When a database is hosted by FM Server 7, is there any way to schedule maintenance scripts to run? I'm talking about FileMaker scripts within the database. I don't want these scripts to run when the user logs in (too time-consuming), but rather at 3am when no one is in the system. That way they only have to run once per day, not every time someone logs in.

Any thoughts???

-Rob

Rob:

You can trigger something like that via AppleScript, but on a client machine, rather than on the Server itself.

-Stanley

Expanding on Stanley's idea, which is to have a small AppleScript application somewhere that would tell FileMaker to run its FileMaker scripts; and I would just have AppleScript tell it to start, let FileMaker handle the rest, or you'll run into timing issues.

Check out the little application CronniX. It's an easy way to set up "cron" type scheduling. You can also use iCal alarms.

http://h5197.serverkompetenz.net/cronnix/

I don't know whether CronniX has any problems with Tiger. I wouldn't think so, but you never know.

Definitely don't let either computer go to sleep.

Fenton:

Great link; CronniX looks like a very handy tool.

-Stanley

You can also have FMS7 setup a schedule to run a script file (much like the backup feature). Although, the script has to reside on the server machine, under the /Data/Scripts area. I'm not familiar with Applescript, but shouldn't you be able to setup Applescript to run a remote copy of FM pro, execute a certain script, then close the program?

I asked this question in the "Scheduled export from FMS7" thread...

Where can I find out more about the script files for FMS? What kind of scripts are they? FileMkaer, AppleScript, shell script?

thanks

They are scripts that will backup files that are currently being served, or to call an AppleScript, but nothing like an FMP script.

They are any scripts that would normally run from the command line, so FM scripts would not be included. Scripts, in this case, are typically text-only like shell scipts, batch files, and I beleive Applescripts fall into this category as well.

So, that means there's no sanctioned way to run a FM script from the server?

Ouch.

That was one of the main reasons I popped for FMS. There's certain things I want to do on the server, like automated exports and maintenance. Now it seems like I have to run another copy of FM client to do that and keep a user logged into the server all the time so AppleScript can work properly???

I try to like FileMaker, I really do...

I would advise against running FMP and FMS on the same box. The consequences of somebody opening the FMP files from the disk rather than through the FMS via the Hosts dialog are too dire to contemplate!

Get another box to run the maintenence scripts through FMP client.

I use a plugin created by Waves in Motion called Event.

Waves In Motion

It allows you to schedule scripts pretty nicely.

What type of maintenance is required? Maybe it could be eliminated with some restructure of your database.