How to Change the Script Language in FileMaker While Keeping Your Locale Settings

Learn how to adjust the `script language` in FileMaker 18 without changing your system language settings. This guide helps users in non-English locales to streamline scripting tasks.
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Navigating Language Settings in FileMaker 18: A Guide

If you’re a FileMaker 18 user working in a non-English locale, you might have found that the language settings can be a bit challenging, especially when it comes to scripting. Many users prefer to work in their native language, but when searching for educational resources or guides, the majority of the content is available in English.

This can lead to confusions due to varying translations of script steps, making it hard to identify the correct terminology. The good news is that there are ways to adjust the script language in FileMaker while keeping your system settings aligned with your locale. In this post, we’ll explore the options available to you.

Understanding FileMaker Language Settings

Before diving into the solution, it’s important to understand how FileMaker manages language settings:

System Locale Ties: FileMaker’s interface and programming language are linked closely with your system locale. This means that if your system is set to a non-English language, FileMaker will also default to that language.

Date and Number Formats: Even though the programming language is tied to the system language, the formatting for dates and numbers is determined separately, allowing you to customize those settings based on your regional preferences.

Problem: Limited Control Over Script Language

As a FileMaker user, you may find yourself in a situation where:

Difficulty in Translation: You’re learning FileMaker with guides in English, but your script steps are in your local language, leading to uncertainty on which translation to trust.

Lack of Partial Language Customization: Unfortunately, FileMaker does not allow users to select different languages for specific parts of the software, such as scripts, while keeping the rest of the program in the native language.

Solution: Switching to English for Script Steps

While you cannot easily change the script language independently from the system language, there are some methods you can try to force FileMaker to use English for scripting tasks. Here’s how:

Method 1: Removing Locale Resources

Backup Your Environment: Before making any changes, it's essential to back up your existing FileMaker files and settings to avoid losing important data.

Access FileMaker Resources: Locate the FileMaker resource files associated with your locale. These are typically found in the application bundle of FileMaker.

Delete the Locale File: You may try removing the resource files related to your language, forcing FileMaker to revert to English.

Restart FileMaker: After making the changes, restart an instance of FileMaker and check if your scripting language has reverted to English.

Potential Limitations

Risk of Unintended Consequences: This method does have its risks, as removing locale files can lead to unexpected behavior within the application.

No Partial Language Customization: Be mindful that FileMaker remains a program tightly linked to system language settings. If the method doesn’t yield the desired results, understand that changing the script language freely is not currently supported.

Conclusion

While working with FileMaker in a non-English locale can be challenging, especially with script translations, understanding how the application interacts with system settings can unlock new possibilities for your workflow. By removing locale resources, you can attempt to switch to English for script steps, streamlining your development experience.

We hope this post has shed some light on how to tackle language settings in FileMaker 18. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out!