stupid question...

[tfman716]

I am fairly new to filemaker...If I am using filemaker server and I create a database using filemaker pro, would every computer running on a network have to have filemaker installed on their computer? Or can they just access the database via the server and not have to install filemaker on every system...

Thanks

[Anatoli]

Not stupid question at all.

Yes, you need FM Pro on every computer or you can save some money and publish the databases on one client for browser access from another workstations. Some very simple tasks can be OK with that. Try Instant Web Publishing which is very limited, but it works for some e.g. find customer...

[Steve K]

Hi Anatoli,

I know this isn't my thread, but I have a similar question that I would appreciate a straight answer for. With Developers Stand Alone/Kiosk options are the files created able to be shared across a network? Royalty Free. If not, what is the point, and what are the options?

[fishma]

Straight answer...No.

Why? Good question!

Options,... All you clients, using a shared application, will need a copy of FMP to use the application. It's how FMP makes their money.

[Anatoli]

RE: Straight answer...No.

Yes and No.

Yes hosted with FileMaker Server and opened into FMP clients.

The Developer point is, that you can give away or sell singleuser application without royalties paid to FMI.

[CobaltSky]

Anatoli is correct. (Not that that is unusual )

In fact, runtimes from version 3 of FMD (then called 'SDK') were multi-user, but FMI quickly concluded that they had only three options:

1. Charge between 10 and 20 times as much for FMD

2. Limit runtimes to single-user

3. Go out of business.

Rightly or wrongly they chose 2.

Some people would prefer that they had chosen both 1 and 2 and made a multi-user version of FMP available at a higher price. But one would assume that their market research then and since supported the decision that was taken.

This matter has been a topic of enthusiastic (!) discussion in various forums ever since - but whether there will be a change of policy at any time in the future remains unclear.

[Anatoli]

Exact wording by one FM executive about big networked solution paid by single and cheap license or unlimited web serving for even cheaper user license was:

"We will never do that mistake again"

Personally I believe there is huge market for selling seats in form of simple half priced FM without access to scripts and field definition, sort of runtime.

Markets in which FMP client cost is at month salary will NEVER go for FM solution.

And even bigger markets exist with month salary around US $30. There the only option is to steal software or go with open source like MySQL/php.

FM can easily go for 10 times bigger market share by addressing those waste areas.