OS X, Spotlight, and FileMaker Pro

One of the greatest things about Mac OS 10.4 is Spotlight searching. Having access to universal search from so many access points and for so many kinds of data just plain rocks. Unfortunately, Spotlight does not look inside FileMaker Pro databases and it's actually a good thing in terms of security. But if we can't search FileMaker data with Spotlight perhaps the next best thing would be the ability to create one single search field that will search across all the fields of a FileMaker Pro database. A sort of Spotlight within FileMaker. Well, it is possible and it is fantastically cool.

It's not that hard to implement and let me tell you the search results are instant. So, so sweet.

This works with FileMaker 7 or higher but you'll need to download this FileMaker plugin (Mac, Windows) which you'll put into the Filemaker Extensions folder. Then head over to Emile's post at Secret Weapon Labs, Spotlight redux: Building a FileMaker Search Engine. Here's an excerpt:

...this technique is simply a field placed in the header part of a FileMaker 7 layout that executes a script when data is entered into the field... Simply put, this lets FileMaker do even more of the technical thinking and working for database users when they are querying for data, much like how a search engine like Google can determine if you are looking up an address, phone number, website, document, image, or a product to buy.

I've made one little insignificant mod by adding the little X graphic found in all OS X search fields which is used to clear the search field. I've added that graphic to the search field and made it a button attached to a little script to clear the search field and show all records. This way the field is even easier to reset and more closely resembles the standard behavior of other OS X search fields.

Technorati Tags: Apple, OS X, FileMaker, FileMaker Pro