Filemaker Server
From MetaWiki
This page is divided into 3 sections - end user, 'sao' or some one wanting to META to host a database and finally a section for META itself.
Contents |
FileMaker User
First make sure you have an appropiate version of FileMaker installed to access the database you required. The FileMaker 8 server is compatable with FileMaker 7 and FileMaker 8, however if the database of interest uses FileMaker 8 features, you will have problems if you use FileMaker 7 with it.
Note that FileMaker is 'at seat' licenced and not concurrent with keyserver access control. A copy of FileMaker has to purchased for each computer it is installed on.
To access the server you need to
open existing
remote
type in the address box 'fms8'
You probably want to make this a 'favourite'
Click on the server name
A list of databases on the server is shown.
Open the database you require.
Note many if not all databases hosted require passwords for access. META does not manage the passwords for these databases, it's the 'owner' or 'creator' of the database that has this control.
Getting A database hosted
The FileMaker server is to allow large number of concurrent users to use your database. It does NOT serve FileMaker databases to the Web. This feature will be offered later. It is a different piece of software.
Before requesting a database be put on the filemaker server please consider the following
The number of current users of your database. If it is unlikely that more than 2 people will open the database at the SAME TIME, putting it on the FileMaker server is probably a waste of time. Put the database on an appropiate shared folder on Aristotle instead.
How to get a database hosted
Prepare your database. The filenames MUST end in .fp7. The server will not display more than 32 characters of a file name, so please keep them short. Please prefix your file name with your 'school' name. This makes it easy when I connect to the FileMaker server to know who belongs to what.
Check all the relations,passwords etc. Make all the related files 'shared hidden', and the main entry point 'shared'. This is to reduce the 'clutter' when you connect to the FileMaker server. There are around 70 databases there now.
Consider making ALL the shared databases 'shared hidden' and have a small linking database that isn't shared to 'launch' into your main database application. You put this little linking database on Aristotle somewhere where your users can find it, or email it to them.
Create a folder in your Personal Files called 'FileMaker' or similar. Copy the database files to be hosted there.
Email nethelp@arts.usyd.edu.au and request that the files be put on the FileMaker server. They will then be moved from your personal Files to the FileMaker server's storage space and 'opened' on the server.
How to make changes to your database
Email nethelp@arts.usyd.edu.au saying which databases you need to take down. I will then close the databases on the server and copy them to a FileMaker folder in your personal files.
When you have make your structure changes, follow the 'how to host' sequence above.</nowiki>
Note - this paragraph is probably incorrect
Notes
With related databases some times FileMaker will find your local copy of a related file and open it, instead of opening the related file off the FileMaker server. If you keep copies of your databases please 'hide' them inside 'zip' files or similar. On the Mac renaming the files isn't enough - the Mac keeps a unique 'magic number' with every file you create that persists for the lifetime of the file. Renaming the file doesn't change this number. Thus applications (ie FileMaker) can find a file even if it's been renamed.
FileMaker 8 server - notes for META staff
Filemaker 8 upgrade project
Over the break between 2006/7 META will be implementing a Filemaker 8 server to replace the current Filemaker 5 server. The versions are not compatable - Filemaker 8 will convert older Filemaker 5 and 6 files to the new format as they are opened.
All databases hosted on the current Filemaker 5 server will have to be converted or removed from the server, we will only parallel run the two Filemaker servers for approximately 3 months.
META will not be converting your databases for you. We can suggest the names of some consultants who may be able to help you convert your files.
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