"Open Script" with Served File?

[MelJ]

I've read everything I can find in this forum and others and so far can't find anything that works for me.

I need to create a shortcut on a users desktop that will take the user to a specific served file and go directly to the log in dialog.

The suggestions I've read and tried, indeed open the file in the server directory but seem to open the file "Outside" of Fmp Server instead of server opening them.

I'm hosting only one file and my users are growing weary of having to wait for the dialog, then click on remote, etc. etc.

Any Ideas?

Thanks,

Mel

[Ted S]

Try creating shortcut with this syntax:

fmp7://ServerName/Filename.fp7

or

fmp7://IPAddress/Filename.fp7

Edited January 10, 2008 by Guest

[stanley]

Mel:

I think what you're after is an 'opener file', which is a simple FileMaker file which is set to launch a script on opening. At its most basic, the script is set to do two things:

1. Open a remote file on the server

2. Close itself.

Usually, I'll have some information show up on the layout of the opener file like "This file will open file xyz on the FileMaker Server at 192.168.1.100. If it fails to do so, please close the file, check your network settings, and try again." To get any text to display, you have to pause the script for one second at the beginning, or FileMaker won't bother to draw the contents of the window.

Opener files are really handy, because the script stores the location of the server & the name of the file to be opened, and can be sent out to multiple users without any worries. Also, if you then change the name of the file you have users logging into, you can just send them an updated opener file, and they don't need to worry about what the file is called on the server. Ditto for when the server's IP address gets changed.

Hope that helps.

-Stanley

[MelJ]

I'm sure I'm missing something with the opener script. I've written a small opener script and it does try to open the file but the file is served. So when the script tries to open it I get a message that the file is already in use. Just like when you are on a peer to peer and tried to open an unshared file that someone is already using.

Is there some type of script step that would open the file through FMPS9?

Thanks,

Mel

[AudioFreak]

Mel,

Make sure the file that is being hosted has network sharing turned on. You will have to do this locally and rehost the file.

Michael

[MelJ]

I really hate to be an irritant but once I get on something I can't figure out I can't sleep until I do.

My hosted file was not shared so I shared it. Now the file will open using the following shortcut......

fmp7://MELS-COMPUTER/measures.fp7

Now the problem is that it seams that it is actually starting on the server and not the client. The reason I say this is that all of my file references are invalid. I have a folder on each client with graphics, buttons, etc. under c:FileMakergraphics.

Starting my solution this way does not see any of the files.

I'm a little perplexed and sure appreciate all the help you good folks have provided.

Thanks,

Mel

[AudioFreak]

Mel,

Can you open the file through open remote? Is MELS-COMPUTER your personal computer. It appears as though you are opening a copy on your computer. But not being there makes it tough.

Michael

[MelJ]

That's exactly right. I'm opening a copy instead of FMS9 serving it. I'm trying to find a way to have Server open it for the user without having to go through the mouse moves.

I've even considered a macro but they are sluggish and show all the screens just as if you were doing the mouse clicks yourself. I'd like to get my solution a little more professional looking than that.

Thanks,

Mel

Edited January 11, 2008 by Guest

[AudioFreak]

I think you may be confused or maybe I am. But Filemaker server doesn't open the file for the client, it hosts the file. You will need to have filemaker server open the file through the Admin Interface and then open the file using open remote.

What was suggested earlier in the thread was that you need an opener file. This is a file with no records just a layout with buttons that open each file. Or if it's just one file that needs to be opened a single script that opens the "Hosted" file. The script would be a Simple

Open File["Your Hosted File"]

When setting up that script you will basically tell it to open the remote file and point it to the file you want opened.

What makes an opener file nice is that when the user opens the opener file with a user name and password. They will not be asked to enter that info again when trying to open another file using a script in the opener file if the same username and password are in the database.

Edit: you will also notice a much improved performance with FMS hosting the file. Finds will finsih about 2x faster than if opened locally.

HTH

Michael

Edited January 11, 2008 by Guest

[dschaal]

Sorry to jump into the conversation, but I just tried this and it worked beautifully.

Thank you! Donna

[Vaughan]

"Now the problem is that it seams that it is actually starting on the server and not the client. The reason I say this is that all of my file references are invalid. I have a folder on each client with graphics, buttons, etc. under c:FileMakergraphics."

The problem is that the graphics should be stored in container fields, not as references.