Personal Web Server

[timalex]

Hi

I would like to turn my own PC into a server hosting a FMPRO 5 application. I am permanently connected to the internet with a dedicated IP Address. I only want 2 people accessing the data at any one time. I would like to use the Web Companion. My questions:

1. Can I use Microsoft's PWS for the server? If so, can anyone give me some guidelines on configuring it?

2. Presuming I can use PWS, where can I located the built-in page (or should I write my own)?

3. Where do I put my databases and web pages?

I am aware of some security issues with doing this.

I'd appreciate if anyone can help me. Thanks.

[Anatoli]

FileMaker has own web server, WebCompanion.

You can run it in parallel on port 591 or alone on 80 or 591.

[Vaughan]

The hardest part is limiting access to only two users at any time... Web Companion (and the web in general) is designed for broad access. Limiting access is tough.

You can put passwords on the shared databases to limit *who* can access them, but this will not limit the number of concurrent users.

One important point about web-sharing databases with Web Companion: there only is *one* user at any time. WC is single threaded... a bit like a shop assistant. WC stands there and fields requests (from web users) as they arrive, each independently on a request-by-request basis, not even remembering what users have been there before. This means that web-use is significantlt and fundamentally different from using the databases thropugh the FMP client.

[This message has been edited by Vaughan (edited February 04, 2001).]

[timalex]

Hi

Thanks for your tips. I'm learning by the minute! To be honest, though, I'm not very good at this sort of thing. I know the development side quite well, but I can't get my head round networking and need to follow a guide, step by step.

I define my database to be shareable over port 80. When I use http://localhost, I see my open and shared database in the list. I click on it and I see what I expect. That's all very nice, but how do my users access the built-in page? I mean, what URL do they type in to get the same as I see locally?

By the way, I know the server only handles requests one-by-one, but I'm not too worried about that for the moment. I presume I need to run FMPRO Server for that to improve, no?

[timalex]

Hi

Well, I'm getting there, I think. I asked a friend to enter my IP Address on Port 591 and he saw my pages.

BUT....

I was using one of the styles with CSS, which displayed very nicely, except that I get a SCROLL UP/DOWN button on each field on the form. Why this? I don't seem to be able to get rid of them.

[Anatoli]

Just enter your machine IP into browser, another users will see the same like you.

[Vaughan]

You are using the "instant web publishing" feature of FMP5. Whilst it is nifty and neato, many people quickly find that it is limited.

Unfortunately the alternative is "custom web publishing" which has a bit of a steep learning curve, ans there is no in-between step.

Take a look at the FAQ forum for some info on getting started with custom publishing.

[timalex]

Vaughan, Anatoli,

Thanks a lot for your input. I shall continue with the instant variety, although I've realised already you need to add a bit more than just water. When I have more time, I shall certainly customise more.

Just to pick up a point in m last message, do you know why I'm getting scrollbars on every input field?

[timalex]

Aaaah,

I just found out why....If you resize a field box, say, by 1 pixel in height, to all intents and purposes, it's not a big deal and doesn't really affect the data entry - except when you publish it. Here the field box size becomes 'too small' for the defined text font, so scrollbars are automatically placed on the field.

Does that make sense?

[Anatoli]

Well ... instant is instant ... You cannot have much to say into that scenario.

In Custom publishing you will get full control of HTML.