Reports, Pickers, and JSON: The Value of Virtual Lists
Virtual lists are one of the most powerful and flexible techniques in Claris FileMaker, enabling developers to generate custom reports, create dynamic pickers, and display complex data without storing it in fields.
In Episode 25 of the FileMaker DevCast, our team breaks down the essentials, such as:
- How virtual lists work and why they’re so effective for reporting and beyond
- How global variables and JSON arrays feed into unstored calculations
- How scripts can define headers and build arrays with SQL or looping
- Using repeating fields, conditional formatting, and Extend() for creative layout control
- Handling performance at scale (and knowing when to chunk data)
Advanced Use Cases
We also look at some advanced use cases:
- Scaling large data sets
- Handling character limits
- Applying conditional formatting
- Integrating with WebViewer for interactive tables
- Techniques from the FileMaker community, including Kevin Frank’s multi-window Virtual List approach
Let’s Talk More!
What topics or points of discussion piqued your interest? Comment below, or get in touch, and we’ll be glad to talk further. We provide a range of Claris FileMaker services, from custom desktop development, web app and mobile solutions, system analysis, upgrades, licensing, and more.
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This piece represents a collaboration between the human authors and AI technologies, which assisted in both drafting and refinement. The authors maintain full responsibility for the final content.