FMP Server 6.0 and OS X

[Bev at GibCo]

I have a set of FMP files that have been running on a server for three years without any problems at all.

There is a "guardian" file that the server manager has comtrol of and can add more users and give them passwords and case manager numbers without needing me! :-)

After the guardian file checks them out they click on the button that opens the main database pastes the current date and finds the recors the particular user is allowed to view as set in the access privileges. Example, If the case manager number of the current user equals the case manager of a record, that user can browse the data as well as edit it.

Everything worked fine until they purchased new Macs running OS X. Now some are running 10.2.6, 10.2.8 and 10.3.5... On some of these new computers everything works as it always has. However, on a few of them, somehow the date doesn't get pasted, and the button that runs the script to find all the appropariate records for this user just doesn't run it. The user gets stuck in limbo and cannot even log off.

That the setup has worked for years, that it works fine on some of the OS X computers and not others, makes me feel it is something about the settings in OS X that are not the same. The poor techs are pulling their hair out. They have reinstalled OS X. Reinstalled FMP 6.0. Checked all the settings and they match perfectly all the settings in the OS X computers that work fine!!! We can find anything different between the OS X's that work and the ones that don't work.

And no error messages to direct us to the cause. Just dead in the water.

I'll take any suggestions I can get. I am just baffled.

[Bev at GibCo]

P.S. I forgot to say that when we go to a compuer that is working, the non functioning passwords work fine and let you into the main database and find the appropriate records. All the now working security password info works on some of the computers but not on other computers. All the computers that do not work, are running OS X.

[Wim Decorte]

Can yu use another method of setting the data instead of pasting? the SET FIELD script step?

Do you have FileMaker Developer? Install it on one of the rogue computers and use the Script Debugger to step through the script that should work...

[Bev at GibCo]

I am not using pasting to get the information from one file to the other.

I have created a Global Link in both files which is not really GLOBAL. It is a regular number field that is automatically set to 1 when a new record is created in either file.

Then I have a relationship setup that links the Global Link fields from each of the two files and since they are always equal to 1 the match will always work.

When a button is clicked in the logon file to run a script that Opens the MainDatabase, that opening activates a Opening script in the Maindatabase that

uses

Set(gUserSchoolLevel, InitialAccess::gUserSchoolLevel)

Where the gUserSchoolLevel fields ARE Global fields. The field in the InitialAccess file is set to the current user's information after they logon, before they "open" the Maindatabase.

That information is NOT getting set in the gUserSchoolLevel in the Maindatabase.

Unfortunately I am in Florida and the rogue machines are in TN. The tech I am working with had two of his tech quit without notice and he is trying to keep all the school district running. So he is really not available for me to work through the debugging steps. Not being able to recreate the problem makes it difficult to solve.

[Bev at GibCo]

I have more information:

The MAC server is running FMP 5.5 on OS 10.3.5

All the clients have FMP 6.0 on their computers, some running OS 9.2, some running OS 10.2.6, some OS 10.2.8 and some OS 10.3.5.

All computers running OS 9.2 and LOWER work perfectly. Some running OS 10.2.6 and OS 10.2.8 are working properly.

Those with OS 10.2.6 and OS 10.2.8 that were not working were upgraded to OS 10.3.5 and all were initially working. Now some of the other OS 10.2.6 and OS 10.2.8 that were previously working have stopped working, as well as some of those that were upgraded to OS 10.3.5.

If they go on a computer running OS 9.2 or lower and use their passwords everything works perfectly.

I read somewhere in my searching about Global fields being changed running FMP server and then on reopening the global fields default back to the value before the change. I wondered if this might be part of the problem. It is a field that controls the editing of records. If that field is not set to zero, the fields in the records cannot be changed. I set that field to O when the file is closed so on opening it should be clear but that didn't seem to work either. Ugh!

I am absolutely positive that if they changed everything to OS 9.2.2, server and clients that everything would work as it should.

However, the techs are concerned, and rightly so, if they purchase new Macs on down the line and they come with the next generation of OS X, they are are afraid that the next generation will not allow them to switch to OS 9.2 so they will be stuck and unable to use my software. :-( They may be right!

In addition they have installed OS X and all their software on OS X and have trained their teachers in the use of OS X so they have a great deal of "Ownership" involved in the use of OS X.

Do you think these problems are a result of a glitch in OS X and that I will never be able to solve the problem and make the files work the way they do in OS 9.2?? Never is a terrible word but I am getting very frustrated with this problem.

I would appreciate any ideas!!

[dkemme]

What version FMServer are you running? What OS is the machine running FMServer?

[Bev at GibCo]

Mac FMP Server 5.5 on OS 10.3.5 .....

For those of you who have tried to help solve this problem, I think we have solved the problem. We'll know tomorrow when we put the files back on

the server and let the teachers who were having trouble try to access the files using their computers.

We think it has something to do with the new security features that came with some of the latest OS X updates. The computer that had not had the latest upgrade were not affected. All those that had OS X upgraded, did not work.

There is something that we were not able to pinpoint but which kept our links from file to file from working. We rearranged our files and scripts and the order in which we were doing the steps and it seems to be working in the new configuration. I was working with the tech from the district that has used my software for the last three years without a problem. He was able to create the same conflict on his computer that the teachers with OS X were having, off the server, so we worked step by step getting the information we needed from one file to the other and finally had the entire thing working. Neither of us really knows why what we did worked but we know it looks like we did it.

Thanks for all your help. I sure hope this works tomorrow and that I don't have a problem like this again for a long time. I have a lot more gray hair today than I had a month ago! ;-)

Of course if it doesn't work tomorrow I'll be back singing the blues!!!

Thanks for all the ideas!

[dkemme]

What do you mean by links from file to file?