You might not be aware that Claris has provided significant enhancements to FileMaker’sPerform Script on Server (PSoS) feature, giving developers more power and flexibility than ever. With new callback capabilities and pause/resume options, PSoS workflows can now deliver smoother user experiences and more efficient server-side processing.
These updates are especially impactful for teams building apps that rely on real-time data updates, long-running processes, or multi-step server interactions.
How to Leverage Perform Script on Server?
Recent PSoS features introduces two key upgrades:
Callback Support – After a server-side script runs, FileMaker can now execute a designated callback script on the client, making it easy to handle results, refresh layouts, or trigger additional logic.
Pause and Resume Options – Developers can now pause a PSoS session and later resume it, allowing for multi-step workflows without holding up server resources unnecessarily.
These improvements mean developers no longer need to rely on workarounds like polling or complex script chaining to keep clients in sync with server-side processes.
Why It Matters
In traditional PSoS implementations, a script would run on the server and either finish silently or require additional scripts to manage user feedback. With callbacks and pause/resume, developers gain:
Improved User Feedback: Automatically notify users when server-side tasks complete, display results, or update UI elements.
Greater Workflow Flexibility: Pause scripts during lengthy processes like imports or API calls, then resume when needed.
Reduced Resource Usage: Free up server threads during wait times or external calls.
Simpler Code: Replace complex polling or looping with clean, callback-driven workflows.
Example Use Case: Generating Reports Asynchronously
Consider an app where users request PDF reports that take time to compile. With enhanced PSoS:
The user triggers the report request.
A PSoS script starts generating the report server-side and pauses if needed while waiting for large data imports or calculations.
Once complete, the callback script on the client updates the UI with a “Your report is ready” message and provides a download link.
This workflow keeps the user interface responsive without forcing them to wait for the entire server process to complete.
Developer Benefits
In addition to improving user experiences, these PSoS enhancements help developers:
Streamline Codebases: Fewer workarounds and cleaner separation of client/server logic.
Build Smarter Apps: Support more complex, multi-step server workflows with minimal UI interruption.
Support Scalability: Handle more concurrent users efficiently by freeing server resources during pauses.
The enhanced Perform Script on Server with callback and pause/resume options is a game changer for FileMaker developers. It enables richer client interactions, smarter server workflows, and more efficient resource usage— all key for building responsive, scalable solutions. Interested to learn how Kyo Logic can help you leverage these new features in your FileMaker apps? Reach out to us here.