App Connections

Workplaces are changing profoundly. Organizations use a range of software tools. The FileMaker Platform connects those tools.

A 3D render of three people, with lightbulbs instead of heads, adding the final piece to a four-piece jigsaw puzzle. The image is used as a metaphor for connecting a FileMaker custom app to other applications.

As well as developing custom apps, we also connect them to other applications or web services, such as Mailchimp, Sharepoint, Google Sheets and Microsoft Outlook. Connections can be made using Claris Connect or directly using common application interfaces. We look at application interfaces first, then further below we look at Claris Connect.

Interfaces between FileMaker and Other Applications

The Claris/FileMaker Platform provides a number of methods that can be used to make connections between a custom app developed on the platform to other business applications. The range of methods is summarized here, but for more detail please go to our page dedicated to explaining how the Claris Platform meets the requirements of IT Professionals.

Examples

Icon for the Maintenance custom app.
The logo for the investment manager custom app.
An icon containing two large concentric circles in the top-half and four small circles connected by lines in the bottom half. The icon is being used to represent cURL (or Client for URL).

cURL

Client for URLs (cURL) is an open-standard library of software functions that enables the exchange of data.

OData

Open Data Protocol (OData) is what is called a ‘REST API’. This means that it conforms to Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture. It provides a standard method for querying and updating data.

An icon containing in the centre a circle from which emerge short lines at eight equidistant points on the circumference; in the top half, two smaller circles and a similarly-sized square, arranged in a row, and from which emerge lines that move towards, but do not reach, the circle in the centre; and in the bottom half, a similar arrangement of two squares and a circle from which emerge lines that move towards, but do not reach, the circle in the centre. The icon is being used to represent OData (or Open Data Protocol).
An icon containing six small circles arranged in a circle around another small circle in the centre, all joined by lines. The icon is being used to represent the FileMaker Data API (or Application Programming Interface).

Data API

The Claris FileMaker Data API allows web services to interface with our apps. This Data API is a REST API.

SQL

Our apps can be built with live, two-way connections to SQL data sources. MySQL, Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server are supported.

An icon consisting of five equal-sized circles arranged in a shape that resembles a half-circle that has been squeezed; every circle has a line emerging from the lowest point and moving vertically downwards to the bottom edge of the icon. The icon is being used to represent SQL (or Structured Query Language).
An icon consisting of five circles of varying size with five lines connecting the circles, such that all circles are connected to at least one other circle but not all possible connections have been made. The icon is being used to represent ODBC/JDBC (or Open Database Connectivity/Java Database Connectivity).

ODBC/JDBC

ODBC and JDBC are APIs that enable our apps to interact with a variety of data sources and database services.

Read More

For more technical details, try these links:

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Connections

For a ‘low-code’ way of connecting a custom app developed on the Claris Platform to other business applications, you can use Claris Connect. Claris Connect is a cloud-based workflow automation service designed to connect commonly-used applications in a highly-simplified way. It enables data to flow between devices (mobile or desktop) and the cloud.

For example, when you receive a signed purchase order through DocuSign, Claris Connect can be set up to update automatically the deal details in Pipedrive and in your FileMaker-based customer relationship management (CRM) app. Claris Connect has connectors for applications such as HubSpot, Microsoft Outlook, QuickBooks, Mailchimp, DocuSign, Trello, Box, Slack, Dropbox and more. A full list of available connectors can be found on the Claris website.

Features of Claris Connect include:

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Templates

Templates get you quickly started in Claris Connect. Examples are DocuSign to Slack, Outlook to Mailchimp and Typeform to ZenDesk. With templates you simply have to add login details then change parameters, and away you go.

Low Code

With the point-and-click interface, you can select apps to connect, choose a trigger and then specify desired actions. As a result, you do not need any knowledge of code.

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Approval

You can make use of a built-in approval mechanism. For example, you can trigger an email to be sent to the relevant person, prompting them to grant or deny permission to continue the workflow.

Advanced

If you want to create more complex workflows, you can utilize conditional if-then statements, repeat steps and variables.

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History

You can view a record of all of your workflow actions to, for example, determine whether any of your flow steps have failed.

Security

Data is encrypted in transit between apps and data sources using SSL certification. AES 256-bit encryption is used for stored data.

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