Connecting to FileMaker Trial

[Squadra T]

Hi All,

For my first FileMaker related job I need to insert data to a FileMaker database using an ODBC connection.

I have downloaded trials of both FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Server but I cannot find the ODBC drivers...

The documentation instructs "From the folder /xDBC/ODBC Client Driver Installer, copy the file SequeLink.bundle to either your System or User library."

--> That is when you have an install CD, but I only have the trial download installer, which does not contain the ODBC drivers...

Online I find references to the DataDirect drivers, but when I go to their website or download the latest trial of their drivers, there is no mention of FileMaker drivers.

Can someone help me find the files I need?

Thanks in advance,

T.

[jamesducker]

If you are using a Mac (I guess you are from your profile) then you all you need to do is set up an ODBC data source on your machine:

1) Go to utilities folder (Apple-shift-U in Finder) and open ODBC Administrator

2) Set up a DSN (data source name), for more details see the ODBC Administrator help

3) Back in FileMaker, open or create a FileMaker database file then go to File -> Import Records -> ODBC data source.

The data source set up in step 2 will be visible and you can enter your SQL query or whatever which will return the data you want from the source. On completing the import you will see the data has been inserted in to records in FileMaker.

Hope that helps.

[Squadra T]

I know, but that is the issue.

When you add a DSN, the first thing you have to do is select a driver. If you don't have the FileMaker driver installed, you can't select it from the driver list.

Screenshot:

Edited June 11, 2009 by Guest

[mr_vodka]

I believe Squandra T is trying to use ODBC to connect TO FileMaker, not access External data from within FileMaker.

[mr_vodka]

Since you are on a Mac, you will have to download the driver from Actual Technologies. I believe that they have a trial but otherwise you have to pay for it.

http://www.actualtechnologies.com/index.php

If on Windows, you can use the DataDirect driver, and it usually comes with the full version. I dont know if they have a direct download on their site.

[Squadra T]

Since you are on a Mac, you will have to download the driver from Actual Technologies. I believe that they have a trial but otherwise you have to pay for it.

http://www.actualtechnologies.com/index.php

If on Windows, you can use the DataDirect driver, and it usually comes with the full version. I dont know if they have a direct download on their site.

Indeed I am trying to connect TO a FileMaker database.

Thanks for the tip on the Actual Technologies drivers, I downloaded and installed them, but again: no FileMaker drivers -(

See http://www.actualtechnologies.com/products.php

They provide drivers for OS X to connect to SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, from within FileMaker, but no drivers to connect to FileMaker.

This is frustrating. Especially when you read in the FileMaker documentation that you should use the files in "/xDBC/ODBC Client Driver Installer" on the FileMaker install CD, but when you download FileMaker from the FileMaker website, these files are nog included in the Disk Image...

[Jonathan Monroe]

Actual Technologies only makes drivers for allowing FM to be a front-end to other databases, such as MySQL, Oracle, and SQL Server.

We do not make a driver for letting you use other applications (such as Excel) to a FM database. FileMaker Inc has their own driver for that (called SequeLink) that they include with the FileMaker Pro download and CD. I don't believe you can download it separately from their website, nor can you download it from the DataDirect site. I'm pretty sure you have to have a full copy of FM in order to get it.

Jonathan Monroe

Actual Technologies - ODBC for Mac OS X

http://www.actualtechnologies.com

[Squadra T]

Makes sense, but I cannot seem to find SequelLink driver in the Pro download...

[IdealData]

Sounds like the drivers are not provided on the trial version, because they do exist in the full version.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Guest

[mr_vodka]

Try the trial. I dont have a mac so I dont know if it will work with the trial version.

http://www.datadirect.com/downloads/index.ssp#sequelink

Also you may want to read this KB.

http://www.thefmkb.com/6475

Edited June 16, 2009 by Guest

[Squadra T]

That is the problem, can't find them for Mac...

[Squadra T]

Allright so I even had a phone call with FileMaker support. Apparently they are aware of this problem (getting the ODBC drivers for FileMaker Trial) - but I got my client to send me the SequeLink.bundle file from his FileMaker install disk.

So now I finally have an ODBC driver to connect to FileMaker and up to the next problem ! :-)

I have set-up my DSN as follows (I followed the instructions in the ODBC setup guide)

When I try to connect using an ODBC client, eg MS Excel, I receive the following error message:

I enabled ODBC sharing in the FileMaker database so that should not be the problem.

[mr_vodka]

Check to make sure that your Privilege Set has the fmxdbc extended privilege set turned on.