Customizing the Hearing Office Lite Program

How To Customize the Hearing Office Lite Program

All Users

I get requests to change or customize a portion or portions of the Hearing Office Lite program. This is different from a new feature request, because typically the change is very specific for a user. For instance, someone wants to change the way information is displayed or printed. The Hearing Office Lite was created by using the Filemaker Pro database engine. The Hearing Office Lite files were bound to a special version of Filemaker, Filemaker Pro Runtime Engine. The runtime version allows you to use the files that I created without having to buy Filemaker Pro. When the folks at Filemaker created the runtime engine, they left some of the features out of the runtime engine. You really can't blame them. If you could do everything with the free version of the runtime engine, why would you ever buy a copy of Filemaker Pro.

Here are the restrictions you will encounter when using the runtime engine.

No customizing/modification of layouts
- You can't add or remove fields from the screens. This means you can't change the way information appears on the screen
- You can't create new screens. This means that you can't add a different printing layout
No customizing/modification of buttons
- You can't change the way buttons work. Buttons are really small pieces of code that perform tasks automatically for you
No new fields or changes to existing field types
- You can't add or modify any fields or their definitions. You can place and/or remove existing fields on new or existing layouts only.

So you say, "I want to add a different printing layout so that my labels print 10 across and 2 down." Well, don't despair. Almost everything that I created in the Hearing Office Lite can be modified using the Filemaker Pro application. I wrote the Hearing Office Lite and bound it using version 3.x of Filemaker Pro. As of Oct 5, 1999 the current version of Filemaker Pro is 5.0. Versions of Filemaker Pro from 3.x through 4.x save in the same file format and I recommend that you use one of these as there is no conversion process necessary to edit the files. You can however convert to 5.0 or higher, but you will need to use the Filemaker Pro application to launch the Hearing Office Lite files after modifying them. The Filemaker Pro application is presently distributed by Filemaker Inc. At different times, Filemaker Inc. provided special incentives to computer users to buy their application. The street price has been about $250.00, If you upgrade from a previous version, even a runtime, costs have been as low as $99.00. You could also look at auction sites, such as AOL's classifieds and ebay for discount or used copies that can be registered. For new or upgrades, check the mail order companies, such as PC/MacZone or PC/MacConnection. I am not interested in being a reseller of Filemaker Pro because the mail order places will typically sell it for less.

To modify the files I created, you simply need to open the Filemaker Pro application by selecting it from the start menu. Once the application is open, Go to the menu, File/Open. Navigate to the folder where the Hearing Office Lite files are stored--hopefully you are working on a backup of your files. You should see a folder similar to the one below

Now we need to tell Filemaker to look for all available types. Go the section "Files of type:" and select "All Available *.*" You should now see the screen below:

Curse over to the right and select Ptrecord. Now press the Open button to view your files in Filemaker Pro. If you are using Filemaker Pro 3.x-4.x there is no conversion process. The files will open quickly and easily. If you purchased Filemaker Pro 5.0 or higher, the first time you open the files a conversion process will need to be done. Be sure that the during the conversion process, the new files have the same names as the original files.

Once you get proficient with Filemaker Pro, you might want to create a native Filemaker Pro file that automatically opens your Hearing Office Lite files. You can do this easily by assigning a script to open the files. You could also share the files using a TCP/IP or IPX/SPX using peer to peer with other users on Mac and PC's. It really is a great application! The one thing that you will not be able to do with the Filemaker Pro application is to create or delete new fields. That area of the file has been restricted--it's the only way I could protect my intellectual property.

So you've bought the Filemaker Pro application and you need help to modify the database. Well, I do audiology and hearing aids everyday in my office, Basin Audiology, and in my spare time I write programs, like the Hearing Office Lite. I DO NOT TEACH FILEMAKER PRO, so don't ask me to teach the steps you need to modify your files. At different times I provided modifications and conversion services. I'm not doing custom work now. Before you go out and buy the Filemaker Pro application, make sure that you are prepared to read the manual and learn how to use the program. Filemaker Pro is the highest rated consumer friendly database program ever created, but you still need to learn how to use it.

Filemaker Inc has some great services to help you if you don't want to read the manual and learn how to use the application on your own. Throughout the year they offer training at different sites. In addition, if you don't want to buy the program, but want to modify the Hearing Office Lite, you can search the Filemaker Inc web site for developers and trainers in your area. These are people you can hire to change the database for you.

For more information about Filemaker Pro, visit the Filemaker Inc. web site at www.filemaker.com.

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