Sharing files over a network

[Dave Sandburg]

Is there a way to simultaneously share the same file that resides on a server? The manual seems to say it's not supported, but there is a menu choice to make the file a multiple user file. I have a system that is composed of 4 related files that I placed on a server. I'd like any of the work stations on my LAN to have access to these databases at the same time. Can it be done? If not, I think this is a serious flaw in Filemaker!

Thanks for any help.

[Ron F]

Hi Dave.

Are you useing FM Server 7 on your server. It would be a wise investment if you were. If not you can still share the file(Turn network sharing on and allow all to access, unless you are restricting privleges etc.). However, keep in mind there are a few things to consider. First, You should always open the files on the server or workstation that is to host the files. In your case your server. Also, keep in mind if you don't open the files there the host of each file will depend on who opens it first. It's also advised against because it can be somewhat unstable. If you run FM Server from your server you would have any of these issues to worry about, FM Server opens and hosts all of your files for you. Plus there are some other nice benefits such as SLL encryption and scheduled backups that you can take advantage of. I hope this helps. Ron

[stanley]

Dave:

Even if you don't invest in FM Server, remember that your users must NOT access the databases via OS-level file sharing. They must always access the files via File-->Open Remote, and (as Ron said) the files must always be hosted by FileMaker running on the server computer. For this reason, it is recommended that OS-level file sharing be turned off on whatever machine is serving your FM databases in a shared environment.

-Stanley

[Dave Sandburg]

Thanks a lot, guys. Yes, this helps a great deal. At this point I'm running FM 6, not FM Server. But I'm planning to upgrade to FM7. Since I only have 6 machines on the network, I thought File Maker Pro 7 would be all I need. Apparently, I need File Maker Server as well, is that correct?? That would reside on the server and each client machine would still have to have the FileMaker 7 application?

[Neverland]

Dave -

You don't NEED Server, and without knowing more about your setup and configuration, one could argue it could be overkill.

FileMaker Pro can share files between other people who are using FileMaker Pro. However, you are limited with File Sharing in FileMaker Pro 7 to five concurrent users. You mentioned six users in your previous post but if they are not ALL on at the same time then you might be able to get by with several copies of FileMaker Pro 7. Either one person / machine could open / host the files all the time OR you could have a computer off in the corner somewhere that has the files open all the time and everyone would log in as a guest to the machine in the corner. But as someone previously said, you want to avoid opening the file over the network using OS file sharing --- asking for trouble that way.

Also keep in mind you could also use Instant Web Publishing that is built into FileMaker Pro 7 and have people in your office access your data via a browser. Just another suggestion.

SR

[Aussie John]

Dont forget, v6 allows 10 simultanious users while v7 only 5 (including the host on the server).

[Dave Sandburg]

John & SR:

Thanks for your suggestions. Please forgive me if I'm asking some stupid questions, but I'm not quite sure where I am. Let me explain: I have a server (a 4 year old Mac G4 tower) running AppleShare IP with an OS 8.6 system. On that server I have my FM6 databases

[rogermax]

Firstly if you continue on this path, then yes it may result in disaster. Second. A simple modification will help, based on my interpretation of what you wrote. When opening the file(s) on the "server", open them in multi-user. All clients will need to be speaking the same language, ie TCP/IP or whatever you are using. next users open filemaker and then open the files through the HOSTS. They will see the files listed in the window. Your "Server" will be the host and everyone else guests. First choice would be to host with FMServer, but this will do better than actually opeing the files directly from a remote box.

[Aussie John]

further to Rogers comments, you cant share v6 files and v7. The old files would need to be converted to version 7 and all users use version 7 also.

[Ron F]

one thought... You should be running FM Server on a pretty fast machine if possible. Reason being that all of the processing in FM Server 7 takes place on the server rather than on the workstation. Ron

[Dave Sandburg]

Ron F.

I thought I was beginning to understand but now I'm not sure... If I run FileMaker Server on the server, I still have to have FileMaker Pro on each of the connected machines, don't I? So all of the file processing is done by FM Server and not the application on the client machines?? If that's the case, is it even necessary to have FM Pro on the clients?? Sorry if these questions seem stupid, but I am totally new to networks using a server. Guess I have a lot to learn!

The server I am using is a G4 500. Do you think that's fast enough? There really isn't a whole lot of processing with these rather simple databases. Thanks so much for your help and suggestions.

Dave

[Lynn Johnson]

We are successfully running a system very much like what you describe. Five G4 OSX 10.3 with FMP7. About six related files. One computer is dedicated to being the host.

To provide something like the double-click launching we employed under FM 6, we had to create a local database (copy on each client computer) with scripts which provide the Open Remote function without requiring our users to navigate through (and wait for!) the hosts dialog. These scripts include some error checking because if a user cancels at the log-in (password protected access) or if the file is not running on the host, weird things happen. In fact, the only work around I have found calls for the local database to close and then re-open after an error (fun-not!).

[Vaughan]

You mean like this:

http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1433/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1/vc/1

[Dave Sandburg]

Lynn & Vaughan,

Thank you, and every one else who responded to my SOS. This is very helpful and I think I'm at last on the right track. I am switching to Mac OS 10.3 Server and FileMaker Pro 7, but the conventions described should work. If not, I'll cry help again!

Thanks