Claris FileMaker Pro 2025: New AI-Powered Features and Major Enhancements

Published on July 9, 2025

Claris FileMaker Pro 2025 is here, and it’s one of the most exciting updates in recent years. The new release focuses heavily on integrating AI technologies, improving developer productivity, and enhancing data accessibility through natural language interfaces and scripting improvements. Whether you’re building a new app or optimizing a legacy solution, FileMaker 2025 provides the tools to take your workflows to the next level.

🤖 New AI Functions

FileMaker 2025 introduces built-in support for generative AI through native script steps. These tools let developers connect to AI platforms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or Cohere with just a few lines of script—no plugins or complex APIs required.

Generate Response From Model: Send prompts to a predefined or custom AI model and receive responses in real time. You can pass previous messages for conversation context and even support agent-style branching logic.
Perform Find by Natural Language: This feature transforms written prompts like “show me all orders over $1000” into a valid FileMaker find request. It reads your layout’s schema and dynamically builds the correct query.
Perform SQL Query by Natural Language: Send a natural language prompt (e.g., “total sales by category last month”) and let the AI write and optionally execute a valid SQL statement.

Note: These features require access to a compatible AI provider (e.g., OpenAI) or a private AI environment.

💬 Natural Language Search and Querying

Thanks to AI integration, users can now interact with their database using plain English (or any language supported by the AI). Instead of needing to understand FileMaker’s scripting or find criteria, users can simply ask for what they want. The AI parses the structure of the current layout, identifies the fields involved, and assembles the logic under the hood. This makes FileMaker more accessible than ever to non-technical users.

📄 PDF Text Extraction with `GetTextFromPDF()`

A major quality-of-life improvement, this function lets you extract raw text from PDF documents stored in container fields. It’s perfect for searching keywords inside PDF attachments, extracting structured data for AI analysis, or simplifying document archiving workflows.

🔁 Found Set Navigation and Record Management

GetRecordIDsFromFoundSet(): This new function returns the internal FileMaker record IDs of the current found set, making it easier to track and transmit sets of records across layouts or scripts.
GoToListOfRecords: A new script step that accepts a list of record IDs and a target layout, then automatically navigates to that layout and displays only those records.

This combination opens new possibilities for modular scripting, user navigation flows, and session management.

🛠️ Layout and Script Workspace Enhancements

macOS UI Refresh: FileMaker Pro for macOS now sports a cleaner, more modern interface. Updated toolbar icons, layout objects, and improved inspectors bring the app closer to contemporary UX standards.
Collapsible Script Steps: If/End If, Loop/End Loop, and other structured blocks can now be collapsed, making script navigation and readability much easier.
Grouped Object Management: You can now add or remove objects from groups individually, giving developers more flexibility in interface design.

🌐 Claris Studio Integration

FileMaker 2025 introduces tighter and more powerful integration with Claris Studio:

Bi-directional data flow between FileMaker and Claris Studio.
Support for displaying FileMaker data inside Claris Studio dashboards and forms.
Shared tables and streamlined user inputs for cross-platform data collection.

This makes it easier than ever to build hybrid apps that work across web and desktop without duplicating effort.

🧩 Developer Tools, SQL Updates & Miscellaneous Features

GetFieldsOnLayout(): Returns a list of fields on a given layout as JSON—great for auditing and custom scripting workflows.
Antlr4 Parser Upgrade: Improved SQL parsing now includes support for INTERVAL and FETCH NEXT and allows renaming tables via SQL.
JSONParse(): A faster and more efficient way to parse JSON into key-value pairs or arrays.
Custom Functions Menu: Now supports folders to help organize user-defined functions.
Comments on Tables: Developers can now add internal comments to tables in the Manage Database dialog.
New system tables: Value lists are now queryable via SQL using FileMaker_ValueLists and FileMaker_ValueList_X.

🚀 Conclusion

FileMaker Pro 2025 is not just a version upgrade—it’s a platform transformation. With powerful new AI tools, improved user interfaces, and enhanced developer controls, FileMaker is firmly positioned as a modern low-code leader.

Whether you’re managing legacy solutions or building new business apps from scratch, these new features offer massive opportunities for efficiency, automation, and smarter workflows.

LolliGroup can assist you in upgrading your FileMaker system to version 2025, ensuring a seamless migration while taking advantage of the most advanced tools Claris has ever released.