Thu Aug 6th | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Gellert Rotunda
Track: Technical
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Shaking the Dependency Tree - part 1 of 2
T-101 - Shaking the Dependency Tree - part 1 of 2
Presented By
Darren Terry
Darren Terry
Pacific Data Management,Inc.
San Jose, CA
Have you ever found yourself wondering why FileMaker failed to make a calculation result update itself? If so, you're not alone. The calculation engine is exposed to us in many ways (not just calculation fields in Manage Database), and the rules for when FileMaker updates calculation results are called the calculation dependency tree.

This session will explain why some calcs refresh automatically and others don't. This session contains essential knowledge for anyone building complex, performant FileMaker solutions. It's a must-know for building fast, reliable FileMaker apps.

Topics to be discussed in Part I:

• Calculations in Field Definitions - stored
• Calculations in Field Definitions - unstored
• Calculations in Field Definitions - auto-enter calculations
• Merge Variables on Layouts

Because defining calculation fields is the "primary" way people tend to interact with the calculation engine, we'll spend the bulk of session 1 focused on how calculation fields (and auto-enter calculations) behave with relation to the dependency tree. By the end of this session, you should have a firmer grasp on exactly what will cause FileMaker to update a calculation field, regardless of the circumstances (stored vs. unstored, related vs. local, global, etc.)

When I presented this session before (at DevCons, user group meetings and PauseOnError), half of the session was taken up with calculation fields, so I want to devote the whole first session to this topic.

This will be an interactive session. I fully expect questions and diversions as we go along.
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Comments
Ron Glen Cates Aug 6, 2026 5:48 pm

Great presentation!

Todd Weller Aug 6, 2026 5:50 pm

Great session with a lot of great information.

Eric Matthews Aug 7, 2026 10:57 am

Thank you so much, Darren. What a demo. Thanks for the demo file. One of the best audience interaction and awareness I can remember it a tech presentation.

Stephen Kerkvliet Aug 10, 2026 2:02 pm

Great personality and fun to listen to. Appreciated the topic which was something I had not given a lot of thought to.

Dennis Burnham Aug 14, 2026 7:41 am

Thanks Darren for a terrific presentation

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