Hosting a DB externally

[SteveB]

I use FM 8.5A and make substantial use of the Web Browser. If I host the file through one of the hosting companies, will other single FM 8 copies purchased at retail (separately) work OK. How do I save a graphic into a field? Right now, I capture it in Snagit, convert it to a JPEG and save just a file reference. Can I use a file plugin (like Troi) to open a scratch file for export?

What happens with the Browser? What about plugins? Do they stay local? Most were purchasd with a Developer's (Unlimited license).

How do users that are physically in 3 different locations communicate with the DB? Two of us use cable modems, one not yet wired (don't know what's available).

Thanks, Steve

[Steven H. Blackwell]

Read up on FileMaker Server in the on-line materials and from the Server tech brief on the FMI web site:

Tech Brief

Access via FMP clients requires the regular version of Server; access via web browsers requires Server Advanced.

Steven

[John May - Point In Space]

I use FM 8.5A and make substantial use of the Web Browser. If I host the file through one of the hosting companies, will other single FM 8 copies purchased at retail (separately) work OK.

Yes, you can use them to connect to the remote FileMaker Server.

How do I save a graphic into a field? Right now, I capture it in Snagit, convert it to a JPEG and save just a file reference. Can I use a file plugin (like Troi) to open a scratch file for export?

To save as a file reference, you'd place the file in your remote web directory. FileMaker Server treats your web root as the same as your local /web/ directory in FileMaker Pro.

What happens with the Browser? What about plugins? Do they stay local? Most were purchasd with a Developer's (Unlimited license).

If they're FMS(A) compatabile plugins, then they can be installed on the server side of things (assuming your host allows such - we qualify plugins on a case-by-case basis here). However, do note most plugins are NOT FMS(A) compatabile and need to be installed on each individual client instance.

How do users that are physically in 3 different locations communicate with the DB? Two of us use cable modems, one not yet wired (don't know what's available).

You just log into the database using FileMaker Network sharing, and it appears on your desktop identically as if you were running it locally.

- John