Auotmating Web Open

[DSTUART]

Hi,

I have a large number of layouts that I need to open in order to display on the net (around 50). Is there a way of automating this process in respect to the checking web sharing and defining the views in stead of having to do it for all 50 pages individually

Regrds,

D

[Anatoli]

Please could you explain what is "large number of layouts"?

[DSTUART]

pages each page would only need one maybe 2 layout needing to be shared for the internet

[Anatoli]

I am still lost...

[DSTUART]

Ok I have about 50 files .fp5 for about 3 different projects that need to be open on the server in order for people to access them via the internet, now each has an internet layout that need to (went opening) but selected as a share for the internet I was wondering if there was a script i could build or some third party application i could use that I could specify what pages needed to be opened automatically share them for the internet and set what views (Table, Form and Search) where required for each as this take a considerable amount of time if there is a power out and I have to start the server again. I t would also be useful with future projects begin able to add the pages to the list

[Anatoli]

FM Server is opening always all files.

If you are using FM Unlimited for Internet serving, make Opener file for automatic opening.

Are you using Instant Web Publishing?

[DSTUART]

Yes but am wanting some form of script that for each file in a list will specify set table view to ...

set form view to ...

set search view to ...

Instead of going to file > sharing checking web companion setup view and then specifying each view 50 times

[Anatoli]

I guess you ARE using Instant Web Publishing. Your options are very very limited or nonexistent.

[Unable]

Anatoli is correct. With IWP you must design your db file such that it allows FileMaker to generate the HTML on the fly. If you don't understand how HTML and CDML work and are generated on the fly by FileMaker based on db file design, then you will have great difficulty in knowing how FileMaker db files can be designed for a desired solution.

It is much easier to design format files for Custom Web Publishing. Instead of your db file requiring 50 layouts, you can have one layout dedicated to the web. It should have all the fields which are necessary for publishing the data therein and to allow a find or an edit. If your solution requires 50 layouts now, it would probably require about 50 format files in CWP. But often, because of design options such as inlineactions, the number of format files necessary for an elegant solution can be greatly reduced.

And you don't need ScriptMaker. In fact, most developers advise against using ScriptMaker in web solutions because of problems relating to how it works.

No matter your choice, IWP or CWP, you are facing a learning curve.

Good luck.

[chrisonmaui]

Yes there is a way to do all that you want.

With regards to setting table views etc this is very annoying that FM does not remember your settings if you are using FM server to serve your web publishing files.

Copy the fp5 files to the web server (running FM Unlimited) , then open them locally, turn on sharing and set your layouts for web companion. Then copy them back to the server. Now restart fm server when you open them on your web server (fm unlimited) the form layouts and web companion will already be set up.

To set it up so your web server is always running:

you need to make a launcher database that has one default password that can open all the other databases.

then you need to run filemaker as a service

http://viceroy.eeb.uconn.edu/sikesff/fmpnt/service.htm

tells you how to do it - this works for 2000 / XP Pro / NT 4