how to publish web database

[chuckem77]

Argh! Please help, I'm a teacher and I've been trying to bring this simple idea to fruition over the past month to no avail. One of the avenues I have tried unsuccessfully is using filemaker pro to create a very simple web-based 10 field database. I have a smaple database created and I see that there is apprently the ability for instant web publishing for Filemaker Pro 6, but i swear these help files are useless. I think I have read 20 times how you can do it , with no mention of how. So I have the database and I need a step by step on how to actually get it accessible on the web.

Here's what I've done.

Created the database,

set up a server on my computer,

enabled web companion and configured it for port 81 since 80 was occupied,

I have navigated to the web folder in filemaker pro directory and tried to open the file with the fp5 extension but it does not allow me to open it on computers without filemaker pro.

Isn't there supposed to be an html file, does it make these files automatically, or what?

Help!

Chuck Marshall

[David66]

Hi try this

http://localhost:591/myfolder/mywebpage.htm

The path "myfolder/mywebpage.htm" is located in the WEB folder of the File maker folder.

See 14.9 of the Filemaker manual.

David

[Garry Claridge]

When you enter the URL "http://localhost:81" into your browser, is anything displayed?

Are you using "default.html" or "built-in" as the home page?

Do you have "Sharing" via "WebCompanion" enabled for that database?

Is the Database open?

Good Luck.

Garry

[IdealData]

First, some basics...

FMP can web publish in 2 different modes:

1. Custom Web publishing

2. Instant web publishing

As you have made no mention of any html files you have written then I presume you're trying Instant web publishing (IWP). In this mode FMP will generate the html code "on the fly", and within the configuration methods stated in your APPLICATION >>PREFERENCES >>PLUGINS >>WEBCOMPANION. You must tell FMP which specific layouts to use for the four basic data entry methods (Table/Form/Search/Sort) - see the SHARING preferences and SETUP VIEWS. You need specific layout in your database to accommodate the various VIEWS

Use the "built in" home page to keep thing simple, and FMP will generate a starting html page when you enter the absolute URL of the serving machine. (eg. 12.34.56.78:81)

Your database(s) can live anywhere, but once FMP is started then all other users can refer to that DB via a browser. Do not attempt to open the DB with more than one machine.

Please note there is a limit to the number of individual connections to one FMP web session:

"10 different IP addresses in any 12 hour rolling period", although this restriction is removed when using FMP UNLIMITED.

There are also limitations on the browsers that are supported for the various VIEW options.

Incidentally, the IWP option requires that your browser supports Java as that's what FMP generates.

It's not pretty, it's not fast, but it works and it's easy.

[chuckem77]

First of all thanks everyone for replying so quickly. I appreciate your help.

Mr. Dore in regards to your posting:

>your APPLICATION >>PREFERENCES >>PLUGINS >>WEBCOMPANION. You must tell FMP >which specific layouts to use for the four basic data entry methods

>(Table/Form/Search/Sort) - see the SHARING preferences and SETUP VIEWS. You >need specific layout in your database to accommodate the various VIEWS

[color:"blue"] Ok, I did that

>Use the "built in" home page to keep thing simple

[color:"blue"] Got that, did it.

>FMP will generate a starting html page when you enter the absolute URL of the serving machine. (eg. 12.34.56.78:81)

[color:"blue"]This is the key piece that I'm missing. I have not seen where it is i am supposed to enter the ip address.

[color:"red"] Attached [color:"blue"]are the three screens that you refered to in the posting as they appear on my computer.

[chuckem77]

Nevermind. I got it. Thanks so much all of you. It was only a matter of putting the port number after the ip address.

[Anatoli]

I bet port 81 is reserved for something else. Could you use the standard FM port 591?

What server is running on port 80?