JSON and Beyond (v2)

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

• Matt Navarre
• Navarre Training

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 3Who am I?

• Dogs & Cat
• Bicycles
• Musician
• Conductor, singer, composer

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 8Agenda

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

Slide 9JSON

Slide 13Douglas Crockford

Codified & Popularized 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 15What is JSON?

• Hierarchical (nested structure)
• VERY FLEXIBLE
• FileMaker-y
• Since Version 16
• May 9th, 2017
• 2.902 days ago

Slide 16Why use JSON?

• Simpler
• Once you are comfortable using it
• Just like Case ( )
• And Let ( )
• Better
• Flexible
• Bulletproof

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 18When to use JSON?

• Here
• Today
• Now
• Always

Slide 19The basics… …a very quick review

Slide 20Punctuation

• FileMaker ( ) [ ] ;
• JSON { } , :

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 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 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 24String, Number, Boolean

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 26If Data Viewer is your friend…

Slide 27… Then ChatGPT is your secret lover

Slide 28Four Use Cases

Let’s slow down…

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

Slide 301. A JSON Field in Most Tables

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 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 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 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 35Meta- data (On Create)

A little

Slide 36A lot

Slide 37Temp Data / Delete Fields

A little

Slide 38A lot

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 40JSON Field Demo

Slide 412. Preferences (global) 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 433. 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 45Preferences, Session, & Dashboard Data Demo

Slide 464. JSON-LD For Semantic Search And Generative 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 48Sample JSON

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

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 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 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 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 53JSON-LD Demo

Slide 54Thank You!

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