FileMaker Pro basics > New features in FileMaker Pro 19
 

New features in FileMaker Pro 19

FileMaker Pro 19 includes the following new features and improvements.

Application

The FileMaker Pro Advanced application is now named FileMaker Pro. If you use calculations with the Get(ApplicationVersion) function or external scripts that rely on the application name, you may need to update them. See Get(ApplicationVersion) function.

Easier ways to create custom apps

Add-ons – Add new features and functionality to your custom apps with add-ons, predesigned sets of components that perform specific actions or tasks. See Working with add-ons.

Create apps directly in FileMaker Cloud – In the Create window, team managers can create new apps from templates and save them directly in FileMaker Cloud. See Creating a FileMaker Pro file.

Improved script integration

JavaScript integration – JavaScript in a web viewer and FileMaker scripts can communicate directly; each can call the other and pass in parameters. Use your own or third-party JavaScript libraries to add advanced user interface elements to your apps, such as calendars, charts, and custom controls. See Scripting with JavaScript in web viewers.

Siri Shortcuts support in FileMaker Go – Designate FileMaker scripts to be donated to the Shortcuts app, to be available for creating shortcuts that can be run from Shortcuts or by Siri voice commands. See Creating and editing scripts and FileMaker Go Development Guide.

Improved layout design tools

Card support in FileMaker WebDirect – FileMaker WebDirect supports the card window style. See About window styles and the "Script steps" and "Functions" sections, below.

Scientific notation – Fields can be formatted to display numbers in scientific notation. See Specifying formats for fields containing numbers.

Print total page count – Include the {{PageCount}} symbol on a layout to print page numbers with page counts (for example, Page 1 of 10). See Inserting the date, page number, or other variable onto a layout.

Button bar segment state styles – Copy and paste button bar segment state styles between states and to other button bar segments. See Copying formatting attributes in layouts.

Switch between layouts quickly – In Layout mode, switch between layouts by pressing a keyboard shortcut and typing the layout’s name. As you type, a list of matching layouts appears. See Layout creation and navigation (Windows) and Layout creation and navigation (macOS).

Improved usability

macOS Dark Mode support – FileMaker Pro displays in the appearance chosen in System Preferences. Use the Get(SystemAppearance) function to detect when the appearance is light or dark. See Get(SystemAppearance) function.

Open a file when FileMaker Pro starts – Set a preference to open a specified file at start time. See Setting general preferences.

macOS: Drag FileMaker Pro to install – Install FileMaker Pro by dragging the application to your drive. See FileMaker Pro Installation Guide.

macOS: High Efficiency Image File format support – Insert HEIF images on layouts and in container fields that can be viewed in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. See Using data in container fields.

Enhanced security

Claris ID and external identity provider (IdP) account authentication – Control whether users must sign in each time they open a FileMaker Pro file. See Setting file options.

Script steps

New script steps

Configure NFC Reading – Scans or stops scanning for NFC (near field communication) tags. See Configure NFC Reading script step.

Configure Machine Learning Model – Loads a Core ML (Machine Learning) model and prepares it for use. See Configure Machine Learning Model script step.

Perform JavaScript in Web Viewer – Performs a JavaScript function in a web viewer. See Perform JavaScript in Web Viewer script step.

Changed script steps

The following script steps now work with cards in FileMaker WebDirect: Adjust Window, Move/Resize Window, and New Window.

Functions

New functions

ComputeModel – Returns a JSON object containing the result of a model evaluation. See ComputeModel function.

ConvertFromFileMakerPath – Converts a path in FileMaker format to a standard format. See ConvertFromFileMakerPath function.

ConvertToFileMakerPath – Converts a path in a standard format to FileMaker format. See ConvertToFileMakerPath function.

Changed functions

Get(ApplicationVersion) – Starting with FileMaker Pro 19, this function returns Pro, rather than ProAdvanced, followed by the version. See Get(ApplicationVersion) function.

Get(HighContrastColor) – This function is now Get(SystemAppearance) and can detect the light and dark system appearance in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. See Get(SystemAppearance) function.

The following functions now work with cards in FileMaker WebDirect: Get(WindowLeft), Get(WindowStyle), and Get(WindowTop).

YearName – The era designation A.D. (anno Domini) is now CE (the Common Era) and follows the year (for example, 2021 CE). See YearName function.

The following functions no longer accept "SHA" (the SHA-0 cryptographic algorithm) for the algorithm parameter and now return "?": CryptAuthCode, CryptDigest, CryptGenerateSignature, CryptVerifySignature.

Changed and removed features

Support for creating runtime solutions has been removed.

Windows: FileMaker Pro no longer supports Windows 7. See FileMaker Pro technical specifications.

Windows: FileMaker Pro is now available only in the 64-bit version. If you used the 32-bit version:

with plug-ins, you need to install 64-bit plug-ins. To switch from 32-bit to 64-bit FileMaker Pro in Windows or to disable incompatible plug-ins, search the Knowledge Base.

for sending email via an email application, you need to install a 64-bit email application for use with 64-bit FileMaker Pro.

Changing the Minimum version allowed to open this file option can now be done whether the file is local or hosted. See Setting file options.

The name of the empty file required to prevent default fields from being added to new tables has changed from DefaultFields.xml to FMDefaultFields.xml. See Defining database tables.

Related topics 

FileMaker Pro features not compatible with previous versions