Luk Dhondt of myFMbutler
FileMaker Plugin Developer: myFMbutler
Number of Plugins: 4 FileMaker Plugins
When did you first start using FileMaker?
I started using FileMaker in 1986, when the company I was working for had become the Belgian distributor for Forethought (if I remember correctly, the product was then called ‘FileMaker Plus’). Later, we were also a distributor for FileMaker 4, after Nashoba had decided to publish the product themselves.
What made you start making FileMaker Plugins?
By the end of 2004, we felt that we were constantly implementing more or less the same types of solutions for our customers, sometimes using third-party plug-ins. There were a couple of things we were looking for at the time for which such a 3rd party solution didn’t exist, or for which the existing solution was not sufficient for our needs. That’s when we decided to try and develop products ourselves. The first plug-in, PrinterSwitch, was released in June of 2005.
Do you use any plugins created by other people? If so which ones?
Yes, we do. We regularly use such products as Troi File plug-in or Fusion Reactor. Some FileMaker developers are reluctant to use plug-ins because they’re unsure about future compatibility. However, over the years we haven’t really come across any such problem.
Which of your own plugins do you feel is your best work?
I think PrinterSwitch is the easiest to explain in terms of what it does, but probably the most difficult technically.
DoSQL on the other hand provides a lot of extra power to its users, but was probably a lot simpler to develop.
DoSQL on the other hand provides a lot of extra power to its users, but was probably a lot simpler to develop.
Do you think making plugins cross-platform is important?
As FileMaker is a cross-platform product, we always try to create the products we develop for both platforms. Although our Clip Manager product started as a Mac-only product in 2007, we released a cross-platform version 3.0 at last year’s DevCon.
What do you think of FileMaker adding features that come from Plugins? Such as Printing to PDF and Script Triggering?
I don’t really see it that way. I think FileMaker adds new functionality because they believe it adds to the product’s value, and not because a certain plug-in exists. Similar to e.g. developers creating utility programs for Mac OS X or Windows, you know the risk is always there that your product will become obsolete with the next OS upgrade.
Do you think Free plugins harm companies who sell plugins?
From our perspective, the products that we have offered for free are good PR. It gives you better exposure, and improves the chance of people trying out the other products that are not free of charge.
What features would make the next version FileMaker perfect?
I’d like to see some bug fixes first 
Any tips for people who want to make a FileMaker Plugin themselves?
Outline a specific problem you want to solve, and then go for it… Make sure you have good and simple examples that explain the functionality you provide.
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