Claris FileMaker 2025 is here and brings with it some new and exciting script steps to more easily integrate AI tools and processes into your workflow! The new Perform SQL Query by Natural Language script step allows users to describe a find in natural language and the AI model translates it to a SQL Query and performs it.

Benefits

This new script step brings several benefits to strengthen artificial intelligence functionality in your FileMaker solution. Stakeholders unfamiliar with SQL can easily perform queries using natural language without any SQL knowledge. This step offers multiple configuration options that give developers control over AI interactions and output. This step can be combined with other FileMaker features like Web Viewers and JavaScript for extended functionality like displaying dynamic, AI-generated content.

Getting Started

Before you begin using this new script step, you need to configure your account for the AI model you will be using. FileMaker has a script step called Configure AI Account that you will need to use to establish a connection to the AI model. You will need 3 pieces of information for this script step:

1. The AI model provider you'll be using

2. The account name for the provider

3. Your access token from the provider

By default, FileMaker can interact with OpenAI (ChatGPT), Anthropic, and Cohere, but there is an option to select a custom option.

Here is an example of how to implement this script step into a subscript.

Now that you have your AI account configured, the next step is to create your prompt template. FileMaker has a script step called Configure Prompt Template that is used to set up your prompt for the AI model. The pieces that you need for this are the template name (any arbitrary name will work), your AI model provider, the template type (Find Request, SQL query, or RAG prompt), and your find request prompt. Once you select a template type, the find request prompt is automatically generated by FileMaker. However, you can fine-tune it to fit your specific needs if necessary.

Here is the request prompt that FileMaker automatically generates when you select Find Request for your template type.

Once you have your prompt template configured, you are ready to use Perform SQL Query by Natural Language. For this, you will need your AI account name, the specific AI model you are using, the prompt typed in by the user, and the prompt template name. There's also a setting called Action with five different options:

• Query will perform the query that you entered in the prompt and then format the results in a user-friendly format to read.

• Query For Data Only will also do the query, but will return the results in a comma-separated list.

• Get SQL will return your prompt converted into a SQL query, but doesn't perform it.

• Get First SQL Only will return your prompt converted into a SQL query, but it only shows the first query.

• Get DDL returns a DDL of whatever tables you specify in the script step.

Here are all of the Action options for Perform SQL Query by Natural Language.

AI Disclaimer

It is important to remember that AI has its limitations and we can't assume that responses are correct 100% of the time. We recommend verifying all results when interacting with an AI model. It is important to remind your user that this is AI and of its limitations. It is also important to note that there will be a potential cost for the use of tokens for AI model providers. AI models are changing frequently, so be sure to do your research before implementing them into your FileMaker solution and plan accordingly!

Conclusion

The Perform SQL Query by Natural Language script step adds even more versatility to your FileMaker application by converting natural language to a SQL Query. This opens up a world of possibilities by allowing less technical users to easily perform complex queries. For help utilizing this new script step or anything else in your FileMaker solution, feel free to contact us at DB Services. We would be happy to help!