{i} ''to use this script, you'll need the Library.fp7 and Library.tab sample files (I will post them asap) and to edit the {{{DBPATH}}} and {{{IMPORTFILE}}} variables accordingly.''

{{{
#!python
#!/usr/bin/pythonw

from pprint import pprint
from appscript import *
from Carbon.File import FSSpec
import codecs

DBPATH = '/Users/SOMEUSER/Desktop/Library.fp7'
DBNAME = 'Library'
TBLNAME = 'Library'
IMPORTFILE = '/Users/SOMEUSER/Desktop/library.tab'


""" 
	Connecting to /FileMaker and opening database
"""

fm = app(id='com.filemaker.pro7') # [1]

if not fm.databases[DBNAME].exists():
	fm.open(FSSpec(DBPATH)) # [2]


"""
    Querying database schema
"""

print "FileMaker has %d database(s) opened: " % fm.count(class_=k.database)
print ", ".join(fm.databases.name.get()) # [3]

db = fm.databases[DBNAME] # [3]

print "\nDatabase '%s' has %d table(s): " % (DBNAME, db.count(class_='cTBL')) # [4]
print ", ".join(db.tables.name.get())

t1 = db.tables[TBLNAME]

print "\nTable '%s' has %d field(s): " % (TBLNAME, t1.count(class_=k.field))
print ", ".join(t1.fields.name.get())

print "\nTable '%s' schema:\n(name, type, nulls OK, unique value, global value)" % TBLNAME
pprint(zip(
	t1.fields.name.get(), 
	t1.fields.default_type.get(),
	t1.fields.nulls_OK.get(),
	t1.fields.unique_value.get(),
	t1.fields.globalValue.get()))


"""
	Creating new records
"""

if t1.count(class_=k.record) > 0:
	t1.records.delete()

f = codecs.open(IMPORTFILE, 'r', 'mac_roman')

for line in f:
	data = line.split('\t')
	rec = fm.create(new=k.record, with_data=data, at=t1) # [5]

f.close()


"""
	Looking at records
"""

print "\nTable '%s' has %d record(s)" % (TBLNAME, t1.count(class_=k.record))

qry1 = t1.records.filter(its.fields['title'].cellValue.contains(u'Calvin'))

if qry1.exists():
	print "\nselect title from library where title contains \'Calvin\':"
	pprint(qry1.fields['title'].get())

qry2 = t1.records.filter(its.fields['author'].cellValue.contains(u'McCaffrey'))

if qry2.exists():
	print "\nselect title from library where author contains \'McCaffrey\':"
	pprint(qry2.fields['title'].get())

qry3 = t1.records.filter(its.fields['genre'].cellValue.contains(u'Thrillers'))

if qry3.exists():
	print "\nselect title, authors from library where genre contains \'Thrillers\':"
	pprint(zip(qry3.fields['title'].get(), qry3.fields['author'].get()))

print "\nselect distinct author from library:"
pprint(set(t1.fields['author'].get())) # [XXX]

# show "List" layout with the records from qry3, sorted by authors

qry3.show()
fm.layouts['List'].show()
fm.layouts['List'].sort(by=fm.fields['author']) # [XXX]
}}}

'''Footnotes:'''
 1. use {{{app(id='com.filemaker.pro7')}}} instead of {{{app('FileMaker Pro')}}} to be sure only /FileMakerPro 7 is launched
 2. Carbon.File.FSSpec is not the best way to handle files. I have to investigate that point...
 3. {{{fm.databases.name}}} returns the db name with the '.fp7' suffix, but it can be omitted when specifying {{{fm.databases[...]}}}
 4. specifying the table class as {{{class_=k.table}}} doesn't work, use {{{class_='cTBL'}}} instead
 5. according to FileMakerPro's Apple Event Reference, the fastest way to insert data is to: 
  * use {{{fm.create(new=k.record, with_data=data, at=table1)}}}, with data as a list of values in the same order as {{{table1.fields.name.get()}}}
  * insert data at the table level, outside the currently found set.