Scripting an FTP

[Heathbo]

I have a database that alows users to make updates. What I would like them to do, is when they make an update or correction, upload that record the server through FTP(I guess). Any help you can give is much appreciated.

[Heathbo]

I have a database that alows users to make updates. What I would like them to do, is when they make an update or correction, upload that record the server through FTP(I guess). Any help you can give is much appreciated.

[Heathbo]

I have a database that alows users to make updates. What I would like them to do, is when they make an update or correction, upload that record the server through FTP(I guess). Any help you can give is much appreciated.

[BobWeaver]

If you are running Filemaker on a server, you don't need to use FTP to allow users to edit records. It's all built-in, unless you are trying to do something very non-standard here. Can you provide more info?

[BobWeaver]

If you are running Filemaker on a server, you don't need to use FTP to allow users to edit records. It's all built-in, unless you are trying to do something very non-standard here. Can you provide more info?

[Heathbo]

I just created a runtime thats a database of computer components. The database of the components is in a seperate file. What I want to do is to allow the users of the runtimes to add componets into the database file and then send the updates they made to a server. I'm thinking it will be a simple file transfer. Maybe theres a better way than what I'm thinking.

[Heathbo]

I just created a runtime thats a database of computer components. The database of the components is in a seperate file. What I want to do is to allow the users of the runtimes to add componets into the database file and then send the updates they made to a server. I'm thinking it will be a simple file transfer. Maybe theres a better way than what I'm thinking.

[Heathbo]

What I mean is, the runtime I created is two parts, the runtime and a .usr file with the data of all the computer components. I have already set it up so users can add computer components to the .usr file. What I need is a way for the .usr file to be sent to a central server ether ftp or email with a push of a button in the runtime. Is there an easy way to do this?

[BobWeaver]

Hi Heathbo, sorry I missed your replies. I'm afraid I really don't understand what you are trying to do. I assume now that you are not using FM Server, since it's not compatible with runtimes, but I still don't follow what you are doing. If you just want to have users update and then send the updated runtime to a server so that other users can download it, you can probably do this using Applescript, but I don't think any of Filemaker's built-in functions will do this.

[Fitch]

It's possible with AppleScript, or you could use a plugin such as SMTPit or FTPit.

Remember, you can't send a file while it's open, so part of your script will need to close the file or save a copy or export before you send it.

[Heathbo]

The file that I want to send isn't the runtime. Its an external file that the runtime access. The runtime allows you to add records to the external file. After they add the records, I want them to send the record to me so I can combine all the records recieved into one big record for download. Of course the next question after this one is figured out is, Is there an easy way to weed out duplicate files when I import the records into one file?

[Barbecue]

FTP transfers are pretty easy to automate. As others have mentioned, Applescript will do what you want.

OS X has a command line FTP client available through the terminal that can be automated in powerful ways by shell scripting.

Another option is to use a utility like cURL to do your transfers. cURL is free and can log in, upload a file, and log out again all with a single command.

http://curl.haxx.se

As for weeding out duplicates, it depends on the nature of your data and what you consider a duplicate. It could be as simple as using the "Update Matching Records" option when you run your import, or it might be necessary for you to run some sort of deduping procedure after import.

You might want to take a look at the topic "Identifying duplicate values using a self-join relationship" in FileMaker Help.

[BobWeaver]

You should also do a search of the forums on the topic of synchronization, which covers the de-duping issue as well as a few other things that can cause problems when you try to synchronize multiple copies of a database.

In short, the issues can be dealt with as long as you anticipate all of them, and make up rules for handling them.

Examples:

- One copy of the file has a record that is not in another copy. Can you tell if the record is a new one that should be added to the file where it is missing, or a deleted record which should be removed from the file where it still exists?

- Two users make different modifications to the same field of the same record. Which one is now correct?

- One user deletes a record while another user modifies it. Should the record remain deleted?

One thing that will be a big help in solving these problems is to have two autoenter timestamp fields in the file: one that enters the creation timestamp, and one that enters the modification timestamp. These will allow you to find records that have been added or changed since the last time the files were synchronized. Doing a search for records with the timestamps newer than the last synchronization time, will give you all the new or modified records which you can then check.

Also, don't let users delete records. Just mark them for deletion. Then, the decision to delete can be made at synchronization time.

[Heathbo]

Ok I'm back hitting this against a wall again. I have the runtime set up so when the user tries to quit a script is run that checks to see if any changes or new files have been made. A window pops up asking them if they would please send the updates. By pressing OK the changes get updated. This can happen a few ways.

1. the changed files can be exported and then emailed. I then run into file size issues plus I then have to find a way to delete the exported file once its been emailed.

2. I can ftp to a server. I have absolutly no idea how to do this in Applescript, or terminal. Shame theres not a free filemaker plugin. The file still has to be exported, wich means an Applescript to trash it.

Is there a way to send the file to my server without exporting it to the local users computer?

Any help you can give is much appreciated.

[Heathbo]

Anybody?

[kiwiora]

I do something similar to this using cmd. I have done it through straight send message and written the cmd codes in there, but the trick I find is exporting it to a different filename each time or otherwise your users will overwrite each other. My script exports to a file and then ftp's it to an external location. You can get a plugin or otherwise this is what I do.

Export to location - filemaker.mer

Field Uploadnamechange

[calculation]

"""G:Ftp UploadsTransferrenfile.bat""" & " " &

Substitute(

Substitute(

DateToText(Today) & TimeToText(Status( CurrentTime))

,"/","")

,":","")

[/calculation]

send message - file uploadnamechange field

RENFILE.BAT

ren "G:ftp uploadstransferfilemaker.mer" %1.mer

ftp -s:"G:FTP UploadsTransferLogonftp.cmd" [isp addy]

move %1.mer "G:ftp uploadsCompleted"

****

You can do a search for dos FTP codes, but essentially your logonftp.cmd file is:

login name

password

put *.mer

close

quit

[Heathbo]

Where is a good place I could go or a good book I could look up that would give me a could walk through and how to with Filemaker and servers and websites. Up to this point, everything I have ever done in Filemaker has been stand alone or over a local network. I have never used it on the web. I'm starting to feel this might be a little over my head.

[AnFrusch@pepp]

Here you can find a free plug-in (it exists for both mac and Win platforms), which allows you to execute shell (Mac or MS DOS/cmd) commands.

It is funny because you can save the output in a field and it is very easy to use (if you know DOS or shell scripting).

Bye.

-)