Performance profiling FileMaker scripts

Expert

Identify slow script steps using timestamps, the Data Viewer, and the Script Debugger to find and fix performance bottlenecks in production scripts.

What you'll learn

How to add timing checkpoints to a script with Get(CurrentTimestamp)
How to identify slow steps using the Script Debugger's step-by-step mode
How to log profiling data to a table for analysis
Common performance patterns: unindexed finds, large portals, unstored calculations
How to use ExecuteSQL for read-only aggregation instead of looping scripts

A FileMaker script that runs in 0.3 seconds in development may run in 30 seconds in production against 100,000 records over a WAN connection. Profiling means instrumenting your scripts with timing checkpoints, isolating slow steps, and measuring the effect of changes. The tools available are the Script Debugger, the Data Viewer, and manual timestamp logging.

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Add timing checkpoints to a script

Wrap suspect sections with timestamp captures. Compute the elapsed time in milliseconds using Get(CurrentTimestamp) at the start and end of each section. Log the results so you can compare runs.

FileMaker Script

# Script: Profile - Batch Update
Set Variable [ $t0 ; Value: Get ( CurrentTimestamp ) ]

# Section 1: Find records
Enter Find Mode [ Pause: Off ]
Set Field [ Products::Category ; $category ]
Perform Find [ ]
Set Variable [ $t1 ; Value: Get ( CurrentTimestamp ) ]
Set Variable [ $findMs ; Value: ( $t1 - $t0 ) * 1000 ]

# Section 2: Loop and update
Go to Record/Request/Page [ First ]
Loop
  Set Field [ Products::UpdatedAt ; Get ( CurrentTimestamp ) ]
  Commit Records/Requests [ No dialog: On ]
  Go to Record/Request/Page [ Next ; Exit after last ]
End Loop
Set Variable [ $t2 ; Value: Get ( CurrentTimestamp ) ]
Set Variable [ $loopMs ; Value: ( $t2 - $t1 ) * 1000 ]

Show Custom Dialog [
  "Find: " & $findMs & "ms | Loop: " & $loopMs & "ms | Records: " & Get ( FoundCount )
]

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