I'm probably missing something obvious here...

FMS 8.0 on Win won't seem to follow shortcuts to open db's. The help file and admin guide says I can put shortcuts to databases in the default Data/Databases folder, and it will open those files.

It doesn't. No errors in the log, so it appears to be not even attempting to open them.

If I put the same files in that same default folder (the files themselves rather than shortcuts) they open fine. Same thing if I add their current location as the alternate default folder.

But I'd rather use the shortcut method if I could get it to work.

Thanks for any help...

I'm not so sure this is possible. I'm not in a position to research this right now but I have no recollection of reading about shortcuts used in this manner before.

You can however create an alternate folder to hold the actual files themselves. Perhaps this is what you are referring to. They syntax is a bit tricky but there is a button right next to the field where you enter the path that lets you verify the syntax right away.

I'm not so sure it's possible anymore either. It used to work this way in FMS 5, but maybe not anymore.

However, you'll see by reading the text below, that I cut/pasted from the help file in the FMS 8 for Windows management console, why I suspected that it was possible.

Maybe FMI just needs a little more careful editing on this help file?

Place the FileMaker Pro database files that you want FileMaker Server to open—or shortcuts (Windows) or aliases (Mac OS) to those files—in the following folders:

Windows: Program FilesFileMakerFileMaker ServerDataDatabases

Mac OS: [hard disk]/Library/FileMaker Server/Data/Databases/

I don't think it's supposed to be possible either. But I will make an inquiry of FMI about this.

Steven