Multi-user databases in Web folder

[cp]

Is there a problem with running regular multi-user databases out of the Web folder in FileMaker. I put all my databases there for convenience, but I wonder if it could cause problems.

I've been having a lot of crashes lately, particularly when requesting that people visiting a multi-user db disconnect. When they disconnect, it seems to bring FileMaker down all together.

[Anatoli]

Web folder is "Open to public" and so are your databases.

I will never do that...

[cp]

How do you serve the web-published databases if you don't put them in the Web folder?

[David McKee (Protolight)]

As long as your databases are open in filemaker, they can be shared (via network/web). It doesn't matter where they are physically on the drive.

I would NOT recommend putting your dbs in the Web folder.

The Web folder is a folder that is specifically for the purpose of allowing users to download files from your computer to theirs.

In the case of HTML files, this is not a big deal. But for DBs, it is.

For example, if I knew your IP address, I could download your databases using a browser and open them in filemaker without connecting to your machine with FMP networking or your html pages. I could view your field defs and your script steps.

What's worse, if you use an old version of FMP, I could also probably crash your web machine remotely.

[Anatoli]

Everything David wrote is correct

[cp]

Oh man, I had no idea. This server was set up this way when I took it over and the person who set it up said everything had to be in the web folder. Thanks for the info!

[cp]

ok, I put the DBs in a separate folder in the FileMaker folder and left the HTML pages in web folder. Seems to be working fine. Hope this will be ok.

[Anatoli]

Sure it will be. Dataflow is

Internet - webserver WC - Web folder for HTML pages.

All data requests are handled between WC and FileMaker, so database MUST be opened in FM. Local or remote from serving machine is the same.