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JSON and Beyond (v2)

CodeWave · 2025 · Matt Navarre · 54 slides

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Slide 1: JSON: Beyond the Basics Fresh Takes, Dashboards JSON-LD, AI Integration

Slide 1JSON: Beyond the Basics Fresh Takes, Dashboards JSON-LD, AI Integration

  • Matt Navarre
  • Navarre Training
Slide 2: Who am I?

Slide 2Who am I?

  • Passionate trainer, Expert developer
  • Certified in FM versions 7-current
  • Founded 3 companies
  • FBA Awards, conferences, podcasts, meetups, blog, YouTube
  • Moved to Greece in 2022
Slide 3: Who am I?

Slide 3Who am I?

  • Dogs & Cat
  • Bicycles
  • Musician
  • Conductor, singer, composer
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7: FileMaker Champion Series

Slide 7FileMaker Champion Series

  • Expert / AI Integration
  • 10 hours in class - Live online
  • 90 minutes 1 on 1
  • Build skills - not just knowledge
  • Feature-packed demo file
Slide 8: Agenda

Slide 8Agenda

  • Slides ~ 15 minutes
  • Live demos ~ 25 minutes
  • Q&A ~ 15 minutes
  • How do YOU use JSON?
Slide 9: JSON

Slide 9JSON

Slide 10
Slide 11
Slide 12
Slide 13: Douglas Crockford

Slide 13Douglas Crockford

Codified & Popularized JSON

Slide 14: What is JSON?

Slide 14What is JSON?

  • JavaScript Object Notation
  • Structured text formatting
  • “Light weight data interchange format”
  • Human Readable
  • Like XML, but it doesn’t suck™
Slide 15: What is JSON?

Slide 15What is JSON?

  • Hierarchical (nested structure)
  • VERY FLEXIBLE
  • FileMaker-y
  • Since Version 16
  • May 9th, 2017
  • 2.902 days ago
Slide 16: Why use JSON?

Slide 16Why use JSON?

  • Simpler
  • Once you are comfortable using it
  • Just like Case ( )
  • And Let ( )
  • Better
  • Flexible
  • Bulletproof
Slide 17: Where to use JSON?

Slide 17Where to use JSON?

  • Scripts
  • Passing params in, processing params, sending JSON out
  • ButtonBars & Layout Calculations
  • Calculated Fields
  • Nearly everywhere you use the Calc dialog
Slide 18: When to use JSON?

Slide 18When to use JSON?

  • Here
  • Today
  • Now
  • Always
Slide 19: The basics… …a very quick review

Slide 19The basics… …a very quick review

Slide 20: Punctuation

Slide 20Punctuation

  • FileMaker ( ) [ ] ;
  • JSON { } , :
Slide 21: Functions

Slide 21Functions

  • JSONGetElement ( )
  • Two arguments: Name and Value
  • JSONSetElement ( )
  • Four arguments – existing json, name, value, data type
  • Ability to add or modify existing data
Slide 22: Functions

Slide 22Functions

  • JSONFormatElements ( )
  • Makes it easier to read, but adds characters
  • Rarely, it will break valid JSON (can’t reproduce this today though)
  • JSONDelete Elements ( )
  • Cleans existing JSON, including dot notation
Slide 23: Functions

Slide 23Functions

  • JSONListKeys ( )
  • Returns the names (keys) of name/value pair
  • JSONListValues ( )
  • Returns the values of a name/value pair
  • JSONMakeArray ( )
  • Newest function. Converts a List into an Array.
Slide 24: String, Number, Boolean

Slide 24String, Number, Boolean

Slide 25: Basics: Passing Parameters

Slide 25Basics: Passing Parameters

  • I always use it – even for a single param
  • Because some day, there will likely be a 2nd param
  • Copy and paste code, or use shortcut
  • Define $variables at top of script
  • Plug for MBS
Slide 26: If Data Viewer is your friend…

Slide 26If Data Viewer is your friend…

Slide 27: … Then ChatGPT is your secret lover

Slide 27… Then ChatGPT is your secret lover

Slide 28: Four Use Cases

Slide 28Four Use Cases

Let’s slow down…

Slide 29: A JSON Field in ~Every Table Preferences & Session Data Dashboard Data JSON-LD & AI

Slide 29A JSON Field in ~Every Table Preferences & Session Data Dashboard Data JSON-LD & AI

Slide 30: 1. A JSON Field in Most Tables

Slide 301. A JSON Field in Most Tables

Slide 31: JSON Field (stored text field)

Slide 31JSON Field (stored text field)

  • Main Benefits
  • Write any data needed without having to change schema
  • Including calculations
  • Replace multiple unstirred calc fields
  • Display any data
  • Use a layout calculation or Button Bar
  • Get any element
  • Not indexed
Slide 32: JSON Field – Uses

Slide 32JSON Field – Uses

  • Store metadata about the record
  • Record creation details beyond date & user
  • Container data, resolution, image size
  • Log data
  • A local list of record edits
  • Record access, data quality warnings, etc.
Slide 33: JSON Field – Uses

Slide 33JSON Field – Uses

  • Temporary fields
  • Example: A special event where you need 5 fields for a month
  • No need to pollute the schema
  • Delete unused fields – with no risk
  • Append data in JSON field with JSONSetElement ( )
  • Delete offending fields
  • Celebrate
Slide 34: JSON Field – Notes

Slide 34JSON Field – Notes

  • Enter {} in the field upon record creation
  • To avoid ? Error when reading
  • Only use in tables where there is a high chance of use
  • Or just create the field when it’s needed
  • Not directly searchable
  • Should have values set only by script
Slide 35: Meta- data (On Create)

Slide 35Meta- data (On Create)

