Improper Serving of Files

[LaRetta]

Our move to Server Advanced went smoothly but I remain confused about proper opening of served files. I've read that opening a file directly is very bad. I've been reading everything I can get my hands on and still have these questions.

1) Each Client has an Opener file on their station which calls (External subscript Main file startup) on host. Is this proper opening?

2) We have copy of Client on this host system (Dev7). Can I use same Opener (on host) to use for minimal rare FM use but nothing else? I was told it's okay to use Client on it, but I didn't find out HOW to open the file.

3) Prior setup required opening a few aux files (hidden) in Main Startup script. Otherwise Main file couldn't find them (even though they were in same directory). Should I remove these Open File lines now? Will Server open them when they are needed?

Thank you for any suggestions! I feel like a proud new mother with their first child - who has no idea what a baby is.

[Søren Dyhr]

1) Yes it is! If people can't figure out to open remote, because aliases are NO NO since the folder the server lives in should be out of reach for OS filesharing.

2) You could do but it's more correct to have it on it's own IP number, a way to accomplish this is to let it live on VirtualPC which eliminates the need for an extra machine.

3) Are these filemaker files, if not couldn't you store them in containerfields??

--sd

[LaRetta]

Hi Soren,

All menu items are removed with SecureFM w/MenuMagic so they can't attempt opening through File menu. The Opener file is their only access (I hope). And no sharing exists on host system at all.

We have enough copies of Client but lack one computer. No prob buying another one but our main limitation is space for another station - that's why I wanted this for limited check entry. We're growing too fast.

The aux files are FM. Under our old network, if one switched to a layout which needed an aux file, it wouldn't open them (even though they were in same folder). So I resorted to opening them myself at startup. I think Server will find them fine but there is only 5-hour timeframe it's not being used and I hated to drive to the office at midnight to test it from a client station.

These aux files are rarely used. I don't want to open them unless they are needed. Should I go for it and remove the Open File [] script-steps?

Thanks for the suggestions!

LaRetta

[Søren Dyhr]

I think Server will find them fine but there is only 5-hour timeframe it's not being used and I hated to drive to the office at midnight to test it from a client station.

I've worked in an organization of roaddogs (livesound engineers) scattered over an area tiny in area but logisticly tricky because of islands bridges and fiords:

http://uk.multimap.com/wi/browse.cgi?cli...;scale=10000000

...with 3 reginal offices, did we find the use of VNC indispenceable:

http://www.realvnc.com/

OR

http://www.tightvnc.com/

One of the cool things is that you even can use a smartphone/PDA to manage things far away - say walking your Chow, hiking etc.

--sd

[LaRetta]

Good stuff, Soren, thank you. I live in the mountains and, on a good day, it takes an hour to drive to the office. But at least I don't cross fiords.

I will present these ideas to Management on Friday I work in the design day and night and can't afford to be cut off. There are a few other remote options (DynDNS, port forwarding etc) I'm also checking into (from Barbeque).

Well if it won't hurt things, I guess I'll let startup open those aux files hidden for another few days until I can test it (remotely, I hope).

My chow still isn't talking to you or comment.

[pigslow]

LaRetta,

Another option is Microsoft Terminal Services.

I keep a developer copy installed on the server and when I grab control of the server I can use developer to access the live file as well as make changes to the server as needed.

I have used VNC and do use Timbuktu as well. They are both nice because they allow you to start a script that may go for a while and close your connection to that machine. The script will continue doing what it is supposed to do and you can reconnect later and check the progress.

Terminal service seems to close open applications when it closes. Atleast that is what happens to me. It could be something in the setup. While talking to another developer at a conference about this he said if he lost his terminal connection the application stayed up but he may have been using a terminal server. I just make sure the service is enabled on the server then on the client you can type mstsc in the run command. Add the servers name (if you have name resolution) or the IP address and you are in control of the server.

[herrix]

Hi LaRetta,

I program om _serveral_ databases using ONLY filemaker. Just open up port 5003 to your FM server and enter the server sexternal IP address in your client (wherever you are). Remember to check 'secure connections to server' in you FMS console.

Although it isn't advised to do heavy programming this way, it is a quick way to work remotely _without_ extra costs.

HTH

Hartger

[LaRetta]

Hi Hartger and pigslow,

Thank you both for the additional information. You all will probably kill me when I admit ... I unserve every night, go home, sign on using GoToMyPC and download all the files, work all night and then upload again, go back to the office and turn it all back on. File sharing is turned on and off at the same time. Ouch. Because I need to get into datadatabases to get the files.

I want to be sure I understand all of this before putting it into effect. I'm afraid that, if I don't understand it, I'll make a mistake and trash our files. I'm also performing heavy data-manipulations on lineitems (500,000 records) bringing old migrated data (from PeachTree) into normalization and I think it would be too slow accessed remotely. And I'm making major design changes nightly on a solution that is used the next morning (yep, I'm insane).

I actually demanded the rest of this week off, as vacation, so I can work. Hopefully, this will be one piece I'll be able to finalize. You can bet I'll holler if I get stuck; Lord, what would I have done without help from you'all on Forums? Thank you!!

LaRetta