Hello!

I am a novice user of FileMaker Pro 5.5 and Web Companion. I have completed my first web solution in CDML and it, thankfully, is working fine.

Now, my organization would like to take it to the next level.

I have been reading and hearing good things about Lasso. I downloaded the Lasso Studio for Dreamweaver product but I have some questions on the implementation.

Scenario:

Currently, I have a database located on our FileMaker 5.5 Server. We have a dedicated web server which has FileMaker 5.5 Unlimited. I am using Instant Web Publishing as well as Custom Web Publishing. This is all working just fine.

How does Lasso Studio and the Lasso Web Data Engine fit into this scenario? From a FileMaker point of view do I still use Web Companion?

If Web Companion is still used, do I have to tell it that the solution is now a Lasso product? and if so, where do I do this?

Do I load Lasso's Web Data Engine on the web server? and keep Lasso Studio for Dreamweaver on my authoring macintosh?

Do I uninstall FileMaker 5.5 Unlimited?

If anyone out there could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

Donna

Hi Donna

A few questions here

Currently, I have a database located on our FileMaker 5.5 Server. We have a dedicated web server which has FileMaker 5.5 Unlimited. I am using Instant Web Publishing as well as Custom Web Publishing. This is all working just fine.

You will , if you want to ustilise Lasso to it's full potential (and it's enhanced security), have to stop using instant web publishing

How does Lasso Studio and the Lasso Web Data Engine fit into this scenario? From a FileMaker point of view do I still use Web Companion?

If you run your webserver and filemaker 5.5 unlimited on the same machine you don't have to use the web companion although i can see no reason why you would not. If you set web companion to only accept commands from the IP of the lasso/web server.

If you run your webserver and filemaker 5.5 unlimited on seperate machines then you have to use web companion.

If Web Companion is still used, do I have to tell it that the solution is now a Lasso product? and if so, where do I do this?

To get lasso to handle the forms that are posted to your webserver you will have to change the form action from "FMPro" to "action.lasso" this is how lasso knows to handle the request. This is easy to setup at the webserver end if you are using WebSTAR as it is a plugin.

If you have a seperate servers for the web/lasso server and the FMPro unlimited you also have to setup the FM_Remote module. This tells lasso where to find the database/WC on the network. You wont have to do this if you run webserver/lasso and Unlimited off one machine.

Do I load Lasso's Web Data Engine on the web server? and keep Lasso Studio for Dreamweaver on my authoring macintosh?

The Lasso WDE is installed on your webserver. Lasso studio has a single IP licence for testing (I believe, as I don't use it) so should remain on your authoring machine.

I would recommend downloading some literature from below as there is too much to type here!

ftp://ftp.blueworld.com/Lasso/Docs/Lasso_3.6_FMP_Modules_Guide.pdf

ftp://ftp.blueworld.com/Lasso/Docs/Lasso_3.6_Reference_Manual.pdf

useful links

LassoDev

Lasso Development

[ January 15, 2002: Message edited by: scratchmalogicalwax ]

Thanks for responding. I will see if I can make heads or tails of the manuals you pointed out!

Thanks!