Accessing FileMaker:
Code comparison of PHP vs Lasso 9

Both PHP and Lasso can access FileMaker databases, but how do their differing approaches compare when it comes to looking at the code? This article shows that Lasso code is shorter and more easy to read for the same outcome as PHP.

History

Lasso provided FileMaker connectivity since its inception. In fact CDML has its roots in the early versions of the Lasso language. Both platforms have moved forwards from those days - Lasso now has datasource connectivity to a myriad of database platforms, and FileMaker provides connectivity through PHP, XML, ODBC and JDBC.

How does Lasso connect to FileMaker?

Lasso can connect to FileMaker products that support ODBC or XML publishing. These products include FileMaker Server and FileMaker Sever Advanced. 

The Lasso FileMaker datasource connects via the FileMaker XML publishing engine and provides functionality included in that specification.

The Lasso ODBC datasource connector can also be used to connect to FileMaker via FileMaker Inc's ODBC driver.

Speed

Lasso has been shown to outperform PHP in responsiveness on large database connections. 

Security

One of the fundamental differences between Lasso and PHP is Lasso's concept of "datasource connectivity abstraction".

Simply put, this abstraction means that you define your datasource connectivity once within the Lasso Administration web application. Once set you do not need to continually include database access classes or config files in your connections that may risk exposing your usernames and passwords.

Lasso 9: Searching for records in a FileMaker database

The following examples take for granted that the user has already set up the FileMaker datasource in the Lasso Administration web application - if you wish to view how to do this in detail please refer to the Lasso Reference section on setting up FileMaker Datasources or ODBC Datasources.

For the purposes of these examples we have a FileMaker database hosted on FMSA 11 called "Contacts", with a table/layout named "list".

Lasso Searching the Contacts database

[
	// Variables
	local( database = 'Contacts' )
	local( table = 'list' )

	inline(
		-database=#database, 
		-table=#table, 
		'firstname'='John', 
		'status'='Active', 
		-orderBy='firstname',
		-search
	) => {^
		'<p>Found: ' + found_count + ' records.</p>'
		'<table>'
		records => {^
			'<tr>
				<td>'
					field('firstname')+' '+field('lastname')
				'</td><td>'
					field('company')
				'</td><td>'
					field('city')
				'</td><td>'
					field('phone')
				'</td>
			</tr>'
		^} // records end
		'</table>'
	^} // inline end
]

PHP: Searching for records in a FileMaker database

We are going to use the same scenario as Lasso - the database is "Contacts", table is "list". However PHP does not have database abstraction and we have to manually load the DB connectivity classes.

PHP Searching the Contacts database

<?php
	// required classes for FileMaker connectivity and handlers
	require_once 'fmview.php';
	require_once 'FileMaker.php';
	require_once 'error.php';
	
	// Variables
	$databaseName = 'Contacts';
	$layoutName = 'list';
	
	// Database authentication credentials
	$userName = 'myUserName';
	$passWord = 'mySuperSecretPassword';
	
	$cgi = new CGI();
	$cgi->storeFile();
	
	$fm = & new FileMaker();
	$fm->setProperty('database', $databaseName);
	$fm->setProperty('username', $userName);
	$fm->setProperty('password', $passWord);
	
	ExitOnError($fm);
	$layout = $fm->getLayout($layoutName);
	ExitOnError($layout);
	
	$compoundFind = NULL;
	$record = NULL;
	
	//  Create the Compound Find command object
	$compoundFind =& $fm->newCompoundFindCommand($layoutName);
	
	// Create all find requests
	$findreq1 =& $fm->newFindRequest($layoutName);
	$findreq2 =& $fm->newFindRequest($layoutName);
	
	// Specify search criterion for each find request
	$findreq1->addFindCriterion('firstname', 'John');
	$findreq2->addFindCriterion('status', 'Active');

	// Add find requests to compound find command
	$compoundFind->add(1,$findreq1);
	$compoundFind->add(2,$findreq2);
	
	// Set sort order
	$compoundFind->addSortRule('firstname', 1, FILEMAKER_SORT_ASCEND);
	
	// set skip and max values
	$compoundFind->setRange(0, 50);
	
	// Execute compound find command
	$result = $compoundFind->execute();
	
	// Get records from found set
	$records = $result->getRecords();
?>

    <table>
        <?php
            $recnum = 1;
            foreach ($records as $fmrecord) {
                $record = new RecordHighlighter($fmrecord, $cgi);
        ?>
            <tr>
                <td>
                    <?php echo nl2br($record->getField('firstname', 0) )?>
                    <?php echo nl2br($record->getField('lastname', 0) )?>
                </td>
                <td>
                    <?php echo nl2br($record->getField('company', 0) )?>
                </td>
                <td>
                    <?php echo nl2br($record->getField('city', 0) )?>
                </td>
                <td>
                    <?php echo nl2br($record->getField('phone', 0) )?>
                </td>
            </tr>
            <?php $recnum++; } ?>
    </table>

Conclusion

Both Lasso and PHP languages can access FileMaker effectively to complete the task. However, while both languages access the same FileMaker database and achieve the same output, PHP requires significantly more code (approximately 4 times as much) as compared to Lasso and is clearly a more complex process.

A greater volume of code means there is a greater chance of an inadvertant syntax error which in turn may be harder to toubleshoot - especially for the novice developer. With simpler code also comes greater productivity - more time can be spent on the web application polish and delivery than the mechanics of syntax. In addition, Lasso has previously been shown to have speed advantages over PHP. Lasso gets more done in a shorter period of time.

Lasso's database abstraction also delivers a greater degree of security - your datasource usernames and passwords are not exposed in files that are potentially accessible. In addition, Lasso has other commendable security benefits which make it easier to secure your data.

We conclude that in addition to Lasso being faster than PHP, it is also more inherently secure and significantly easier for the novice developer to learn.

Security. Speed. Simplicity. And - for the love of coding.

Author: Jonathan Guthrie
Created: 30 Jul 2011
Last Modified: 10 Aug 2011

See how Lasso performs compared to PHP for accessing FileMaker data