FM Server Doesn't See Some Databases

[Jess Girard]

Hi All:

This is likely a Mac newbie question. I'm using FM Pro Server 7 running on a Mac. I've placed ten databases in the appropriate folder; FM Server sees only eight of them. I note that the ones we cannot access have my name rather than "fsadmin" as the group when I ask for "info" (Apple-I) on those files. Is that the problem? Can someone please tell me how to fix that? Somehow I was able to do that with the other eight but I cannot remember how. Thanks!

Edited August 3, 2005 by Guest
Figured it out myself!

[Ender]

The Mac OS often changes the permissions when you move files around. For the server to open them correctly, you'll need to give Read and Write permission to the group "fmsadmin" for each file. If you can't change it, hit the little padlock to authenticate.

[FMP_Trainee]

Ender,

Glad to find you here as well. I guess you wander around helping people on all kind of FM-related subjects. (I just browsed the forum, you're everywhere...incredible)

You might be able to help me.

I guess my issue is sort of related to this one.

I used to have the same trouble seing DB as Jess actually experience. I find out how to correct it.

What I have now is not really pleasing either.

Basically, some nasty colleagues of mine asked me to share my DB over FMSA 7, on a PowerMac G5 running under Mac OS X server v10.4. The DB is shared at this moment, which is fine i guess.

The matter is, with remote access and admin login (full access privileges), when I want to change a layout or import some records with ODBC scripts I've done, the server is telling me that "The action cannot be performed because the file is not modifiable".

That is not really cool. To edit something or import, I need to close the DB in FMSA, open it locally and reopen in FMSA.

Any idea about what might cause this issue?

Any help/smile/joke will be much appreciated,

Julien

Edited September 29, 2005 by Guest

[FMP_Trainee]

Well, I guess this might come from the OS level access rights.

The server administrator changed a few things (workgroup and stuff)

If i'm not in the workgroup while accessing remotely, i guess the system just tells me to back off. Which seems logical.

Security thing but I nearly cut my head in two with it today.

Anyway, will try to give him a nasty call now.

The journey from the start of this project is full of tricky things like that. I'm glad some guys like you helped me along the way.

[Ender]

Well, I get around.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about importing records with ODBC and Server Advanced. I guess I'd start by figuring out whether this error is ODBC related, or maybe the file is not modifiable for regular imports and edits as well. If the file is generally "not modifiable", then persue the permission fixes I told Jess about.

[Ender]

Well, I guess this might come from the OS level access rights.

The server administrator changed a few things (workgroup and stuff)

Darned System Administrators! --Oh wait, that's me!

If i'm not in the workgroup while accessing remotely, i guess the system just tells me to back off. Which seems logical.

Hmm, this makes it sound like you're accessing shared databases through OS file sharing (a big no no.) When connecting through hosts, the client does not need to be a member of any workgroups; it uses FileMaker's security to decide what you have access to (you just have to make sure fmsadmin has read/write access to those files in the OS level permissions.)

[FMP_Trainee]

Ender,

The thing is the file do not have the OS access right set to fmsadmin...

Strange thought because i can access the served database, but not modify it.

And on other discsussions I saw what is possible with both the server sharing and the network sharing. I don't want do that. So I removed the network sharing for everything, and i guess I will remove FileMaker advanced from the server ASAP as well.

But anyway, thanks for your suppport. The filemaker community is quite active and of great help.

Julien

[dschaal]

Did anyone ever figure this out. I am really a newbie to the whole FM7/8 world and FM Server Advanced. I finally got my database to open remotely but when I went to try and add a new layout, I got the error message that this is not modifiable. Eventually this database will be shared by the whole building. There has to be a way to solve this?

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! Donna

[Steven H. Blackwell]

This is indicative that the files need their permissions set correctly. Select the file and do a Get Info. The Group fmsadmin must have read and write privileges. You set this under Ownership &Permissions--->Details.

Further details in the Server Tech Brief and the Security Tech Brief:

http://www.filemaker.com/support/upgrade/techbriefs.html

HTH

Steven

[dschaal]

I checked the Read Write permissions and they are correct. It is still doing it...... I will read the brief. Thanks! Donna

Edited January 2, 2006 by Guest

[dschaal]

I have read the briefs but I don't see where I'm going wrong and my permissions are correct. Any other suggestions??? Thanks! Donna

I rebooted the server and that seems to have helped. Although now the file didn't ask me for a password. It just opened right up but at least I can modify it now.

Donna

Edited January 3, 2006 by Guest

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Don't know for sure. It's difficult to diagnose these elements from afar. Generally an error of the type you describe comes from permissions. This presumes that you accessed the file with a [Full Access] account.

Perhaps later today I can review this in more detail. On site at client today.

Steven