Analyzer is full of features that make life easier for the FileMaker developer. The Trace report shows you a script and every script it calls, in one easy to read report. Make notes and print detailed reports about virtually every element in your solutions. FileMaker is great, but FileMaker and Analyzer together is a home run. With Analyzer on your side, you'll be building better solutions in record time.
Analyzer's "Problem Dot" feature automatically finds over 20 common FileMaker
Pro problems and flags them with an easy-to-see red dot. One click shows you all
the details of the object, including a clear explanation of the problem. Now,
instead of learning about problems from your users, you can catch them
before you deliver.
If you need to document comprehensive technical details about your solution,
Analyzer is the answer. Among its 14 powerful reports are Element Detail reports
-- Fields, Scripts, Layouts, and so on -- that show virtually every detail of
every element in your solution, across all files. You can even report on just
the elements that match your search criteria. The Script Trace report shows the
full contents of a script, including every script
it calls. It keeps digging through every subscript, up to 20 levels deep (and
yes, it can even handle recursive script calls for the advanced developers out
there). The end result is one clear, color-coded, and nested report showing the
whole script, so you can finally get the big picture (look to the right to see
downloadable examples of all Analyzer's reports).
Most FileMaker developers spend a lot of time answering a simple question:
"Where do I use this field?" Like a perfect assistant, Analyzer doesn't need
to be asked. It already knows what you want, and is ready with the answer when
you're ready to hear it. When looking at the details of a field, Analyzer shows
you what kind of field it is and all its settings. Analyzer also shows you
everything that uses a field, and everything a field uses (this works for every
element type). We call these Dependencies and it won't be long before you depend
on them too!
Sometimes developers have more complicated questions, like
"Where am I using a Show Message script step?" or "Am I using
the Today Function anywhere?" Tough questions are why Analyzer has a powerful
search engine built right in. Just pick your search criteria (add as many as
you want) and Analyzer shows you what matches in seconds. Upgrading to a new
version of your favorite Plug-in? Analyzer can tell you every place you use
the old version, making the upgrade almost painless.
If you use Analyzer more than once with a solution, the Comparison Report can show you exactly what's changed. When your client's solution "mysteriously" stops working, you can quickly find out exactly what's changed, making the fix that much easier. For tedious jobs that demand documentation, the Comparison Report is indispensable -- embark on the work, and when your done, it shows everything you've changed in full detail. You can even assign cost values to certain changes, and print a cost report right from Analyzer.
That's just the beginning. See the
features page for a complete
list of the things Analyzer will do for you. But best of all, Analyzer itself is
built with FileMaker Pro, and it is completely unlocked -- Every Analyzer owner
gets the master password. If you need to customize a report, just pop into Layout
Mode and change away. Analyzer can even analyzer itself, something we did
often while developing it.
