Data Exchange Tips
From Fmfaq
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Using XML for software updates
You don't have to be an XML expert or know how to write XSLT Transformations to take advantage of FileMaker 6/7's XML import/export.
If you have a solution that needs to receive updates for global fields, or you simply want to provide user specific daily messages, then you can add an XML import as part of your startup script. Because the XML import can grab information from a web page using the HTTP protocol, you can host the latest information on a web page and each time your application starts up it will grab that information from the page. Just use the native XML import/export and put the page on your web server.
Using curl to work with URLS
While using a plugin to access and work with websites, primarily forms, over the web is a great solution, there are often free options to what you might have to pay for.
When it comes to working with URLs, HTTP, HTTPS, forms' POST and GET and even FTP, you can have it all with an open source package called cURL. You can't be afraid of terminal-like command lines to use this one, but it's a free alternative with tons of power - meaning unlimited distribution with your internal solution!
There are two parts you'll need ( if you're on a Mac you don't have to download anything ) - the curl binary and the free shell plugin.
ON WINDOWS:
Download the curl binary from this url
http://curl.haxx.se/download.html
Scroll down to the Win32 - Generic section and download the binary file that does not include SSL. If you do need to work with SSL based urls (e.g. https) then you'll need to download OpenSSL as well - yet another web site. http://www.openssl.org/
Place the binary file into your C:\Windows\System32 folder and then download the free plugin named "shell" from Abstrakt
http://www.abstrakt.com/shell.html
ON MACINTOSH:
You can use AppleScript to work with the curl binary which is already installed on OS X or you can download the shell plugin for Mac at the url above. (Note: when using the shell plugin you need to be aware of the 64k limit - I don't believe it has been updated)
With both curl and the shell plugin you can now interact with any website or web form to your heart's desire. Upload and download files, it's all right there. Type "man curl" in the Macintosh Terminal for more information or type "curl --help" on a Windows command prompt. This will provide you with documentation. Of course you can also search the web using the keyword "man curl" An alternative to curl is wget and you can find this at this url.
