It was my honor recently to be a guest of Richard Carlton’s live stream 5 days in a row to explain, step-by-step, how to build a native app from a FileMaker database, and how to distribute it to iPhone and iPad devices, with and without using the App Store.

All the 5 live stream sessions were recorded and are now available on the YouTube for anyone to watch. For your convenience here’s a comprehensive list of all the topics discussed in the lessons, with direct links to the corresponding moment in each recording and an approximate time needed to watch each topic.

I hope this will serve well as an ultimate guide to building and deploying native iOS and iPadOS apps based on the Claris FileMaker platform and I look forward to welcoming you on board Xgode and seeing your great apps published.

Day 1: Why you wanna do it and what you need

Watch the full session recording here:

 

 

Or jump straight to the topic you’re interested in:

• FileMaker Go vs Native App (14 minutes)
• User Experience, Plug-Ins, Versions
• Truth and Myths about the App Store (20 minutes)
• App Distribution Methods, App Review Process
• Available ways to get your app installed on actual devices
• Apple Developer Program (3 minutes)
• Flavors, How to enroll
• FileMaker iOS App SDK (aka FIAS) (1 minute)
• Xcode vs Xgode (5 minutes)

Day 2: How to do it: Develop, Build, Distribute

Watch the full session recording here:

 

 

Or jump straight to the topic you’re interested in:

• Set Up Apple Developer Account and Xgode (21 minutes)
• Develop on FileMaker Server, test with FileMaker Go (5 minutes)
• Build easily with Xgode, even several times a day (15 minutes)
• Ad-Hoc vs Testflight vs App Store vs Apple Business/School Manager (2 minutes)
  • Recap of available ways to get your app installed on actual devices
• What is IPA? (1 minute)
• Modifying behavior of an installed app (8 minutes)
• Will the IPA work on M1 Mac without FileMaker? (1 minute)

Day 3: Prepare for the App Store, Part 1

Watch the full session recording here:

 

 

Or jump straight to the topic you’re interested in:

• Special Tip: Opener App, Part 1 (7 minutes)
• Creating an Ad-Hoc build (4 minutes)
  • which you can install to your own devices on your own, without going throug Apple's review
  • Including how to find your device UDID
• Installing the Ad-Hoc build (2 minutes)
• Creating an App in App Store Connect (11 minutes)
  • Important before you try to build for the App Store or TestFlight
• Special Tip: Opened App, Part 2 (5 minutes)
• Screenshots and App Previews (10 minutes)
• Be Ready for Apple’s Rejection (3 minutes)

Day 4: Prepare for the App Store, Part 2

Watch the full session recording here:

 

 

Or jump straight to the topic you’re interested in:

• Richard Carlton’s Summary/Feedback focused on the "Return of the Runtime" (14 minutes)
• Recap of what Xgode is & Opener App connecting to FileMaker Server (3 minutes)
• Submit for Beta Testing (4 minutes)
  • Allowing your app to be installed by invited beta testers using TestFlight
• App Store Builds and Metadata (16 minutes)
  • Encryption (5 minutes)
  • Content Rights (1 minute)
  • Age Rating (3 minutes)
  • Countries and Embargoes (1 minute)
  • Allowing your app to install on Apple Silicon Macs (1 minute)
  • Distribution Methods: App Store vs Apple Business/School Manager (2 minutes)
    • App Store is public - everyone can see your app
    • Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager are by invitation only - you control who is allowed to install your app
  • Privacy (2 minutes)
• Submit for Release (2 minutes)
• Resolving Rejections (9 minutes)
• Updating Your App (6 minutes)

Day 5: Advanced Tips

Watch the full session recording here:

 

 

Or jump straight to the topic you’re interested in:

• Ad-Hoc vs TestFlight vs App Store vs Apple Business/School Manager (7 minutes)
• App Update Demo and step-by-step explanation with Script Debugger (11 minutes)
• FileMaker Pain Relief (1 minute of fun)
• Mobile Device Management aka MDM (7 minutes)
• Troubleshooting Tips (12 minutes)
• Plug-Ins (3 minutes)
• Integrating Hardware and Apple MFI Program requirements (3 minutes)
• Off-Line Syncing (2 minutes)
• Download Links
• Opener: https://24usw.com/opener
• App Installer/Updater: https://24usw.com/appupd
• Solvre: https://24usw.com/solvre

Questions & Answers

There were some interesting questions asked during the five live streams, so here are also direct links to those questions being answered:

• Does this work with Android? (9 minutes)
• Will FileMaker-based IPA run on M1 Macs? (5 minutes, demonstrated live)
• Why are you using FileMaker Server for development and testing? (1 minute)
• Can you run the app from a server but still have it installed as a separate app? (1 minute)
• Can we prevent modification by removing admin permissions using the developer tools? (3 minutes)
• If we already published an app build without Xgode, can we re-use the already submitted information as we switch to Xgode for building future versions? (2 minutes)
• Since it’s an app and not FileMaker Go, how do you close the file properly? (3 minutes)
• Can the app corrupt the FileMaker files? (2 minutes)
• Is there a way to create a stand-alone (runtime) macOS app as well? (2 minutes)
• What are FileMaker licensing consequences of building runtimes this way? (3 minutes)
• Can you offer getting my App to the App Store as a service? (2 minutes)
• What does the name Xgode mean? (1 minute)
• If you go through Apple Business Manager, can you skip the approval process? (1 minute)
• Can we make scripts to ask for in-app purchases?
• Can I use Xgode when I need to populate my app with fresh data before publishing? (2 minutes)
• Can we disable the FiileMaker Go UI so that user can’t accidentally escape the app? (1 minute)
• What is the cost of the Xgode service and is support included? (2 minutes)
• Is the remote opener available on the App Store? (2 minutes)

Do you have any other question? Let me know and I will get back to you.