[Pythonmac-SIG] FileMaker Pro and Python

Advertising adv.files@robbstucky.com
Mon, 2 Apr 2001 14:42:12 -0400


Confused about Python and FileMaker Pro.
Would somebody please correct me...



FileMakerPro conforms to AppleEvent and has an AETE,
therefore we should be able to use Mac:Scripts:getsuitemodule.py
to build an AppleEventOSA package for us to use in Python.

It seems there is also an independent module to work with FileMaker named 
"FMPro"
from erik. It started its life out as a separate access method from the 
getsuitemodule, 
and therefore should be independent of the FileMaker package that may (or 
may not) have been created by using getsuitemodule?


Unfortunately I can't seem to get either method to work.


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boring newbie details follow
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I attempted to start by using the lib-scriptpackage created by 
MacPython2.0's getsuitemodule.py
Unfortunately it created so much code, I couldn't tell how to access 
anything.
(This is much, much, deeper than my beginner Python Books cover)

Using AppleScript I would.....

     Tell Application "FileMakerProv4.1"
    	     	set myVar to cell 21 of record 1 of database 1
		   	     show (every record of database 1 whose cell "modificationDate" 
is greater than myVar)
     end tell

Using macPython I tried.......

       import FileMaker
     		dataPuller = FileMaker.FileMaker(start=1)
       listOitems = dataPuller.database    ##doesn't work, Can't even get 
access to the database
       listOitems = dataPuller.database[]
       listOitems = dataPuller.database()
       listOitems = dataPuller.Subset_of_the_Core_2c__Tabl.database

   ....and any combination of the dotted name access I could think of.

Since I couldn't figure out how to access the objects of the 
getsuitemodulegeneratedpackage, 
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
I started reading the mail archive and noticed most of the traffic on 
FileMaker concerned using Erik's FMPro Module.
Since Erik promises this module is "very easy to develop with," I 
downloaded version .53 and put the uncompressed directory in my "scripts" 
directory.   :Python 2.0:Scripts:FMPro_v0.53

Unfortunately I can't even run the demo, FMProDemo_test.py by dropping it 
on the interpreter,

  File "Python Development:Development:Python 
2.0:Scripts:FMPro_v0.53:FMPro.py", line 60, in ?
    import Required_Suite
ImportError: No module named Required_Suite

Gee, there are only 7 of them on my HD, how do I know which one it wants?

I also tried moving my FMPro_v0.53 folder over into the lib-scripting 
directory along with the other AppleEventPackages. (Thinking It might 
figure out the hierarchy) No Help.

I also tried copying the Required_Suite from my 
getsuitemodulegeneratedpackage for FileMaker Pro into Erik's FMPromodule 
folder. It then started asking for lots more items that were missing. 
(assumed from the getsuitemodulegeneratedpackage)

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newbie's actual questions, after previous rantings
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Should we be using Erik's FMProModule or the getsuitemodule.py generated 
package to control FileMaker Pro?


How does a Python Beginner install Erik's FMPro module into their virgin 
MacPython dist?

Put it where,
Do what to keep it from asking for the Required_Suite?
Do I need a FileMakerPackage generated by getsuitemodule.py if I'm using 
Erik's FMProModule?

I'm using MacPython2.0, is this some compatibility vs older MacPython 
distribution?




Thanks muchly,

Lane