Web Publishing with PHP and FileMaker 9

Whether you are a FileMaker developer who is new to web publishing, a web developer who is new to FileMaker, or a complete beginner looking to put your data online, this book is for you.

In Part I, you learn the basics of how web publishing works and how to write your own HTML and PHP. In Part II, you learn how to build a FileMaker database and install and configure the FileMaker Server to host the database. In Part III, you learn how to put it all together to create web pages that talk to your database and allow people to view the data and, if you like, modify it. Throughout the book, publishing a FileMaker Product Catalog to the web is used as an example. Each chapter builds on the previous chapter. When you are done, you will have a working website!

Detailed information on how to…

• Master web publishing
• Read and write basic HTML
• Read and write basic PHP
• Build a FileMaker database
• Install and configure FileMaker Server
• Publish your FileMaker data to the web
• Work with portals and container fields
• Repurpose your FileMaker layouts on the web

Introduction 1
Part I: Basics of Web Publishing
Chapter 1: How Web Publishing Works 7
Chapter 2: Introduction to HTML 17
Chapter 3: Introduction to PHP 31
Part II: Laying the Groundwork
Chapter 4: Building a Simple FileMaker File 49
Chapter 5: Configuring the Server(s) 67
Part III: Publishing FileMaker Data on the Web
Chapter 6: Viewing FileMaker Data 91
Chapter 7: Altering FileMaker Data 115
Chapter 8: Working with Related Data (Portals) 137
Chapter 9: Working with Images 167
Chapter 10: Repurposing a FileMaker Layout on the Web 189
Part IV: More Information
Appendix A: Performance Tuning 213
Appendix B: Security Concerns 217
Appendix C: Error Handling and Prevention 225
Appendix D: FileMaker PHP API Reference 231
Index 239

Jonathan Stark is the president of Jonathan Stark Consulting, a software consulting firm specializing in data solutions for creative professionals. Past clients include Staples, Turner Broadcasting, and Ambrosi (now Schawk). He has spoken at the FileMaker Developers Conference and has had numerous articles published in FileMaker Advisor and php|architect magazines. Jonathan is reluctant to admit that he began his programming career more than 20 years ago on a Tandy TRS-80.