Editing files on a Network

[keepemup]

Our office just recently set up filemaker on a server. The IT person told me that if I need to do major changes to filemaker I should make them on the server. I have updated a file and would like to delete the old one. I tried this from one of the stations but it won't let me because I am getting an error message that it is in use. No one else is using the file. So do I need to do the change on the server?

 

Can someone explain the do's and don'ts on making changes on a network? Where do I need to do these changes? How do I get into the filemaker program on the server. The only file I can find is the Filemaker console program. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am having trouble getting into contact with the IT person.

[Ted S]

Tell us more about your whole setup. Are you using the Filemaker Server software or are you planning on hosting the databases on a server grade box using a copy of regular Filemaker Pro? How many others will be accessing the data?

[Ender]

And the OS and specific FileMaker Server version.

[keepemup]

Tell us more about your whole setup. Are you using the Filemaker Server software or are you planning on hosting the databases on a server grade box using a copy of regular Filemaker Pro? How many others will be accessing the data?

 

Using FM server software on a server. There are currently 4 users. FM server is not on a dedicated machine.

[keepemup]

And the OS and specific FileMaker Server version.

 

Windows XP, and FM sever version 9 (I think, I am not at the office to double check) We run FM 8.5 advance software.

[Ted S]

There are a couple of things that you need to do first.

 

Do not share the data files. Most non-Filemaker files -- Word Docs, Excel Spreadsheets, etc. -- are shared by by making the folder that they reside in open to all users. This is called a network share. On Windows it looks like a folder being held up by a small hand. Filemaker files should NEVER be shared this way. Doing so greatly increases the risk of corruption. Have your IT guy disable sharing and make the folders unavailable to regular users. Nobody should be able to get directly to the .fp7 files except you and the IT guys. When the FM Server software opens the files it will automatically share them using its own safe method.

 

You will need to get access (login) to the server itself or get the FM Server Admin Console installed on your machine.

 

To replace a file the FM Server first has to stop hosting the file. If you poke around in the Admin Console you will find that you can STOP individual files. There is also a button across the top bar that is kind of an upload wizard that archives the old file and replaces it with your new file. Once loaded it will may start by itself or you will have to start it manually, I can't remember how this works exactly.

 

Is there any possibility that you could get a box for testing? It helps a lot when you just want to try things and not risk ruining your live production environment. FYI: If you join the Filemaker Developer Network I believe you get a complementary copy of Filemaker Server to help you with development. It has a 2 or 3 user limit so you coundn't host production databases with it but it is handy for testing and learning.

[keepemup]

There are a couple of things that you need to do first.

 

Do not share the data files. Most non-Filemaker files -- Word Docs, Excel Spreadsheets, etc. -- are shared by by making the folder that they reside in open to all users. This is called a network share. On Windows it looks like a folder being held up by a small hand. Filemaker files should NEVER be shared this way. Doing so greatly increases the risk of corruption. Have your IT guy disable sharing and make the folders unavailable to regular users. Nobody should be able to get directly to the .fp7 files except you and the IT guys. When the FM Server software opens the files it will automatically share them using its own safe method.

 

I am pretty sure it is set up this way. To open the files now you have to go to Open remote.

 

You will need to get access (login) to the server itself or get the FM Server Admin Console installed on your machine.

 

I can get on the server now but I cannot get into the admin console. He never gave me the password and I have been trying to get it from him.

 

To replace a file the FM Server first has to stop hosting the file. If you poke around in the Admin Console you will find that you can STOP individual files. There is also a button across the top bar that is kind of an upload wizard that archives the old file and replaces it with your new file. Once loaded it will may start by itself or you will have to start it manually, I can't remember how this works exactly.

 

He told me that I need to stop hosting and I know how to do that. But I am confused on where to go from there. Do I open the admin console?

 

Is there any possibility that you could get a box for testing? It helps a lot when you just want to try things and not risk ruining your live production environment. FYI: If you join the Filemaker Developer Network I believe you get a complementary copy of Filemaker Server to help you with development. It has a 2 or 3 user limit so you coundn't host production databases with it but it is handy for testing and learning.

 

I will look into this. I appreciate everyone's help and this site has been very helpful for me and I have learned a lot. I am trying to learn all this by the seat of my pants for a non-profit organization because they can't afford the $100 per hr so I apologize on not using all the right terminology and being a pest. You guys probably think I am a total idiot sometimes.