Ghost Portal/External Data File

[NYPoke]

This could probably go elsewhere, but the Portal is where the problem shows up. Using Version 11, client & server.

The Details:

- We have multiple Contract Files, each with its own associated Payments File. Leftover archetecture from Version 6.

- We have a Payments List Layout, in each Contract File. It has a Portal to the Payments File, Sorted Descending by Payment Date.

- Has always worked fine, Version 6 & mostly in 11. Always works for me.

- Each Contract File auto launches the Payment File, in a Start Up Script. Payments File is set to "Open/Hidden" (problem ??).

The Problem:

- At times, the Payments Portal is empty. No Payments show up, even though the records exist. Cannot recreate on my own.

- I can't say for certain, until it happens again, but I think the Payments File shows up in the "Show Window" List.

- When I do an Open Remote & open it directly, the portal still doesn't show any records.

The Likely Scenario:

- It appears this may happen when the User opens a Contract File, with Open Remote, but launches the other Contract Files through a button/script.

- I debugged it. The Start Up script, in the script-launched files, runs for me, but I can't verify this is always the case.

Only Known Solution: Restart FileMaker.

To Note:

- In the "Show Window" list, some files list as File Name (Server). Some files just list as (File Name). Not sure if it matters. Only server based files available on the problem machines.

This is going to get me in a good deal of trouble, if I can't pin down the problem. Very strange.

[bruceR]

Where are all these files? ALL on the server? How well do you understand the concept of file references ( external data sources ) and how well do you understand every file reference in your system? You mention multiple Contract files but do not mention name or location. Are some named the same?

What specifically did you do regarding file references when making your transition from 6 to 11?

[NYPoke]

- All Files hosted on the same server.

- Less than 50 Files. All well defined & known.

- Did not make any changes in the conversion to Version 11.

- All Files references in the following format: file:LFG_IL.

- Format is the same even when I add a new external reference.

- We do have some old references, files that no longer exist. Delete them as I find them.

- I am well versed in both FileMaker File References & ODBC, though we don't currently have any ODBC references.

- More than likely that I don't know something though. Usually the case.

- Never name files the same. Bad mojo.

Big problem is that it is intermittent. Usually works fine. Users just don't notice right away when it does happen.

Version 11 does not seem to "auto-launch" external files nearly as well as Version 6 & prior. Usually, when a file reference is on a layout or in a script, it opens immediately. Version 11 does not seem to do that, at least as much.

In this case though, the file appears to be open. If we restart FileMaker & directly open the the contract file, LFG_IL in this case, everything is fine. The Payments File, PMTS_IL, works like a charm.

[bruceR]

Version 11 does not seem to "auto-launch" external files nearly as well as Version 6 & prior. Usually, when a file reference is on a layout or in a script, it opens immediately. Version 11 does not seem to do that, at least as much.

Pretty much impossible. Not buying that.

[bruceR]

.

- We do have some old references, files that no longer exist. Delete them as I find them.

"As I find them" ??

Suggest you go through external references in all files as a baseline. Do you have FileMaker Advanced? Do you have one of the analysis tools like Base Elements?

[NYPoke]

Did a complete run throught on External Data Sources this morning. All gone & clean. Still had some old references in the "other" files, not the Contract & Payments Files. Maybe this will help. I certainly hope so.

Have Developer, 11 v1. Am going to run a full database report this weekend. Not sure about any other tools. We had New Millenium Tools in Version 6. Have not picked up any for Version 11. Other than some irritations like this, Version 11 had been so good that we haven't check out any tools...so far.

...

"Pretty much impossible. Not buying that."

Yesterday evening, I selected a file, PMTS_AZ, from the Window, Show Window List. Not one I had opened directly. When the screen came up, its Contract File, LFG_AZ, did not open. The assoicated LFG_AZ fields were missing data, of course.

When I opened LFG_AZ directly, it cleared up. All External References for these two files were good, or certainly appear so.

After I selected it, PMTS_AZ was no longer listed in the Window/Show Window List (odd???).

The Window & Window/Show Window list has just acted strange. Seems related to the portal problem. Could be that I don't understand something here.

[NYPoke]

Well, look long enough & you usually find the answer...for anybody else that runs across this problem.

I never could replicate the problem, but two of our VPs could. We haven't had time to convert to using Directory Service for User Name/Passwords, so we still have the old Passwords, from Version 6. The VPs were using the same one, not used by the rest of the company.

Under Security, Privilege Sets, we still had a couple settings for "Disconnect User From Server When Idle".

Was set long before I got here & just for a few passwords, in a few files.

When I removed this setting, the problem went away. At least, we haven't seen it for a while.

Not sure why it happens, but as long as it fixes the problem...