FAQ

Who is Genie for?

Genie is built for FileMaker developers and teams who want an AI workbench inside the FileMaker workflow: scripts, calculations, metadata, queries, data/schema work, and IDE-agent handoffs.

Is Genie just another AI assistant for FileMaker?

No. Genie includes chat, but the product is a FileMaker-native AI workbench: Script Workspace capture, Calculation Quick AI, metadata grounding, QUERY/DATA workflows, Local MCP agent handoff, Workbench staging, and review-first apply behavior.

Do I need a licence key and provider credentials?

You need a working AI provider to send requests, but you do not need a Genie licence key to use the free version. A paid licence adds Coding Access for native authoring, executable DATA work, LAYOUT, QuickCode, external Local MCP, and Workbench actions.

See Licensing and Activation and AI Providers.

Should I choose ASK, CODE, QUERY, or DATA?

No. Stay in AGENT and describe the result you want. ASK, CODE, QUERY, and DATA are capabilities inside AGENT, not modes you select. LAYOUT is a separate macOS mode for native layout objects and requires Coding Access.

See Daily Workflows.

Can Genie change my file without review?

Genie is designed around explicit review and confirmation. Questions and read-only Query do not change FileMaker. Native script work is review-first, DATA execution requires a reviewed card and a fresh confirmation, and running an existing script also requires a fresh confirmation.

See Safety and Confirmation Model.

When should I use Add Selection instead of Metadata Explorer?

Use Add Selection for the current script or selected rows. Use Metadata Explorer when you want to manually add known scripts, tables, fields, layouts, relationships, value lists, or custom functions. AGENT can usually discover metadata automatically, so manual selection is optional unless you want to speed up discovery or make scope more precise.

See Context Capture.

What is Local MCP Bridge for?

With Coding Access, it lets trusted external MCP clients on the same computer use Genie as a FileMaker-aware workbench. They can inspect exact context, run read-only tools, validate supported artifacts, and stage reviewed Script, DATA, or Layout work into Workbench.

The bridge is not a hidden apply channel. Create, Apply, and DATA Execute remain user actions in Genie. The bridge exposes eight FileMaker tools plus the optional report_issue tool when product issue reports are enabled and Local MCP Privacy Mode is off.

See Local MCP Bridge.

What does Privacy Mode do?

The green shield starts a fresh context for future Chat requests. Earlier chat stays visible locally but is not sent again. Web Search, ambient Script Workspace capture, attachments, project guidance, personalization, and issue reporting are unavailable while it is active. Only FileMaker items explicitly allowed in Metadata Explorer can be read.

Local MCP has a separate Privacy Mode setting for external clients. If its Metadata Explorer selection is empty, no live FileMaker data is shared.

See Privacy Mode on the Welcome page.

What are Product issue reports?

They are optional, limited diagnostic reports that help Geniewave identify product problems. Sensitive content is removed, the reports do not validate your licence or change FileMaker, and they do not replace a human Support Ticket. Turn them off in Settings > General > Product issue reports.

What is Calculation Quick AI?

Calculation Quick AI is the small native overlay in Data Viewer, Specify Calculation, and the Custom Function editor. It drafts one calculation expression from the current dialog context and inserts editable text only after validation and drift checks. It never clicks OK or executes the expression.

See Calculation Quick AI.