Installation
System requirements
- An Installation of FileMaker Pro / Server at Version 18 or higher
- MBS Plugin Version 11 or higher
- LibXL Version 4.0 or higher
Install MBS-plugin
FX Reports needs the MBS-plugin. While testing though, no license is needed: it is possible to use the demo version with almost no restrictions. For download and license information, see Monkeybread Software
Find here the individual downloads:
| Version | Link | Pluginfile |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/mbs/mbs-mac.zip | MBS.fmplugin |
| Windows 64bit | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/mbs/mbs-win64.zip | MBS.fmx64 |
| Windows 32bit | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/mbs/mbs-win32.zip | MBS.fmx |
| Linux | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/mbs/mbs-linux.zip | MBS.xxx.fmx |
The plugin file must be copied into the FileMaker plugin directory. There is a matching file for every operating system.
Assuming no plugins have been installed before, the directory does not exist yet. Still, it will be created when clicking ‘Reveal Plug-in Folder’ in the FileMaker settings in the ‘Plug-Ins’ tab. You can then place the plugin file in the folder that has been opened.
After restarting FileMaker, the plugin is shown in the ‘Plug-Ins’ tab in the settings. It is now ready to use.
Install LibXL
Download:
| Version | Link | Pluginfile |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/libxl/libxl-mac.zip | libxl.dylib |
| Windows 64bit | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/libxl/libxl-win64.zip | libxl.dll |
| Windows 32bit | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/libxl/libxl-32.zip | libxl32.dll |
| Linux | https://fmgarage.com/download/plugins/libxl/libxl-linux.zip | libxl.so |
For the creation of Excel-documents, the LibXL extension from version 4.0 upwards is needed. The library is controlled via the MBS-plugin.
Similar to the MBS-plugin, the LibXL file has to be copied to the Plugin directory of FileMaker.
Start FX Reports
The file FX_Reports.fmp12 must not be renamed. You can open it locally or upload it to the server.
Hosting with FileMaker Server
An appropriate license is necessary to host FX Reports on FileMaker Server, it is not possible to do that with just the demo.
Examples
If you want to try the examples, which is a good way to learn writing templates and generally just see what FX Reports can do, copy the examples folder from the repository to your desktop. Now copy the content of one of the json templates into the FX Reports editor window and hit the Generate xlsx button.
Or, in the Online-Template-Editor, paste the example template into the field below the button Update form on the right and press that button. This gives you a simple example to play around with.