Today FileMaker Server 11 Advanced failed to start on my iMac running OS X 10.5 (it’s my developer server). I could launch the admin console and click the start button, but nothing would happen. The FMS command line was no help either.

Fortunately I have an archive of email from the fmpexperts mailing list. A year-old post from Stephen Wonfor (thanks, Stephen!) provided the answer, which was contained in this link:
Terminal Tips: Rebuild your Launch Services database to clean up the Open With menu

I downloaded the free utility Maintenance, ran it, and chose the rebuild LaunchServices option. Problem solved!

This is hilarious. I don’t remember hearing about this before, how is that possible? My first DevCon was the following year, but still…

The Pause On Error (FileMaker® Developer’s Unconference) is coming to Portland Jan 21-22, 2010. Looking forward to seeing friends and some great sessions. I’ll be hosting a FileMaker Tips & Tricks extravaganza that I think will be a nice way to wrap up the (un)conference.

If you use FileMaker 10 Advanced, customize your toolbar: Manage, Debugger, Data Viewer, and New Window can be one click away.

The FileMaker Developer Conference is back in Phoenix this year. See you there!

Here are a few pictures from last year.

For those of you interested in knowing more about my session topics — plugins and credit card processing — I have posted some links and info that I think you will find interesting. Thanks very much to all of you who participated!

I’ll be adding things here and there, so check back occasionally.

Now that my first session is done, I’ll have a little time to update the site. Look for updates soon on both my plugins and credit card sessions, as well as reports on the sessions I’ve attended etc. Right now I’m listening to a session on stored queries which looks like it could be useful. Stay tuned…

In my little corner of the universe, the annual FileMaker Developer Conference is a big deal, and for me personally it’s a very big deal to be selected as a speaker this year. I’ll be presenting two topics: Take the Plunge Into Plugins, where I’ll delve into the mysteries and magic of FileMaker, using as examples dialog plug-ins, credit card processing and field-triggered scripts; and The Credit Card Conundrum, which will elaborate and extend the discussion from the first session. My wife and daughters will be joining me in delving into the magic kingdom and the mysteries of those drinks with the little paper umbrellas in them.

You can’t tell from their website, but FMPDX puts on some great meetings. Tonight’s presenter was Vincenzo Menanno of FM::Nexus, showing off the essential Inspector, as well as Dragon Web Surveys and Account Manager.

Great stuff, but the show-stopper for me was his new Web Services Plug-in. This thing gives your FileMaker solution direct access to all kinds of web services. E.g., eBay, Amazon, Google, Authorize.net, census data, shipping services and on and on. You can add a new web service by simply dropping a new WSDL file (Web Services Description Language) into the plug-in’s folder. The functions then show up as external functions in the FileMaker calculation dialog. It’s still in beta as of this writing, but should be released soon. What I saw of it looked very, very cool.

I highly encourage Portland-area FileMaker developers to attend these monthly meetings. In addition to great presenters, you get a chance to chat face to face with representatives from FileMaker, Inc. — tonight’s guests and pizza-patron was Phil Smith, your regional sales rep — as well as your peers. Good times.