Hello, sorry if this thread is misplaced. I wasn't sure where else to put it. If I have a FM database that was created with FMP9, is there any way to use this DB as a stand alone read-only application?

So if I have a DB and want 10 other users to have access to it, is there any way of making it readable by other users that do not have FMP installed? Sort of like exporting the DB as an application? Is there anything in the FM suite that can do this? It's a small database, and I'm looking for a way for 10 users to be able to read it without having to purchase FMP for all 10 of these users.

Thanks for the advice.

You could look into Instant Web Publishing. You can create a runtime, but a runtime solutions doesnt work with a networked solution.

I would agree, that way you would be able to create the layouts that look best in IWP.

Thanks for the response. So what FM product would I need to do IWP? FMP Server?

If you are going to serve with FMS, then you will need the FMS Advanced version.

You can use Pro in a peer to peer setup.

http://www.filemaker.com/support/technologies/iwp.html

If it's read only, then a runtime would seem most suitable.

?? Am I missing something?

Am I? What would be the point of networking a read-only DB?

Well there are lots of users that should only have access to a certain DB to do finds, and perhaps printing but not be able to input any data. We have the same issue at my job. We have to purchase full licenses of Pro for our read only users. Since we have a large license volume, it is not that huge of an issue, but I would imagine in a smaller environment that they would try to cut as many corners on the budget as they can.

I think we need more details here. I sort of assumed that the data is largely static, so runtimes would be satisfactory, even if data is updated periodically.

If they need "live" access to updates as they happen, then obviously runtimes are out.

Using the Developer Utilities in the Advanced version of FIleMaker Pro, you can create a runtime engine and distribute it with the data file(s) in the solution. However, such run times are single user only.

Steven

IWP is limited to 5 concurrent users when served via FileMaker Pro. the server advanced limit is 100.

Have you considered a hosting service? You may be able to get the 10 IWP users for a modest sum per month.