What are the key features of dynamic calculation forms?

- provide simplified interfaces between users and business processes
- programatically pre-populate fields, tables, grids, and selection lists
- validate input and perform simple or extremely complex calculations
- execute SQL or REST API queries and filter query results in real time
- use conditional logic to help users accurately navigate the process
- format completed process results for use in downstream workflows

What are some use cases for dynamic calculation forms?

- multi-user order entry, point-of-sale, and inventory management
- evaluation, estimation, quotation, invoicing, messaging processes
- key performance indicator reporting from multiple data sources
- desktop, web, or mobile interfaces for SQL databases or REST APIs

What is the best way to build dynamic calculation forms?

- use FileMaker to design forms, create calculations, script processes
- configure functions to send user-supplied parameters to PHP scripts
- scripts execute queries when data is entered or selections are made
- queries read, write, update SQL or REST API data and return results
- query results update form fields and refresh any related calculations
- print, e-mail, text, post formatted results to other databases or APIs
- upload form and share with up to 250 Filemaker or WebDirect users
- optionally reutilize process logic and deploy in Acrobat Reader form

FileMaker

Claris FileMaker combines advanced calculation, scripting, and process automation controls with world-class form building tools, making it possible to create interfaces that can be hosted on FileMaker servers and accessed with the FileMaker application or WebDirect forms, with data optionally available via the FileMaker API. FileMaker works exceptionally well with PHP, enabling securable 2-way data interactions with SQL databases or APIs.

PHP

PHP is extremely popular server-side technology. PHP Data Objects (PDO) and cURL code libraries provide securable, injection-resistant methods to safely interact with SQL databases or REST APIs. PHP is open-source, so no licensing costs, transaction fees, or subscriptions required to own and use industrial strength code. Also, no third-party SaaS connector fees, functionality limitations, security concessions, or service dependencies.

Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat PDF forms provide very adaptable programmable interfaces that can be used, shared, or deployed as data calculation and interaction runtimes. Acrobat forms can utilize JavaScript to add interactivity, making it possible to dynamically calculate, validate, format, and post query parameters to PHP scripts that execute queries on databases or APIs and return the filtered query results back to designated form fields in real time.

“Extraordinarily efficient, ridiculously cost-effective.”

“Simplified, lightness added.”

“Strangely, merging technologies drastically simplified things.”

“That is way, way, way less complicated. Thank you!"

Desktop, web, or mobile interfaces, simple deployment, minimized dependencies, integrating different technologies to build simple or complex data automation solutions.

Take a look at the examples at the top of the page and e-mail with any questions. Thanks!