Linking to pdf files though a button using web publishing

[hamelekim]

I need to link some pdf files on one server to the filemaker 8 program running on the same server. The only thing I can think of is creating a web server specifically to host the files on the internet, and then use a url link with each button in the portal to open the corresponding pdf file on the server. There isn't any other way of doing this on a windows machine is there? I can't link to the pdf's in windows storing their information, and you cannot dynamically create filenames for the open file command, that I could see. I'm kind of stuck at the moment as to what to do, I don't want to suggest to the client that they have to start up a webserver to share out these pdf files if I don't have to...

[CobaltSky]

Hello hamelekim,

What you were hoping to do is really not a good idea. It is not advisable for the server which is hosting FileMaker databases to also be in use as a file server for a number of very good reasons (see white papers on best practices for the use of FMS available from the FileMaker web site).

What I suggest you do instead is place the pdf files on a separate network drive and use the open URL command to remotely open them using a file path (not an http path), so there will be no need to enable the machine they reside on as a web server (so long as all the client computers have access to the network drive at the same path/drive letter). :P

[hamelekim]

Hello hamelekim,

What you were hoping to do is really not a good idea. It is not advisable for the server which is hosting FileMaker databases to also be in use as a file server for a number of very good reasons (see white papers on best practices for the use of FMS available from the FileMaker web site).

What I suggest you do instead is place the pdf files on a separate network drive and use the open URL command to remotely open them using a file path (not an http path), so there will be no need to enable the machine they reside on as a web server (so long as all the client computers have access to the network drive at the same path/drive letter).

The issue is. They have some clients who use the information in the database. There are some forms that they can view but not edit, and those will be viewed from the web outside of their internal network, with web publishing. They also have some internal people who will view it through the same method, so maybe they can view it through the drive. they can already view the pages, but cannot currently view the pdf files. I attempted to try using a vpn to access the files but I don't think I can map a drive letter over a vpn. If I could that might solve the issue.

I tried opening some files with the open url command, but it automatically puts http:// at the beginning of each url and so it cannot find the files. Is there away to remove the http:// from the beginning using the open url script command?

[CobaltSky]

I tried opening some files with the open url command, but it automatically puts http:// at the beginning of each url and so it cannot find the files. Is there away to remove the http:// from the beginning using the open url script command?

The method I suggested will work when the Open URL[ ] command is executed from within the FileMaker client application (provided the supplied path is valid) but when accessed via instant web publishing, will prepend "http://".

So, if you are web publishing the database and require that web users also have access to the pdf content, then yes, you will also have to web publish the pdf forms and have the Open URL commands appropriately direct the users to an http address to view them.

However as per my previous advice, they should be placed on a web server which is separate from the machine which is hosting the database. :P

[hamelekim]

The method I suggested will work when the Open URL[ ] command is executed from within the FileMaker client application (provided the supplied path is valid) but when accessed via instant web publishing, will prepend "http://".

So, if you are web publishing the database and require that web users also have access to the pdf content, then yes, you will also have to web publish the pdf forms and have the Open URL commands appropriately direct the users to an http address to view them.

However as per my previous advice, they should be placed on a web server which is separate from the machine which is hosting the database.

Yeah, that is the plan. A different server to host the files on.

[Pat Monks]

Another possible option is to actually use Filemaker to house the PDFs in container fields. That way there is a tight correspondence between PDFs and descriptive information you might make available about the PDFs. In addition OSX FM8 clients can see a preview of the PDF right in the container field.

[reza]

HiI noticed you are on line

I just registered and ahve a question but do not know how to post my question

can you please help me

thanks

[reza]

my e-mail is [email protected]

[alphanitrate]

Another possible option is to actually use Filemaker to house the PDFs in container fields. That way there is a tight correspondence between PDFs and descriptive information you might make available about the PDFs. In addition OSX FM8 clients can see a preview of the PDF right in the container field.

Could you go into a little more detail? I want to have a link to the PDF files in my database based on a 7 digit SKU. Will this work? Does it display the files over IWP in a different window, or will it just prompt them to download the file.

[Pat Monks]

I was actually suggesting that you consider storing the pdf itself in a container field. I am sure that there may be disadvantages to this method, but the advantage I see is simplicity. Each record in your database could store the pdf itself as well as the 7 digit number and maybe a description field, etc. Then you would not have to maintain all the pdfs in a separate folder structure on a server and you would not have to worrry about making sure that they are synch'd up with your links.