Database Reference
In-Depth Information
WARNING
Your computer's operating system uses file name extensions to figure out which program files be-
long to. The Developer Utilities let you assign any extension you want, but you should avoid com-
mon extensions like .doc, .jpg, .mp3, and so on. You know computers—they get confused easily.
The new files don't just have a new name; they're also modified internally so they're
bound
to the runtime program, and the runtime program in turn can open only properly bound files.
In other words, when you send people a runtime program, they can't use it to open any old
FileMaker Pro file.
To facilitate the binding process, FileMaker asks you to provide a
bindkey
. FileMaker stores
this value in both the runtime program and any database files in the Developer Utilities win-
dow. The value you use for the bindkey is entirely unimportant, and you don't have to keep it
secret. But if you later want to bind
new
databases to the same runtime program, then you
have to use the same bindkey.
Finally, when people exit the runtime program (in other words, when they close your data-
base system), they see a “Made with FileMaker” splash screen like the customized version
shown in
Figure 13-30
. Are you among the three percent of computer users who
enjoy
splash
screens? If so, you'll be delighted to learn that the splash screen can't be turned off.
However, you can't admire that screen for more than 12 seconds at a time.
