Inspect live FileMaker layouts
You can inspect a live layout in the Genie chat or through Local MCP. Inspection is included in the Free plan.
Use it to understand an existing layout before planning changes: inspect its structure, field bindings, buttons, script triggers, authored calculations, object hierarchy, and local styling. The read does not switch layouts, use the clipboard, or change FileMaker.
Try it
Section titled “Try it”Ask: “Inspect the Customer Details layout. Explain the fields, buttons, and script triggers.” Replace Customer Details with the exact layout name in your open file.
Start with a summary, then request only the objects you need. If the layout changes between reads, get a fresh summary before continuing.
MCP usage
Section titled “MCP usage”Use the existing fm_read tool with target: "layout"; there is no separate get_layout tool. Resolve an exact layout ID or unique layoutName in the active file.
summary: layout identity, parts, counts, and triggers.objects: a bounded object index for focused discovery.object: complete details for one object, including optional subtree XML for tool-level inspection.full: paginated original XML for clients that need the complete definition.fields: the separate field-usage view; Windows supports this mode on FileMaker 22 and 26.
Keep the returned file/layout/object identities and snapshot_hash with follow-up requests. Continuation cursors require that hash. If a snapshot becomes stale, restart from a fresh summary. Raw XML is an internal/tool representation; ordinary Genie previews remain human-readable.
Access and limits
Section titled “Access and limits”Layout inspection is unavailable while Privacy Mode is on, for the chat or for Local MCP. Metadata and field usage still follow the items you allowed in Metadata Explorer.
Inspecting a layout never changes it. To change a layout, ask Genie in the same chat. Creating and editing layouts requires a paid plan. See Develop in Layout mode.
Through Local MCP, reads are free. Staging, execution and Workbench actions require a paid plan.
After updating, restart FileMaker and reconnect your MCP client to refresh discovery.