FileMaker Pro to 4th Dimension Quickstart Guide

Status and Design Functions

In FileMaker Pro, there are many Status and Design functions which will return various statistics about your database as well as the current computer on which it is running. In 4th Dimension, these environmental statistics are provided within the programming language, and there are many functions and commands that can be used to return these results. Since you can control where a method is run in 4th Dimension, each of these values can be used on either the Client or the Server computer. The following table contains those Status functions in FileMaker Pro that have 4th Dimension equivalents. This table does not attempt to list all FileMaker Pro Status functions. In addition, 4th Dimension commands are listed in ALLCAPS BOLD TEXT to differentiate them.

FileMaker Pro Status Functions	4th Dimension Equivalents	FileMaker Pro Notes	4th Dimension Notes
Status (CurrentAppVersion)	Application version	Version of FileMaker Pro currently in use.	Version of 4th Dimension currently in use
Status (CurrentDate)	Current date	Current Date, based on client System clock	Can optionally get the date from the server.
Status (CurrentError)	$0 variable (result of a function)	Most recent error code produced during scripting	The error is returned in the $0 variable.
Status (CurrentFieldContents)	Last object	Contents of the currently active field	Returns a pointer to the form object where the cursor is (Different from what just got clicked)
Status (CurrentFieldName)	Field name	Name of the currently active field	Returns the name of the field that you specify
Status (CurrentFileName)	Table name	Name of the currently active file (table)	Returns the name of the table you specify
Status (CurrentFileSize)	Get document size	Size (in bytes) of the currently active file	Can be used on any file on disk.
Status (CurrentFoundCount)	Records in selection	Number of records in the Current Found Set for the current file	Returns the number of records in the Current Selection of the specified table
Status (CurrentGroups)	GET GROUP LIST	Group(s) that the current Password belongs to	Returns an array of groups and group IDs
Status (CurrentHighContrast)	Gestalt	Current Windows High Contrast setting, from the Accessibility Options control panel (Windows only)	Generic function that returns a variety of esoteric system information
Status (CurrentHigh ContrastColor)	Gestalt	Name of the current Windows High Contrast color scheme	See Status (CurrentHighContrast)
Status (CurrentHostName)	Current machine; Current machine owner	Name of the current FileMaker Pro host on the network	Current machine returns the network name of the current computer. Current machine owner returns the owner of the current machine. These functions can be run on the Server or the Client. See Status (CurrentUserName).
Status (CurrentLanguage)	Gestalt	Language currently set on the local Operating System	See Status (CurrentHighContrast)
Status (CurrentModifierKeys)	Shift down; Caps lock down; Windows ctrl down; Windows alt down; etc.	Indicates which keyboard modifier keys (e.g. Shift) are currently pressed	Can use a variety of different commands for each individual modifier key
Status (CurrentPageNumber)	Printing page	Number of the current page being previewed or printed	Number of the currently printing page.
Status (CurrentPlatform)	PLATFORM PROPERTIES	Indicates the platform of the current OS	Returns a variety of information about the platform
Status (CurrentPortalRow)	No equivalent needed.	Indicates the currently active portal row, or 0 if not in a portal	4th Dimension maintains a record pointer to the current record of each table for each process.
Status (CurrentPrinterName)	Get current printer	Name of the currently selected printer	Name of the currently selected printer
Status (CurrentRecordCount)	Records in table	Number of records in the current file (table)	Number of records in the specified table
Status (CurrentRecordID)	Record number	Unique internal ID for the current record of the current file	Returns the number of the current record for the specified table
Status (CurrentRecordNumber)	Selected record number	Number of the current record in the Current Found Set	Position of the current record within the Current Selection
Status (CurrentScreenDepth)	SCREEN DEPTH	Bit depth setting of the screen displaying the current file's window	Returns a variety of information about the screen
Status (CurrentScreenHeight)	Screen height	Height (in pixels) of the screen displaying the current file's window	Returns the height of the screen. On Windows, can optionally return the height of the 4th Dimension application window
Status (CurrentScreenWidth)	Screen width	width (in pixels) of the screen displaying the current file's window	Returns the width of the screen. On Windows, can optionally return the width of the 4th Dimension application window
Status (CurrentScriptName)	Current method name	Name of the currently running script	Returns the name of the currently running method
Status (CurrentSystemVersion)	PLATFORM PROPERTIES	A text string containing the current Operating System version	See Status (CurrentPlatform)
Status (CurrentTime)	Current time	Current time (based on client system clock)	Can optionally return the time from the server
Status (CurrentUserCount)	Count users	Number of users currently accessing the file	Number of users currently connected to the database
Status (CurrentUserName)	Current user; Current machine; Current machine owner	name of the current user, as specified in the Application Preferences	Current user returns the name of the currently logged-in user. See Status (CurrentHostName) for Current Machine and Current machine owner.

The following table contains the various Design functions in FileMaker Pro, and their 4th Dimension equivalents.

FileMaker Pro Design Functions	4th Dimension Equivalents	FileMaker Pro Notes	4th Dimension Notes
DatabaseNames	Count tables; Table name	The names of the currently opened databases	Obtained by looping through the tables in a solution
FieldBounds	GET OBJECT RECT	Location and size of a specified field	Returns object’s bounding rectangle, for the specified object. Can be used for any object on the form
FieldNames	Count fields; Field name	Names of the fields in a specified file or layout	Obtained by looping through the fields in a table
FieldType	Type	Field type (such as text, number, container) for a specified field, including whether or not it is indexed, and the maximum repetitions defined	Returns a numeric value indicating the type of the specified field or variable
GetNextSerialValue	Sequence number	Next serial number defined for a specified field (in Auto-Enter options)	Returns the next sequence number for the specified table*
RelationInfo	GET RELATION PROPERTIES	Name of the related file for a specified relationship	Returns a variety of information about the relation
ValueListItems	LIST TO ARRAY	Values defined for a specified value list	Returns the items into an array