Questions on FM Server 3 and FM 4.1 useage on Macs

[screenplay]

I'm pretty new to FM. I've been searching these boards and found many useful suggestions. But here is a specific to my case and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. The setup: a small movie production company with 5 or 6 iMacs and iBooks link via ethernet/Airport LAN to a hardwired eMac shared file server. The eMac hosts Prairie Server/Quickconference and FM Server 3.0 simultaneously. The only FM database is a phone log that is constantly being updated - about every 4 or 5 minutes from any of the Mac terminals. The eMac server runs FM Server 3.0 and the rest of the Macs run FM Pro 4.1. The Phone Sheet database is hosted on the eMac server. There is no non-server FM program on the eMac server.

The problems: 1) When the eMac is started up every morning, the auto-launch (Startup Items Folder) of the Phone Log is not automatically opened up by FileMaker Server 3.0. The "choose application to open" dialogue box comes up and only gives FM Server 3.0 as the option. How can I get it to always automatically open?

2) On occasion, people on the various iMacs and iBooks cannot update the Phone Sheet database. The TCP/IP connection to the eMac server isn't broken, but even with the Phone Sheet database open on their desktops, they aren't allowed to manipulate data. They have to quit (sometimes force quit), and relaunch.

3) Sometimes the server unexpectedly shuts down. Is this due to straining the QuickConference and FM hosting? There isn't an option for this company, as resources are limited.

I just need to get everything running as best as I can. Any suggestions.

[Anatoli]

RE: There isn't an option for this company, as resources are limited.

Any PC with Windows NT/2000 workstation OS and with FM server is the cheapest solution, FMS will run automatically as service. Total cost $300-$500.

The same even cheaper can be set up with Linux.

In both cases it will run for months without problem and reboot.

[Meridian]

Well, I'm still learning alot about FM too, but some of this should help:

1) It sounds like you have a shortcut for filemaker (the program) in your startup folder rather than a shortcut for your file.

(In case you're unsure how to create a shortcut, here's how. Find the original of your file (prolly called "Phone Log") and start to drag it to your startup folder. Before you let go of the button on your mouse, hold down the option & apple keys so that a little curved arrow appears at the base of your file's icon, then release the mouse button.)

2)Could this be an instance of an open record on one of the machines? I've found that if a record is open (data is/was put into the record but <Enter> was never pressed after--you can tell by the layout looking different, more lines through the page around the field borders and such) on one machine, all other computers on the network are denied access to that record (or the whole layout in some cases) until its closed on that one machine.

3)Not sure about this one, I know FM can be an enormous resource hog ( running it with anything else on our server just bogs the whole system down, even extended use of notepad or word! ). Anatoli has it right though, PC hardware can be a MUCH cheaper solution. The only problem I've heard of is some scripts working differently or being disabled on a PC, but I have'nt checked this out myself.

( Can you check something for me? You're running FM server 3, and I'm wondering if it has the ability to allow 2 network protocols at once, appletalk and tcp/ip. (for why I need this, see my post on this board) You should be able to check in Edit/Preferences/Application, or the manual that came with the software. Thanks! )

[Anatoli]

RE: The only problem I've heard of is some scripts working differently or being disabled on a PC, but I have'nt checked this out myself.

Like Applescript. Nothing else AFAIK.

[Kurt Knippel]

I would have to disagree with the recommendation to put in a cheap PC only because this does NOT sound like a hardware problem, and honestly a single Windows machine is going to be alot more costly to maintain, without any real performance benefits.

It sounds more like you have one or more software conflicts going and and that is what is causing the problems.

On the client side, when they cannot make changes and are having to force quit that app, that is a definate software conflict on the client machines, and that should be resolved.

On the server side, the best configuration is the make an alias to Filemaker Server and put that into the Startup folder. Put the databases into a folder within the Filemaker Server folder on the eMac.

Install a copy of Filemaker Pro on the eMac, and use it to open all your databases, then close them again and open Filemaker Server. Opening the DBs in a normal copy of Filemaker will generally clear up and problems in regards to opening the files, as Filemaker does some error checks on both opening and closing.

Finally something to consider is that Filemaker Server 3.0 and Filemaker Pro 4.1 date from back in the OS 8.1 - 8.6 days and may not be entirely compatible with later Mac OS versions, especially OS X. You should also check with FMI web site and see if there are any updates to either Filemaker Pro or Filemaker Server. If memory serves they both had "v4" updaters that needed to be applied.

What is QuickConference and where is it running?

[screenplay]

Thanks for the replies. I've tried most of what was listed here, to no avail. I will try a couple of other things. As for the PC "solution", that is out of the question. The entire office - about 9 machines - are all Mac. Having a PC there would just cause confusion.

Kurt - QuickConference is a TCP/IP inter-office instant messsaging program. Almost no one uses it anymore. It was almost popular about 6 years ago, but never really caught on. It uses a server program - PrairieServer - and the client programs and the people in the office can send "get the book" or "no calls" or "take a message" to each other instantly from the desktop. It's actually a decent prorgram, but AIM is a lot easier and free and there is no server config required.

Meridian - only one protocol is allowed. I know how to create an alias. The Phone Log problems are not because one user is in one of the records. It's access to the entire sheet that is disrupted, and I think it is because of a faltering TCP/IP connection. They can open the sheet and use it, but then after a few hours of use/openness, sometimes the FM file stays open but the users can't do anything but look at it. They have to quit and relaunch. But thanks. You gave me things to think about.

My biggest issue right now is FilerMaker Server 3 not automatically opening the database. Every time, it gives the "Choose An Application To Open" dialogue box with only the FM Server as an option. I just wonder why it doesn't automatically open, or why I can't "retrain" it to automatically open.

[LiveOak]

A couple of things come to mind. Make sure file sharing is turned off on the eMac. FM Server 3 is VERY unstable with file sharing enabled. Also, running any sort of old software on a Mac OS newer than OS 8.6 (which the eMac probably won't support) is a risk. FMI definitely doesn't recommed running other applications on the same machine as FM Server. You might try disabling all the servers except FM Server and see if the problem presists. Switching machines around and using an older OS 8.6 machine for server might also help. You can also try moving the FM clients to AppleTalk (in FM) instead of TCP/IP. This might avoid a unknown conflict.

The bottom line is if you violate enough of the configuration recommendations, you will have problems.

-bd

[Kurt Knippel]

Open ALL the databases in a normal copy of Filemaker Pro and then close them. This will clear up the problems you have opening them in Filemaker Server.

[screenplay]

Thanks, all. Opening and closing in the normal FM program did nothing to help the "Choose Application To Open File" problem. It's no biggie, I was just hoping to make the emac/Server issue as automated as possible since no one in the office but me is technically inclined.

I do have a question... what if everything was running on AppleTalk through file sharing with an automatic connection at startup in the Chooser settings?

[screenplay]

Oh... I added that last thing because eventually, the office has to convert to OS X. They are probably 4-6 months from making that jump (and buying current versions of all the software). I'm just trying to get them through.

But thanks everyone...