FileMaker App cross borders: Working with Exchange Rates, Timezones, VAT Validation and Address Autocompletion

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FileMaker App cross borders: Working with Exchange Rates, Timezones, VAT Validation and Address Autocompletion

02/07/2025

As a FileMaker developer, you're often focused on solving business problems—managing clients, tracking hours, generating invoices, etc. But what happens when your application needs to cross borders? Whether you're building a solution used by international teams, or serving clients in different countries, you'll likely need to support currency conversion, timezone awareness, VAT validation, and international address input.

In this post, we’ll walk through some ready-to-use API examples that can help you make your FileMaker app truly international.

1. Currency Conversion with CurrencyFreaks

🔗 API: api.currencyfreaks.com

Use this to fetch real-time exchange rates. You're generating an invoice in USD, but your client pays in EUR. You want to show the conversion rate.

Set Variable [ $url ;
  "https://api.currencyfreaks.com/latest?apikey=YOUR_API_KEY&symbols=EUR,GBP&base=USD" ]
Insert from URL [
  Select ;
  With dialog: Off ;
  Target: $json ;
  $url
]
Set Variable [ $eurRate ; JSONGetElement ( $json ; "rates.EUR" ) ]

2. IP-Based Timezone Recognition with IPGeolocation

🔗 API: api.ipgeolocation.io/timezone

Detect the timezone of a user based on IP, ideal for language or Timezone recognition. You want to display a time field or send a reminder based on the user’s local timezone.

Set Variable [ $ip ; Get ( SysteemIPadres ) ] // Or fetch dynamically via another API
Set Variable [ $url ;
  "https://api.ipgeolocation.io/timezone?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY&ip=" & $ip ]
Insert from URL [
  Select ;
  With dialog: Off ;
  Target: $json ;
  $url
]
Set Variable [ $timezone ; JSONGetElement ( $json ; "timezone" ) ]
Set Variable [ $localTime ; JSONGetElement ( $json ; "date_time_txt" ) ]

3. Validate EU VAT Numbers

🔗 API: controleerbtwnummer.eu

Validate the format and status of EU VAT numbers.You're onboarding a new B2B client and need to validate their VAT number automatically.

Set Variable [ $vat ; "NL123456789B01" ]  //Enter new VAT number
Set Variable [ $url ;
  "https://api.controleerbtwnummer.eu/v1/" & $vat & "?apikey=YOUR_API_KEY" ]
Insert from URL [
  Select ;
  With dialog: Off ;
  Target: $json ;
  $url
]
Set Variable [ $valid ; JSONGetElement ( $json ; "valid" ) ]  // Check if API return 'valid'

4. Address Autocomplete with Pro6PP

🔗 API: pro6pp.nl

Autocomplete addresses based on postal codes and house numbers. You want to speed up form-filling during checkout or registration by auto-filling city/street.

Set Variable [ $postcode ; "1012JS" ]
Set Variable [ $number ; "1" ]
Set Variable [ $url ;
  "https://api.pro6pp.nl/v1/autocomplete?authKey=YOUR_API_KEY&postalcode=" & $postcode & "&number=" & $number ]
Insert from URL [
  Select ;
  With dialog: Off ;
  Target: $json ;
  $url
]
Set Variable [ $street ; JSONGetElement ( $json ; "results[0].street" ) ]
Set Variable [ $city ; JSONGetElement ( $json ; "results[0].city" ) ]

🔐 A Note on Security

When using Insert from URL and external APIs:

Always use SSL (HTTPS) endpoints.
Store API keys securely (use FileMaker's encrypted credentials or a protected table).
Handle errors using Get(LastError) and JSON validation logic.

🎯 Wrapping Up

Internationalizing your FileMaker app doesn’t mean rebuilding it from scratch. With a few well-placed Insert from URLscripts and third-party APIs, you can surprise your clients and make your tool more valuable with minimum effort. These tools let you build smarter, more context-aware apps that scale across borders. 🌐

Loggix has build +100 different API connections over the years. If you need any help, let is know!