Desperate for advice

[John Chamberlain]

I need advice badly. I have two FMP databases, the first has one related file (one to many), and the other has three interrelated files (main file is one to many in file B, while files C & D are lookup files to control actions of file . The main file in both databases contains information about cancer patients, their relations/friends, and donors to a non-profit organization providing free support to recovering cancer patients.

These two databases were created in FMP 3 and converted to FMP 4 (I intend to convert the resulting files to FMP 5.) They were independently created to run on a pair of Macintosh PCs, and were stand alone applications. They share a great deal of personal information that was entered independently. OF course there are the expected field and content issues (e.g. one file contains a single record for each person, while the other allows for two names per record).

I have been asked to modify the first database to accept personal and medical information from the second one, thereby merging the two and eliminating the second database

[Kurt Knippel]

In order to run Filemaker Server you'll need to be familiar with WinNT or Win2k and how services operate on those OSs. If you are more comfortable with either Linux or MacOS you can also run Filemaker Server on either of those platforms.

At 7 users, they are really pushing the bounds of the peer-to-peer sharing capabilities of both Windows deskop OSs and Filemaker Pro. So a real server should be running here.

First decide what platform you want to run your server on, MacOS X, Linux or Win2k. Then get a high quality and reliable machine which will run that platform. Finally get the appropriate version of Filemaker Server.

DO NOT SHARE the drive for the Filemaker Server, no one in the office should have any access to that machine, unless sitting in front of it, and even then it should be secured both physically (in a closet, cabinet or cage) as well as requiring a login. Filemaker Server itself handles all the sharing of the databases.

The OS of the client machines does not matter and you can have a mix of Windows and Mac versions. However mixing of Windows versions on the same network may have other issues, related specifically to Windows (didn't you get the memo from Bill Gates, he wants you to upgrade all you computers).

Filemaker Inc's website also have a series of white papers on Best Practices and other topics. I would suggest looking there, as that is the best reference for setting up Filemaker Server.

[John Chamberlain]

Thanks Kurt, but I am still feeling like a neophyte here.

First, what is an At 7 user?

Second, if I am using a server PC do I have to get a copy of Win 2K Server?

Third, if I have a Mac with sufficient memory, disk size & type, etc., can I use it for a server to the PCs on the network?

Finally, am I correct in assuming that there are no third party books on FMP Server? I have shopped around the FMP website, but most of what I downloaded was a bit to esoteric for me.

[Kurt Knippel]

John Chamberlain said:

Thanks Kurt, but I am still feeling like a neophyte here.

First, what is an At 7 user?

When a company is "at seven users" they are outside the functional limitations of peer-to-peer sharing of both Filemaker Pro client application and the Window OS.

Second, if I am using a server PC do I have to get a copy of Win 2K Server?

Filemaker Server requires either MacOS 9.x, MacOS X, WinNT, Win2k or Linux. Win2k Server is NOT required, nor is it recommended.

Third, if I have a Mac with sufficient memory, disk size & type, etc., can I use it for a server to the PCs on the network?

Absolutely.

Finally, am I correct in assuming that there are no third party books on FMP Server? I have shopped around the FMP website, but most of what I downloaded was a bit to esoteric for me.

I do not recall any books specifically on Server. Honestly Filemaker Server is far to simple of an application to actually have a book on only it.

[John Chamberlain]

Great!

One more question (for now). I have a G-3 350 Mac with 512 MB of RAM. It has a 1.5 GB ATA drive. Would this do for a server? If so, do I need to replace the drive with a SCSI drive?

[Anatoli]

RE: Win2k Server is NOT required, nor is it recommended.

It can be used, but then you are throwing money at M$ The same with WNT server.