Reducing Photo Size
How can I make photos sync as fast as possible?
In addition to the notes about photo syncs in our speed article, you can also speed things up by reducing the size of your photos.
This is easily done using FileMaker's new GetThumbnail() function:
GetThumbnail ( sourceField ; fitToWidth ; fitToHeight )
Simply use this as an auto-enter calc on your container fields and specify the minimum height and width in pixels you can live with. And don't forget to make sure your auto-enter options are replacing existing content.
The only question you need to answer is which container field to add this to: hosted or mobile. This is important because you don't want to needlessly do this twice, nor do you want to do it during the sync.
Some guidelines:
If you're only pulling photos, do this on the hosted files field definitions. The photos will already be the right size when the sync starts.
And don't be afraid to run a Replace Field Contents on existing container field content to get it down to size. Just backup your files first. =)
If you're only pushing photos (you're only taking photos on the mobile device) do this in the mobile file's field definitions. The photos will already be the right size when the sync starts.
If you're pushing AND pulling photos, do it on both sides using OnObjectModify script triggers instead of auto-enter calcs. That way it will only happen during data entry and NOT during the sync--which would really slow the sync down.
Test the results of your work by exporting the field contents of your container fields to make sure they are the size you think they are.
