Recent updates
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My App Has Too Much Data, What Can I Do?
Updated onArticleIf you are compiling a FileMaker database that has many hundreds of megabytes of data, or heads into the Gigabyte range, you will have some issues to contend with.
- LCFM Native may take a long time (hours) to compile it. If it is in the Gigabyte range, it may not complete at all;
- Anything but the very top of the range Android devices may struggle to run the app;
- Syncing your app could be extremely slow, depending on how it is set up.
Let's take a look at these issues and consider what can be done to mitigate them.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Advanced
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Deploying for iOS
Updated onArticleLet's get your compiled FileMaker solution onto iOS. Before you start this lesson - if you haven't already, you need to install Xcode and set up a development profile. If you're all ready with your Apple Identifiers, Certificates and Xcode, let's go!
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Deploying to iOS
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Deploying for iOS - Fine Tuning, Platform Settings
Updated onArticleWe've deployed a basic app with the bare minimum needed to let it run on an iOS device. However, if you want the app to have an icon, splash screens, correct permissions to use eg the camera or other features then you need to do some fine tuning. Here's how you access and edit the advanced settings for your app.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Deploying to iOS
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Deploying for iOS - Fine Tuning, Requirements screen
Updated onArticleThis is where you set the permissions you want your app to have. If it has a feature where the user can take a photo, you need camera permissions. If it uses location services eg it tries to detect where the user is, it will need Location Services and GPS. If it informs the user of events eg reminds of an appointment then it will need local notifications. If you don't set these permissions here, the app will not work correctly. However, bear in mind if you just check everything in case the app needs it Apple will probably reject your app when reviewing it for the app store. Another thing to note is that your selections will affect your apps visibility in the App Store. If it requires GPS it will only appear for devices that support GPS. You do need to set only the permissions your app needs.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Deploying to iOS
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Deploying for iOS - Fine Tuning, Icons and Launch screen
Updated onArticleThe top panes (1) allow you to add splash screen images. Include PNG images, ideally of your centered app icon on a transparent background. Choose whether or not your app supports dark mode, and if it does then upload appropriate images for Dark Mode launch. For a discussion on what you should use here and why, see this lesson.
The bottom panel (2) is for your app icons. If you hover over the three dots for each selection, it will tell you what size you need. For maximum compatibility, you should add an image for all these options.
The Prerendered Icon checkbox is a legacy setting, you should ignore it.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Deploying to iOS
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Deploying for iOS - Fine Tuning, Advanced Settings Screen
Updated onArticleATS exceptions can be set here. To learn more about this, view this article. Essentially, if you are using http instead of https, you need to list the domains here.
You can also whitelist urls.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Deploying to iOS
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Testing Your App on Your iPhone or iPad
Updated onArticleTo test on your device you will need to have installed Xcode, as detailed in this lesson. You then need to plug in your device. Open Xcode.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Deploying to iOS
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Install Xcode
Updated onArticleBefore you can deploy to iOS, you must have Xcode installed on your Mac. LCFM Native will then automatically detect your Xcode installation and use the necessary tools from it to do the compile step for your iOS app. LCFM supports Mojave and Catalina.
If you are running Mac OS Catalina, you will need Xcode 11.5 to use LCFM Native. On Mojave, you need 11.3.
Please note that you cannot deploy for iOS from Windows, you must have a Mac to do this. Apple do not offer an SDK to deploy from Windows.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Preparing to Deploy iOS Apps
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App Identifiers for iOS
Updated onArticleDuring setup for your app, you will be asked to enter an App Identifier. This lesson explains what this is, how it is used and what format it should be in.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Preparing to Deploy iOS Apps
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Putting your Android App on your Device
Updated onArticleYou've successfully compiled your first Android app - congratulations! Now, how do you get it onto your phone from your Mac? You could email it to your phone, or download in a browser, or from a chat app, or you can use Android File Transfer, as documented in this lesson.
Knowledge Base / LCFM Native Guide / Deploying Apps