Documenting FileMaker API Integrations
IntermediateWrite clear, maintainable API documentation for FileMaker integrations using OpenAPI, inline code comments, and living documentation patterns.
What you'll learn
- How to write an OpenAPI spec that wraps the FM Data API
- How to document FM-specific error codes in your API
- How to use JSDoc to document client library functions
- How to maintain living documentation that stays in sync with the code
Undocumented integrations become maintenance nightmares the moment the original developer leaves. Good API documentation explains the FM-specific quirks (error code semantics, portal data structure, session management) that are not obvious from the raw HTTP spec. OpenAPI files, inline JSDoc, and example request/response pairs form a complete picture.
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OpenAPI spec skeleton for a FM-backed API
Define paths that map to your middleware endpoints, not directly to FM. Document the request/response shapes your clients see (post-transformation), not the raw FM envelope.
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
title: CRM API (FileMaker-backed)
version: 1.0.0
paths:
/contacts:
get:
summary: List active contacts
parameters:
- name: status
in: query
schema: { type: string, enum: [Active, Prospect, Inactive] }
responses:
'200':
description: Success
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
count: { type: integer }
records:
type: array
items:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Contact'
'404':
description: No records matched the criteriaSign in to track your progress and pick up where you left off.
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