Custom Function Database - Part 3
As you’re probably aware, whenever a great craftsman has a project in front of themselves, they’re likely picking from not just one tool but many. What this means, in the context of FileMaker, is that you can’t just stop with using FileMaker alone. There are many times when it makes more sense, or will net bigger benefits, when you go outside of FileMaker.
The trick is this, you don’t necessarily need to go too far outside of FileMaker to accomplish some amazing things. Right within FileMaker is the Web Viewer object with direct access to JavaScript and just a little beyond that are plug-ins which can access pretty much anything else you could ever want.
On the Macintosh, we find that we have access to a plethora of tools which can sift through data like nobody’s business. On the Windows side you’re a simple install away from having the same power.
This video is all about going outside of FileMaker in order to leverage a treasure trove of tech for parsing HTML and beyond. Watch this video if parsing anything you could ever want out of a web page is something which appeals to you.
Comments
Custom Function Database - Part 3
Is there a File for this part?
Or do we duplicate the Part 2 for this part?
I knew there was something I forgot to do.
I forgot to attach it to the article. I've done that now. Sorry.
-- Matt Petrowsky - ISO FileMaker Magazine Editor
bbox
link is file for bbox is bad... use https://www.beezwax.net/products/bbox
The link at the bottom of the article is a tag
Sorry for the confusion. The links next to where it says tags are for links back to articles on this site which have the same tag. Since there was only one article with the bBox tag it just looks like it takes you back to the same location.
I've added an external link.
-- Matt Petrowsky - ISO FileMaker Magazine Editor
CF Part 3
Hi Matt,
I have a fairly good knowledge of RegEx, and use it in TextWrangler from time to time. However, I had not seen or heard of egrep until now. I have a problem with these two expressions because, for some reason, neither are giving me the correct result. i.e. num tab text.
I have tried some modifications, such as changing the ext from txt to tab, using the \t, surrounding the space with single quotes, etc. noting seems to help.
I get this.
F1
2001Phone.Format.AUS ( PhNumber )
2000GetItemName (Path)
1997countUpHTML ( startVal, endVal )
1996CurrencyFlex ( Number )
1995UUIDNumber ()
1994FiveRountTS ( mytimestamp )
1993GPS Direction ( LatFrom ; LongFrom; LatTo; LongTo) )
1992GetSourceFileName ( NameTableOccurrence )
1987OSVersion
.........
instead of.
F1 F2
2001 Phone.Format.AUS ( PhNumber )
2000 GetItemName (Path)
1997 countUpHTML ( startVal, endVal )
1996 CurrencyFlex ( Number )
1995 UUIDNumber ()
1994 FiveRountTS ( mytimestamp )
1993 GPS Direction ( LatFrom ; LongFrom; LatTo; LongTo) )
1992 GetSourceFileName ( NameTableOccurrence )
1987 OSVersion
.........
Lee
The terminal is odd when using the tab character.
When you're using the terminal within Mac OS there are some command line programs which need a literal tab character.
In regex you can typically identify a tab character with the \t as you indicate. However, when you are using it within something like sed then you need to insert a literal tab with Control-v then hit the tab key. This will insert a literal tab. The same thing applies to inserting a tab character within Vim's ex mode.
I hope this helps out.
-- Matt Petrowsky - ISO FileMaker Magazine Editor
CF Part3
Hi Matt,
"Control-v then hit the tab key” was the answer.
Thank you,
Lee