WORK OFFLINE WITH FM SERVER HOSTED SOLUTION.

[salim]

i have a filemaker file hosted on filemaker server, is it possible to work on that file while am offline..? i want to be able to edit that solution from offline.

[Kris M]

you could unhost the file, navigate to the location where the file exists on the server, open and edit the file, then rehost.. but why?

Just open the file as hosted on the server and edit.

I'm guessing there's more to your question

Edited July 2, 2015 by Kris M

[LaRetta]

Just open the file as hosted on the server and edit.

Although this is fine idea, it can also be dangerous for two reasons:

1. If Users are in the solution, and you are in a field definition dialog, a primary key may remain empty or when user creates a new record, it won't be created and other such serious consequences.
2. If you are in the graph making changes or in the middle of saving a script etc, and you crash, you can damage the file.

Although working while served must happen sometimes, I suggest really focusing on working offline if you can.  If not, and if you need to modify schema, make sure Users are not in system.  If you still must make heavy changes and your solution crashes in the middle of saving those changes, it is highly recommended that you consider the file damaged, run recovery and migrate your data into a clean backup.  Never continue to use a recovered file.

Lastly, if you wish to take the risk, at least run recovery on a copy of the file to see if you can spot any serious issues.  Keep in mind that, although FileMaker is better at recovery than it has ever been, your file may still be damaged even if FM reports it is fine so you are still taking a risk.

If a FileMaker file is damaged, it is the ONE THING that simply can't be fixed easily.  It is not safe to copy/paste  elements such as layout objects, scripts, fields from a crashed file to a new one so it is a major consequence if a file is damaged.  Protect the file from corruption as absolute top priority.

If the file is served, close the file.  You can remote desktop to the server and, using a locally installed copy of FM, work on it ... or download the file to your local desktop, perform your work, then upload it again.

added:  It is fine to create layouts, edit scripts and such while served.  And if the script is or layout is saved and THEN you crash, it is not a problem.  

Edited July 2, 2015 by LaRetta

[Justin Close]

Salim,

I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but you could start with what Kris was saying:  unhost the file from the server.

However, it sounds like you want to work on the file while you aren't connected to the host.  For example, your host server is somewhere safe and sound, but you want to work on the file at your home or on your laptop while you don't have a network connection.  Is that right?

You didn't mention what version of FMServer you are using.  I will assume 14 for now - other versions can do this same thing but with a different series of steps.   For FMS 14, I would close the file on the server, and download a copy of it to your remote machine.  This is all easily done from the Admin Console of the server, which you can run from your local machine through a web browser.  Do NOT 'reopen' the file on the server.  Actually, you could 'remove' the file from the server at this point...or just leave it 'closed' until you are ready to repost your new file (at which point you will have to 'remove' the old one). 

This assumes that you don't need to leave the file open for others to use while you have it offline, of course.  But if you are making changes, I would guess you don't want people using it anyway.  As Beverly noted, it is best practice to not try and make changes while others are using the file.  If you are using the separation model, you might have more flexibility here... there are many different nuances to this scenario.

Back to the process:  Once you have the file copied to your local machine you can edit it as you like.  When you are done editing, you can use the FMPA 14 'upload to server' feature to send the file back to the server.

That's it.  No worries about a damaged file or things crashing.  If something happens to your file while you have it offline, you still have the server copy as a backup.

 

--  Justin