ISO FileMaker Magazine

FileMaker developers who use editors like VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, BBEdit, or even VIM are very familiar with the modern conveniences expected from a code editor: linters, code completion, formatting, syntax highlighting, and more. In FileMaker, however, we've been stuck in the 90s for quite a while.

One of my favorite tools is Typinator, which offers extensive text manipulation capabilities. Recently, a new tool for Mac developers was released that addresses the lack of a full-fledged editor. FMIndent, released by the well-respected Debi Fuchs from Aptworks, is a winner!

Adapting Perl code Debi created 20 years prior, we now have access to an OS-level tool that can format our code anywhere in FileMaker — or anywhere else on your computer for that matter.

With the power of Apple's Shortcuts app and the new FMIndent, you can absolutely format your code exactly as desired. If you like taking control over your code, give this video a watch. With the ability to post-process what FMIndent provides, there's little you can't do.

Special note about permissions: You may need to assign various levels of access to Shortcuts and the clipboard. As well as Allow Running Scripts within the Advanced area of Shortcut's settings.