Shortcut(Alias) for Remote files on Server

[KyleK]

I have a application for a group of seven folks who are accessing a remote file on a server.

I would like to create a shortcut on the desktop that will automatically open the remote file... WITHOUT: (1st)opening Filemaker on their machine, (2) clicking Cancel at the "what to open screen", (3) selecting "open recent" and then the top file.

Is there a way to do this? If not is there a way to create a "fake database" on each of their computers that will link them to the remote database within FM?

Thanks for your help,

Kyle

[mr_vodka]

You want to create an opener file. Please see this thread for FM7 / FM8.x and this thread for FM6.

Edited November 3, 2006 by Guest
Added link to thread for FM7 and up

[Steven H. Blackwell]

I believe if you click Shift+CMD+O it will bypass all that and go straight to Open Remote.

Steven

[Tim W]

Hi Kyle,

I also provide the users who wish to have one, an opener file as John has mentioned above. It does the trick easily and portably.

FWIW

Tim

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Just one further note on all this business about opener files. Depending on how theya re set yp, if there is a change in the IP{ address of the FileMaker Server CPU, then the opener files will stop working.

Also, be sure to include error trapping for graceful failures if the server is off line or otherwise unavailable.

Steven

[KyleK]

Thanks for all the great responses.

For this application I think "Defining a shortcut" like Ted S. described in the link I was directed toward would be the best option.

However I can't seem to get his idea to work under 8.5 and Server 8.

When I try to edit a shortcut target under Windows XP it doesn't know the target "fmnet://192.168.1.84/OnTrack.fp7" which is the text string generated when i try to use Open Remote.

Is there something I am missing or need to help define what "fmnet:" is to my computer (outside of Filemaker)?

Kyle

[Ted S]

Hi Kyle,

Use a syntax like this:

fmp7://10.20.30.40/filename.fp7

Note: 10.20.30.40 is the IP address of the FM server.

-or-

fmp7://servername/filename.fp7

Either of those two methods should work for you.

When FM was installed on your PC the "fmp7" protocol was installed. This is an internet protocol so when you create a shoutcut it will use the graphic from your default browser. In my case it is Internet Explorer. If you want to change it to look like a native FM icon you can right click on the icon and choose PROPERTIES > CHANGE ICON. Then browse to the FM executible.

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Test this thoroughly to be sure it works. Some of the updaters deleted this capability and a registry edit is required to restore it.

Steven

[Ted S]

Steven is correct. However I have found that the fmp7 protocol was fixed in version 8.5 so Kyle shouldn't have that problem.

Kyle, if you do have trouble, there is a knowledge base article on FMI's website that has an attachment of a script that you can run to fix the Windows registry. However, I doubt you'll need it if you are running FM 8.5

[KyleK]

Does the fact that I have only HAD Filemaker Pro 8.5 installed on all the computers I am working on change anything that you are describing here.

I guess I am assuming that the references to "fmp7" are references to something that was defined under Filemaker Pro version 7. If not, what does the "7" refer to.

Sounds like I need to reference the knowledge base to fix the registry(?). Or can it be "fixed" if I haven't ever used anything earlier than version "8.5" and Server 8?

Kyle

[Ted S]

The FMP7 protocol works with v8.0 and v8.5 as well.

Forget the fmnet thing. All you should need to do is to create a regular windows shortcut but shen it prompts you "Type the location of the item" just simply enter:

fmp7://10.20.30.40/filename.fp7

It should work now. If you want to change the image used on the icon you can do that now or later.

[KyleK]

GOT IT!!!

I was making one mistake that I figured out...

I have never used the "short cut wizard" (i.e. right click on my desktop and select new>shortcut. I have always been able to click on the thing I wanted a shortcut of.

Up to this point I was taking a already defined shortcut and trying to edit it to make it point to "fmp7:....". Obviously that won't work.

When you use the correct method (right click on the desktop>new>shortcut then the shortcut you create is correctly identified as a "url" shortcut instead of to a file. That was the problem and then it worked great!!!

Thanks for your help. I do agree that the solution is not real savy (if you click cancel at the user login inside FM then you get an error)... but for the folks I am using this application for - the simpler the better!

Thanks again,

Kyle

[BowDown]

This is mine:

"C:Program FilesFileMakerFileMaker Pro 8FileMaker Pro.exe" fmp7://10.16.89.111/mainmenu2.fp7

That's the target line. Works well under FM8.

Edited December 28, 2006 by Guest

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Make sure all these shortcuts [color:red] do not, repeat do not attempt to open the files directly through the OS sharing. They should mimic opening the files through FIleMaker Pro's Open Remote capability.

Steven