Properties dialog box in FileMaker Server 7 admin

[Justin Grewe]

I cannot find the properties dialog box in the MMC FileMaker Server 7 admin. In the help file, it says to register the Web publishing engine I need to connect to the server, then click on action on the top menus, then properties. But the problem is there is no properties in the action menu, only the help action. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Matt Haughton]

I've read the Help page you're talking about and it is inaccurate.

The properties dialog boxcan be accessed by

- clicking on 1 of the 'blue assistant icons'

- Choose properties from the context menu (right-click on the server name)

Once you have the properties dialog (has 8 tabs - Clients, Databases, runtime Solutions ... etc) you can click on the 'Directory Service' tab to register the server with an LDAP server for external authentication, am not too sure about registering with a web publishing engine, i thought you needed Server 7 Advanced to do this.

The 'Registering' in the help menu is something different altogether, it concerns actually registering Fm Server 7 with FileMaker.

There is an excellent document about setting up your server(s) by Wim DeCorte, it can be found on New Millennium's website

http://www.newmillennium.com/

And choose 'Migration Tech Briefs' from the 'FileMaker 7' menu

Look for the article

"Upgrading to FileMaker 7: How to take advantage of new Server model and capabilities"

i'd recommend reading this

[Justin Grewe]

Yes,

We found out that the web publishing engine is only a feature of FileMaker Server 7 advanced. But then why is the option to enable it on FileMaker 7 server? Is Server 7 advanced just an add on which would make installation and migration much easier which we are predicting it is?

Thanks.

[Matt Haughton]

Sorry its taken so long to reply, I've been a bit busy with the migration. Anyway,

The Directory Service tab on Server 7 is for registering your FM server with a directory service (an LDAP server for instance), the point is that this service will enable FileMaker to authenticate against usernames on the LDAP server as well as in individual FileMaker files. This can be done through FM Server 7 as it doesn't rely directly on any web publishing or web server.

Basically you enter the LDAP server name/port/distinguished name, then set FM server 7 to authenticate against "FileMaker and External Server Accounts", and then "Use domain user accounts and groups". Then, so long as your LDAP server is up and connected correctly, its all up to your security schema in individual files. And this is all through normal FileMaker connectivity (i.e. through "Remote..." etc).

But you are talking about connecting FM7 to a web server, and as far as I can see the only references to this are under the "clients" tab, (where all the ODBC/JDBC options are). Now I haven't had chance to play with FM Server Advanced so I am guessing that the location of the WebPublishing Engine (and other options) are stored in FM server 7 for reasons best known to FileMaker and as far as I am aware have no real effect in Server 7 on its own.

But like you say Server 7 Advanced is like an extension of Server 7 (similar to FM Developer 7 being pretty much the same as FM Pro 7 but with some, extremely useful, extras). So get the FM server up and running now, and even register the Web Publishing Engine and get that working, then FM Server 7 Advanced should just fit in.