searching a database from outside the 'web' folder

[Batfastad]

OK, normally if I have a format file inside the web folder on the filemaker unlimited machine and I wanted to set-up a search form, I would do the following...

<form action="FMPro" method="post">

<input type="hidden" name="-DB" value="TEST.FP5">

etc

But in this case I have a PHP page on a different server and I want to set-up a search form to search the database.

Is it possible to do the following...

<form action="http://fmp.domain.com:591/FMPro?-DB=TEST.FP5-Format=searchresults.html-Error=searcherror.html&-Lay=WEB" method="post">

<input type="text" name="DATABASE FIELD 1" value="" size="30">

etc...

<input type="submit" name="-Find" value="search...">

</form>

I'm assuming this is possible as the data would still be sent to FileMaker using the post method but I'd like confirmation before I go steaming in and ripping the site apart to fix this.

Thanks in advance.

[Steve T.]

Hi, B! If I understand correctly, then YEAH, AND IT'S COOL. When I was developing, I accidentally discovered a FileMaker web form can be anywhere... even on another server if you specify that in your FORM statement, but the -format pages all have to be in the Web folder. Recently, we actually did this and put the FM form on someone else's web server and it works great. I'm not sure if it matters for you or not but I'd stick the -db, -lay, etc. as hidden inputs, though...

<FORM ACTION="http://fmp.domain.com:591/FMPro" METHOD="post">

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="-db" VALUE="test.fp5">

...

</FORM>

--ST

[Steve T.]

Oh, BTW... the web form does not even have to be on a server, per se. The "accident" I had was when I was previewing the page locally in my browser. I hit the SUBMIT button and was surprised to see it work as though it were on a web server!

That was years ago and now I do it regularly.

--ST

[Batfastad]

COOL!

FileMaker and the web companion is such a powerful tool!!!

Yeah that was going to be my next question, can I set them as hidden inputs, rather than specifying them in the form action="" attribute.

But you answered that.

Thanks for your very quick reply - that's really great news.

Means I can cut down on the processing that has to be done in our office, and have more of it handled by PHP at our web hosts - always a good thing.

Thanks again