services wanted Joomla with Filemaker?

[henry_the_ninth]

Hi there,

I am new to this list and to Filemaker Pro. I am a web developer with a client looking for a cloud solution to maintaining a medium sized database of clients, workers and assignments. I am wondering if Filemaker Pro can be integrated with Joomla to achieve this, or is there a better way.

Thanks in advance.

[Lee Smith]

Automatic message

This topic has been moved from "Database Schema & Business Logic → External Data Sources" to "FileMaker Classifieds → Services Wanted".

[2ninerniner2]

Henry,

In what way do you want to integrate Joomla! and FM? Using ODBC, you can easily have 2-way communication between FM and the Joomla! MySQL database. Use the Joomla! tables in your FM solution as you would native FM tables. I have done this in testing with Joomla! and in production with eFront, a similarly-structured PHP/MySQL script. Some more info on how you and your client see this integration will help

Lee - the way I read it, being someone who has installed well over 300 Joomla! sites and as noted above, integrated Joomla! with FM, the initial location of the post was correct ... he's looking at using Joomla! as an External Data Source for FileMaker

Cheers!

Lyle

[henry_the_ninth]

Hi Lyle,

What you say is right. My clients have been using Filemaker Pro in the past and I was setting up a Joomla site for them to access and update their data via the web when they are away from the office. We are in a rural area, a very large one, in north west Australia, and they travel a lot. I tried to download ODBC but the link didn't work and it seemed it wash't current. Also I am using a Mac at home (although they use PCs) and I wasn't sure if there was a Mac version. From what you say I will try a bit harder to find the right source. Also I see that Filemaker Pro offers a cloud solution which I guess involves renting a web-space from FMP so that is also a possibility. There seem to be a few ways to go and I have to find the best one within a few days. Thanks for your input.

PS. I did not mean to give Lee a negative feedback, I just clicked on an arrow to see what would happen!?

[2ninerniner2]

1. FM access away from office:

If this is "all" that is required, there is no need to go the "web" route (let alone with Joomla!, LOL!); simply use the Remote Access functionality of FM. They will require separate copies of FM on any laptop they intend to use, or FileMaker GO for any iOS device (iPhone, iPad). Anywhere that they would be able to access the web, they will be able to access FM Remote.

Two really quick ways to accomplish this:

1) "Expose" their current location of their FM installation (FM Server or individual computer that is sharing the FM file on their internal network) to the "outside world". Do a search on this forum and others for "port forwarding".

2) Host their current FM file(s) with a third party hosting provider, such as Triple 8 Networks or Point in Space; I have used both but prefer Triple 8 because of their control panel and other hosting capabilities (this is where I have the FM / eFront "mashup" hosted). If your client has no problem with their data being hosted off-site, then this is by far the easiest and most efficient way to get "mobile" ASAP ... shouldn't take more than 15 minutes

- set up the account

- upload the FM file(s)

- you're done! ... start accessing your FM data from anywhere on the web using FM's "Open Remote" or using FM GO

2. ODBC

For the Mac, use the ODBC manger/drivers from Actual Technologies, LLC. They are not free, but the price is reasonable. On the PC side, make sure you use the MySQL 3.51 ODBC driver and NOT the current one (5.xx) to connect Joomla! (or any other MySQL source) and also make sure you are setting up a SYSTEM DNS and NOT a User one (both Mac and PC).

Additionally, on the Mac, when setting up a ODBC connection, make sure:

- use the Actual Open Source Databases driver from the list provided

- MySQL as the "type" of database

- on the "Connection" page, click "Advanced Options" and enter /Applications/MAMP/tmp/mysql/mysql.sock in the "Socket" field ... IF you are using MAMP as your local web server (if you are using something else, you will have to find (and then enter) the path to the mysql.sock file yourself )

[henry_the_ninth]

Many thanks Lyle. That is very very helpful.