Keeping Object References Dynamic

An object reference is a software link to an object used by another object. A field used in a formula’s statement, a layout used in a Go to Layout script step, and a script run from another script with the Perform Script step are all object references. As a modern software title, FileMaker utilizes dynamic object references where the links are established by object ID instead of by name. This ensures link integrity if an object’s name changes or, where possible, if another object is created with the same name. For ease of use, developers establish object links by name through a programming interface that hides the ID-based connection. However, some FileMaker functions and script steps allow developers to specify objects by name for added flexibility. This creates static object references that execute by name and will not update when a target object’s name changes. When using these functions, developers must choose between never renaming objects for fear of breaking links or meticulously finding and updating any such reference to a renamed object. Alternatively, there are techniques that can allow a formula to use an object name that was derived from a dynamic reference. This chapter explores the topic of object references, covering the following topics: