability to have many related tables and many related databases all talking to one another.
58.Can I have multiple layouts?
Yes, you can have multiple layouts, and you can easily deselect the layouts that you don't want to display.
59.Can I do scripting and calculations?
Scripting and Calculations are supported.
60.Are repeating fields supported?
Yes, repeating fields are now supported as are merge fields. As of version 1.23.
Note: Repeating fields require FileMaker 9+.
61.Will FMTouch work for both Windows and Macintosh?
Yes, FMTouch works equally well with both Macintosh and Windows OS.
62.What versions of FileMaker does FMTouch support?
Initially you will need FileMaker Advanced to create your DDR. Once this is generated, FMTouch can be used with FileMaker Pro 8-11.
Note: 8.5 is needed for webviewer support.
63.Why do I need FileMaker Advanced?
FileMaker Advanced enables you to generate your database DDR. This information is needed to help FMTouch create your database. Once the DDR is created you can use regular FileMaker Pro 8-10.
64.Will enterprise or developer licenses be available?
Yes, enterprise licensing is available.
65.I am having problems syncing with my Mac?
If you are having problems syncing 99% of the time it is because of a few things.
1. You have a firewall set up - and the correct port is not open.
2. You are trying to sync through the USB cable.
3. You do not have the plug-in correctly installed.
66.I am having problems syncing with my PC?
If you are having problems syncing 99% of the time it is because of a few things.
1. You have a firewall set up - and the correct port is not open.
2. You are trying to sync through the USB cable.
3. You do not have the plug-in correctly installed.
67.Do you have an online Forum?
Yes
68.Are container fields supported?
Yes, beginning with version 1.30 we added container field support.
69.Can I sync to FileMaker Server on Windows and MaC?
Yes, check out the user’s guide server section you can sync to both Mac and PC Server with FileMaker Server 9, 10 and 11.
70.What version of FileMaker Pro is the department using?
The department is currently using FileMaker Pro 11.0v3. FileMaker Pro is a Level Playing Field software and is installed on all WSDOT workstations. For our downloadable eForms, we are using version 11.0v3 of the FileMaker Pro runtime engine.