Is there a way to automatically close a file if someone leaves it open?

I do not have server but more than one person access the file from differnt locations and this sometimes causes a problem. Or a notification that the file is open so they can not open it.

Matt->

Welcome to the forums. FileMaker 7 can share a file like the server, but not as quickly nor for as many users. I suggest that the computer with the file leaves it open in FileMaker (acting like a server). Make sure the file has security enabled (usernames & passwords) and that it is setup in Extended Privileges to allow sharing.

From what you describe it sounds like you have the FM files on a file server somewhere in a shared folder and people come in from anywhere and try to open the files through the OS from that shared folder.

That's a recipe for disaster. It's the #1 cause of corrupted files & data.

If you don't have FM Server then the FM files need to be on one machine in a non-shared folder. The copy of FM on that machine needs to open the files and all other guests need to access those hosted files through "open remote".

That means that before anyone can open the file the host machine needs to have them open/hosted.