We are moving our FileMaker Pro 6 Database to a local server in hopes of using the Web Companion Plug In to make it a multi-user database for our small office of about 4 users. We need to have simultaneous access to records to do updates and searches throughout our work day. Right now only one person can access the database at a time.

I'm not sure I understand how the access is set up. Either the server where the database is located will be the admininstrator and us users will have to have permissions set correctly, or that the database will be password protected and we get in using that one password.

I have read that each of us will have to install the Web Companion Plug-in from the Edit > Preferences > Application menu.

I believe the server is a Windows server. Us users have either Windows XP or 2000, depending on how old our PC is and the appropriate version of NT on those.

We will not be spending any more money on new software for a while so buying FileMaker Server or upgrading to FileMaker Unilimited is not an option. I'd like to get a few comments on any snags that could be expected from the described set up. Please ask for additional details if needed. I'll try to find out more about what equipement we are using.

Thank you for any reply.

The WebCompanion is for use with Web Browsers. That is, one copy of FM acts as the web-server and it is accessed by users with their web-browsers.

To have a database accessed by more than one person using FM you need to have one computer acting as the server. The database to be shared needs to have "Sharing - MultiUser" enabled. Then each of the users can access it with "File - Open Remote".

Hope this helps.

Garry

Hi, Rick! Garry's right on...

1 = computer w/FM and Web Companion that wil act as web server (or FM server.. FM Server software not needed); database should be open on this compter and shared

a, b, c, d = user computers w/web browsers (or FM clients); nothing else really needed

Whether you go w/web or FileMaker for your users, you should have 1 computer act as a server and everyone else just connects via FM or web. Access levels are determined by your password permissions and not by how the db's are accessed. In your 4 user office scenario, you can do all of this with 1 to 5 versions of FM client (1 if you go web-based, 5 if you go FM-based, anything in between for a mix).

--ST

Well that clears that up.

Thanks for the replys.