A little

Slide 36: A lot

Slide 36A lot

Slide 37: Temp Data / Delete Fields

Slide 37Temp Data / Delete Fields

A little

Slide 38: A lot

Slide 38A lot

Slide 39: Quick Best Practice

Slide 39Quick Best Practice

  • Let ([
  • id_company = Company::ID ;
  • is_active = Company::IsActive ;
  • is_active = case (is_active = 1 , “Yes” , “No”)
  • ];
  • JSONSetElement( “{}” ;
  • [“id” ; id_company ; jsonstring] ;
  • [“active” ; is_active ; jsonstring]
  • ))
Slide 40: JSON Field Demo

Slide 40JSON Field Demo

Slide 41: 2. Preferences (global) Session Data

Slide 412. Preferences (global) Session Data

Slide 42: Preferences & Session Data

Slide 42Preferences & Session Data

  • Main Benefits
  • A single global text field in Dashboard or Globals table
  • Extremely easy to access the JSON
  • Replaces numerous $$variables
  • Replaces numerous Global Fields in Prefs or Dashboard table
  • Holds structured values, like IDs and field data for a record
  • JSONDeleteElement ( ) useful to clean up a branch
Slide 43: 3. Dashboard Data

Slide 433. Dashboard Data

Slide 44: Dashboard Data

Slide 44Dashboard Data

  • Main Benefits
  • Uses same Global JSON Field (as defined above)
  • Write values with a script to control when data loads
  • Which is much faster
  • Holds structured values
  • invoice.rec_count ; invoice.sold ; invoice.due
  • Holds list of values in JSON Array
Slide 45: Preferences, Session, & Dashboard Data Demo

Slide 45Preferences, Session, & Dashboard Data Demo

Slide 46: 4. JSON-LD For Semantic Search And Generative AI

Slide 464. JSON-LD For Semantic Search And Generative AI

Slide 47: JSON-LD & AI

Slide 47JSON-LD & AI

  • Main Benefits
  • Structured data using schema.org
  • Greatly improves results for both semantic and generative AI
  • Enforces good readability and clear JSON
Slide 48: Sample JSON

Slide 48Sample JSON

{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Matt Navarre",
"job_title": "Trainer",
"company_name":"Navarre Training" }
}
Slide 49: Sample FM Code

Slide 49Sample FM Code

  • JSONSetElement ( "{}" ; // Define the JSON-LD type as Note
  • ["@type" ; "Note" ; JSONString] ;
  • ["data.note_text" ; Note ; JSONString] ;
  • ["data.note_date" ; ISO_date (Date) ; JSONString]
  • )
Slide 50: Invoice Line

Slide 50Invoice Line

  • JSONSetElement ( "{}" ;
  • ["@type" ; "Invoice Line Item" ; JSONString] ;
  • ["quantity_ordered" ; Quantity ; JSONNumber] ;
  • ["item_price" ; Price ; JSONNumber] ;
  • ["total_price" ; cTotal ; JSONNumber] ;
  • ["category" ; IL_Product::Category ; JSONString] ;
  • ["brand" ; IL_Product::Brand ; JSONString] ;
  • ["model" ; IL_Product::Model ; JSONString] ;
  • ["color" ; IL_Product::Color ; JSONString] ;
  • ["description" ; IL_Product::Description ; JSONString]
  • )
Slide 51: Invoice – Uses JSONMakeArray ( )

Slide 51Invoice – Uses JSONMakeArray ( )

  • JSONSetElement ( "{}" ;
  • ["@type" ; "Invoice" ; JSONString] ;
  • ["invoice_date" ; ISO_date ( INV__Invoice::InvoiceDate ) ; JSONString] ;
  • ["currency" ; "USD" ; JSONString] ;
  • ["invoice_amount" ; INV__Invoice::cAmountInvoiced ; JSONNumber] ;
  • ["paid_amount" ; INV__Invoice::AmountPaid ; JSONNumber] ;
  • ["due_amount" ; INV__Invoice::cAmountDue ; JSONNumber] ;
  • ["items" ; JSONMakeArray (List (Invoice_Lines::cJSON) ; "" ; JSONRaw ) ; JSONArray]
  • )
Slide 52: Company – Collect it all

Slide 52Company – Collect it all

  • Let ([ // JSON-LD object with context and type for each record
  • person_array = JSONMakeArray (List (C_Person::cJSON) ; "" ; JSONRaw) ; // Must use JSONRaw here
  • invoice_array = JSONMakeArray (List (C_Invoice::cJSON) ; "" ; JSONRaw) ;
  • notes_array = JSONMakeArray (List (C_Note::cJSON) ; "" ; JSONRaw) ;
  • product_interest_array = JSONMakeArray (List (C_Interest::cJSON) ; "" ; JSONRaw) ;
  • full_address = C__Company::Address & ", " & C__Company::CityStZip
  • ];
  • JSONSetElement ("{}" ;
  • ["@context" ; "https://schema.org" ; JSONString] ; // Add JSON-LD context
  • ["@type" ; "Organization" ; JSONString] ; // Define JSON-LD type as Organization
  • ["company.name" ; C__Company::Company Name ; JSONString] ;
  • ["company.total_invoiced_usd" ; Max (Total Invoiced;0) ; JSONNumber] ;
  • ["company.contacts" ; person_array ; JSONArray] ;
  • ["company.invoices" ; invoice_array ; JSONArray] ;
  • ["company.notes" ; notes_array ; JSONArray] ;
  • ["company.product_interest" ; product_interest_array ; JSONArray]))
Slide 53: JSON-LD Demo

Slide 53JSON-LD Demo

Slide 54: Thank You!

Slide 54Thank You!

  • Contact information:
  • www.navarre.training
  • matt@navarre.training
  • Claris Talk AI on YouTube and podcast platforms