Why better debugging matters (short case)

A poorly debugged FileMaker app leads to frustrated users, silent data corruption, and mounting technical debt. Good debugging practices reduce firefighting, improve reliability, and make it far easier to scale a solution across teams. The right tools help you observe runtime behavior, analyze the structure, and test integrations before they break production.

Core built-in tools you should master

1. Script Debugger (step-through visibility)

FileMaker’s Script Debugger lets you run scripts step-by-step, inspect the current script context, and jump to a line where an error appears. It’s the first port of call for behavioral bugs and logic errors — learn its keyboard shortcuts and use conditional breakpoints to avoid noisy runs. The Script Debugger is part of FileMaker’s advanced toolset and integrates tightly with other built-ins.

2. Data Viewer (watch expressions & live variables)

Use the Data Viewer to watch fields, global variables, calculation results, and expressions while a script runs. The Watch tab is invaluable for complex calculations and for checking the exact values that drive branching logic. Combine it with the Script Debugger for surgical investigation.

3. Database Design Report (DDR) & “Save a Copy as XML”

When structure matters (unexpected schema differences, missing indexes, or hidden relationships), generate a DDR or save a copy as XML. These artifacts let you perform offline analysis, cross-reference where fields are used, and run queries over metadata to spot structural causes of runtime problems.

Powerful third-party tools that supercharge debugging

4. FMPerception — realtime solution intelligence

FMPerception analyzes a file’s DDR/metadata and surfaces where fields, scripts, custom functions, and layouts are referenced. For debugging it’s priceless: you can quickly find every script that touches a suspect field, locate unused or duplicate elements, and perform code-review style inspections. FMPerception is designed as realtime developer intelligence and is a staple for deep code analysis.

How to use it in debugging: export DDR → run FMPerception → search for the field/label/function and follow references to find the call path that produces the bug.

5. BaseElements — the “database for your database”

BaseElements is a long-standing developer tool that provides searchable metadata in a live FileMaker file with extra auditing, notes, and plugin support. It can find indirect uses (GetField/Evaluate), help track down naming collisions, and be automated to run checks across projects. Many dev teams keep a BaseElements file as part of their toolkit for quick, in-app metadata searches.

Server-side and logging tools you must use

6. FileMaker Server logs & Performance Monitoring

For sporadic or scalability problems, FileMaker Server generates logs (events, client connections, script schedules, and errors) that are crucial. To identify timeouts, persistent queries, and scheduled script failures, use server logs. To get rid of bottlenecks, combine server logs with performance best practices (server-side scripts, indexing, and appropriate server hardware/configuration). The server logs are frequently the smoking gun if a problem only manifests when the system is loaded or when there are several users.

7. Audit logging (track who changed what and when)

When data integrity is at stake, implement or deploy audit logging. FileMaker solutions should capture who changed records, which fields changed, and when. You can implement lightweight field-level logs in FileMaker or use third-party audit modules that write immutable records for compliance and troubleshooting. Audit logs are invaluable when a production dataset exhibits unexpected state.

Plugins & ecosystem tools to consider

8. MBS Plugin, BE Plugin, and other native extensions

Plugins can extend what you can observe and automate (file system access, HTTP debugging helpers, advanced regex). Use them cautiously (security and compatibility) but they can make some debugging tasks trivial compared to pure script approaches. (See BaseElements plugin features and community best practice resources.)

9. Marketplace developer utilities & Claris Connect logs

Claris Marketplace lists many specialized developer tools — from solution analyzers to deployment helpers. When debugging integrations, remember Claris Connect (and other middleware) provide logs and retry histories you can inspect to trace failing flows.

Practical debugging workflows (repeatable recipes)

Workflow A — Reproduce, Observe, Isolate

1. Reproduce the issue in a controlled environment (dev with representative data).
2. Use Script Debugger + Data Viewer to watch the variables and step through execution.
3. If the bug references data or integration, consult Server logs and integration logs.
4. Use FMPerception/BaseElements to find every reference to the offending field or script.
5. Fix, add unit-style checks (validation), and re-test.

Workflow B — Intermittent/Scale issues

1. Run performance smoke tests with representative user load.
2. Gather server logs during the incident window and search for long queries/timeouts.
3. Profile slow layouts and scripts — check unstated unstored calculations and unindexed joins.
4. Consider moving heavy tasks to server-side schedules or optimizing relationships/indexes.

Workflow C — Data corruption or mysterious edits

1. Immediately enable/inspect audit log entries for the time window.
2. If no audit log exists, export transaction slices (records around the event) and use DDR + FMPerception to find scripts that could have made those edits.
3. Add temporary additional logging and re-deploy a debug build if necessary.

Tips, traps, and best practices

• Don’t debug in production whenever possible — reproduce with a copy that contains representative data and the same server configuration.
• Use “Run as Full Access” sparingly when diagnosing permission problems; don’t leave elevated rights in place.
• Automate DDR exports as part of CI or nightly builds so you always have recent metadata for analysis.
• Instrument your solutions: add lightweight logging hooks (script steps that write to a debug table) that can be toggled on/off for emergency diagnostics.
• Guard AI & automation outputs (if you use them): add clear validation and human review steps — incorrect automation is often treated as “mystery bug” by users.

Launch-ready checklist (before you declare “fixed”)

• Reproduced problem in dev with representative data
• Step-through trace captured / specific failing script step identified
• Server logs examined for timestamps around the failure
• FMPerception/BaseElements used to check references and hidden calls
• Audit log (or ad-hoc transaction log) analyzed for data integrity
• Performance smoke test run if fix affects load/queries
• Test plan added to prevent regression; change documented in DDR or release notes

 

Final thoughts

Debugging in FileMaker is as much about tooling as it is about process. The Script Debugger and Data Viewer give you immediate visibility. The DDR, FMPerception, and BaseElements give you structural insight. Server logs and audit trails tell you what happened under load or over time. Combined with repeatable workflows and defensive practices (logging, testing, validation), these tools turn frustrating mysteries into solvable problems — fast.