This computer works!!....This computer doesn't?

[Nick Kaihoi]

Hello all!

I am fresh here and will be able to handle all the newbie sarcasm! Bring it on!

I have just been hired on to a new company and first things first right? Update FM6 to FM7. I recommend 8.5 and get shot down. I install FM7 Server and FM7 Pro on to the server which is running OS X Server Tiger. I convert all the database's and have everything up and running great. I do a test on my computer and I can do everything that I was able to do in 6 just as easily in 7. Next step, intsall on 'others' computers. Everytime I go to open remote I need to go to 'Favorites' and 'Add' the host (which to me is not a problem, there are only about 20 people that need to have access to database's) Then the computer freezes up for a minute or two and when it becomes un-frozen(?) there are NO files shown. I have definately restarted and re-installed. Nothing seems to work. I hope my problem is clear but I have my doubts!

Recap:

Two computers work perfect. Myself and co-worker.

Other 2 computers do not. <--these computers have fresh installs of FMP 7

If anyone can shine some light on my situation I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks. Nick.

[Ender]

Welcome Nick,

I'm afraid the migration to FM7 from previous versions is not always a clean one. There are several known issues that must be identified and worked out. For a complete guide to migration, check the Foundations & Migration Methodologies white paper on filemaker.com.

It's hard to say for sure, but from what you've described, it sounds like a File Reference problem. While these are generally easier to fix pre-conversion with Metadata Magic, they can be manually fixed post-conversion by removing outdated file references and carefully combining duplicates. If having read the section about File References in that white paper you think this might be the problem, try searching the forums for previous discussions about dealing with them post-conversion. If that doesn't sound like the problem, let us know.

[Nick Kaihoi]

Thanks for such a quick response. However, I have been all over the migration help pdf's. There is nothing in there like my problem.

The databases that we use are some of the most simple types I have ever seen. There was nothing diffcult to convert and some of the databases could have been just as easily been done in excel.

The second computer, that worked as well as mine, logged on without a problem. The part that is confusing me is this:

I do not have and 'filter views' preferences on, but they do work as I have tested them using my computer which works. So I should be able to view the files even if I don't have authentication, correct?

I have also created new accounts on the working computers with different user names and different passwords. Without setting up ANYTHING I am able to view AND access the databases. I am starting to think it could be an OS thing. I am running 10.4.6 on the working computers and 10.4.5 on the computers that are not working.....yeah, i know, a long shot.

Any ideas with this new information?? Thanks again. Nick.

[Nick Kaihoi]

I also just noticed you are from Minneapolis, MN!! I live there and work in St. Paul. Small world huh? :)

[Ender]

Hope you're enjoying the thunderstorm we just sent you!

So you're hosting with Server 7 on a Mac, but some Mac clients cannot see the host in the Open Remote dialog? Are they all on the same local network? Have the server and clients been updated to rev. 3? In the FileMaker->Sharing->FileMaker Network settings, do you have 'Network access to files' set to "All users". Do you have the option "Don't display in Open Remote dialog" deselected? Do the privilege sets have the "Access via FileMaker Network" selected as an 'Extended Privilege'?

BTW: I don't think this would be an OS thing.

Edited July 24, 2006 by Guest
"Deselected"

[Nick Kaihoi]

All computers are on the same network.

All computers are running 7.0v2, not v3. I will update....as my options are thinning

I can't select 'all users' under 'network access to files' on any one machine becuase they are not sharing any files from local hard drives, only from the server. I would have to open a file locally in order to get those options. Same goes for 'Don't display in open remmote dialog'

All files have 'access via filemaker network' selected.

I am guessing you can feel my brain frying now?

[Ender]

I can't select 'all users' under 'network access to files' on any one machine becuase they are not sharing any files from local hard drives, only from the server. I would have to open a file locally in order to get those options. Same goes for 'Don't display in open remmote dialog'

This one could be the key. The files would need to be closed on the server, then opened with FileMaker Pro in order to check these settings.

If you were limiting access by privilege set or you have the "Don't display in Open Remote" option checked, your users could have trouble seeing the files. Checking that those options are set as I've suggested will at least let users see the file list. Don't get me wrong--both options have their uses, but at this point you need to troubleshoot where the problem is. If this indeed allows them to see the file list, then you can work from there to get the security figured out for those privilege sets.

[Nick Kaihoi]

Okay. I did as you suggested and still no dice.

I also tried hosting in the traditional way with just FileMaker Pro 7. I shutdown the server and opened up a database in FMP 7. I checked all of the things you recommended again and everything looked fine. On the computer that worked already, I went to 'open remote' and found the one and only database I had open on the 'host' computer available for my viewing. I went to one of the computers that doesn't work and did the same thing. Nothing at all with same symtoms. The computer froze for a few minutes.

Since I was hosting the old fashioned way, all bets should be on the 'client' computer, correct? I don't know where else FM would be looking for permissions?!?!

I still think it's odd that on the working computer I could set up a 'new user' in the OS and was able to see the files just as easily as the user that originally worked.

I am going home for the night. I can't thank you enough for helping me out with this problem.

Sincerely,

Nick.

[Ender]

Hmm, don't see why some computers would not see the network. Don't suppose you're using external authentication?

I still think it's odd that on the working computer I could set up a 'new user' in the OS and was able to see the files just as easily as the user that originally worked.

I'd be more interested to see if a new OS X account would work on a machine that was not working. This would indicate a preference file problem.

That delay you experience on those machines should be a clue. How are the machines trying to see the remote host, with a static IP or a domain name, like fmp.mydomain.com?

You're not using the trial version of FileMaker Pro by any chance?

[Nick Kaihoi]

I will be trying the new user account on the non-working computer when I get back to work tomorrow. I did not have the passwords available for me to change many settings on the 'bad' computer. Tomorrow I lay down the law!

I am getting to the remote host with a static IP.

No, it is not the trial.

I'll post tomorrow with the results. Thanks again. Nick.

[Nick Kaihoi]

Okay so now I am completely confused. I Carbon Copy Cloned my computer's information to one of the computers that didn't work over night last night. I come in this morning and fire up FM on my computer and everything works as it should. I fire up FM on the freshly cloned computer and I get the same result!?!?!? These computer's SHOUDT be identical right now. Now I am really lost. I need some coffee.......

[Nick Kaihoi]

GOT IT!!

I was running v2 on all computers including the FileMaker Server. After making an identical clone of a working computer to a non-working computer and having the SAME issues I decided that I will update all computers to v3 and see what happens. If this didn't work I was going to be convinced that it was a network problem and not a FileMaker Problem. I updated the 'clonee' computer and gave it a go just for giggles.......and it worked! I went to the original 'cloner' computer, which was running v2, and it worked as well!?!? So Updated worked....go figure. I am still confused as to why. If two computers have the exact same everything on them (including IP's, I did a static on both just to see what would happen) and one worked and one didn't, then what is it? How could updating one and not the other solve the problem? Anywho's.....to anyone thinking they don't need to update, DO IT! Learn from my mistake. Don't ask questions, just do as the man tell you to. Thanks so much to Ender for all your help. Adios! Nick.

[Ender]

Glad you got it figured out. I too am a bit suprized that v2 seemed to be the problem, as I don't recall this being a problem with that version.

[xochi]

I'd strongly recommend upgrading to 8.0v3 -- I've found it to be so much superior to FM7 that it's a no-brainer. 8.0v3 has been out for a while and is very solid. I might hesitate on 8.0v4, and surely 8.5 as they are brand new, but choosing 7 over 8 just seems like asking for trouble.

In my experience, 7 was much more likely to crash and corrupt your data than is 8.