VISUAL QUICKPRO GUIDE FileMaker Pro 7 Advanced FOR WINDOWS AND MACINTOSH [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Accessing Databases over the Internet

You can open a FileMaker database hosted by another computer even if you aren't on the same network, as long as both the host computer and the guest are connected to the Internet and the host computer has a fixed IP address.

To open a FileMaker database over the Internet

1 .Establish your Internet connection and start FileMaker.

2 .Choose File > Open Remote (Control+Shift+O/Command+Shift+O).

3 .In the Open Remote File dialog box, choose Favorite Hosts from the View: drop-down list. Click Add (Figure 16.35).

4 .In the Edit Favorite Host dialog box, type the IP address of the computer hosting the database you want to open in the Host's Internet Address box (Figure 16.36). If the server has many files available, you can type a list of the databases that you want to see, separating each name with a return (Figure 16.37). Click Save.

When you return to the Host's dialog box, you'll see a list of all the open shared files on the host computer.

5 .Double-click the file you want to open.

6 .

There will probably be a delay after you enter the IP address of the host and after you double-click the file to open it (see the sidebar "Internet Speed and Internet Databases" later in this chapter).

Tips

FileMaker 7 databases can only be opened with FileMaker 7. You have to convert databases created in earlier versions of FileMaker before they can be used in FileMaker 7. Consequently, those who want to open a shared FileMaker 7 file must have that version of the software installed on their computer.

If you don't see any files listed on the host after entering an IP address, check the network settings on both computers. If the host computer's network has a firewall between the network and the Internet, you may have to have the network administrator open a port. FileMaker uses port 5003 for Internet connections.

Keep in mind that anyone in the world (literally) can access your database if they know your host computer's IP address. If you host FileMaker files over an Internet connection, password protection is an absolute must.

The "cracker utilities" that could recover passwords from earlier versions of FileMaker will not work with version 7. As a matter of fact, not even FileMaker Inc. can recover a lost password from a FileMaker 7 database. So be sure to keep a careful record of all passwords, especially the Full Access account.

For maximum peace of mind, proper network security procedures should always be observed in addition to password protecting the file itself.

If security is not a major issue, you can save some typing by having a database open automatically using the Account Name and Password option. Choose File > File Options. Check the "Log in using" box and enter the default account name and password (Figure 16.38).

Internet Speed and Internet Databases

There's a big difference between making a database available for searching on the Internet and having that same database be editable and shared. Searching the database is not much different from any other Web page accessing information from an Internet server. Editing and sharing the database is doable, but frankly less than ideal unless both host and guest computers use a high-speed connection like cable or DSL. Dial-up modems are really much too slow for satisfying communication. Opening a single file can take several minutes and large stores of patience. Finding and editing records will take noticeably longer than the same actions on a local network. Even when both computers have reasonably good bandwidth, sharing a FileMaker database over the Internet isn't zippy. For this reason, if you must share your database this way, keep your layouts as simple as possible. Don't use any unnecessary graphics or backgrounds. Avoid complex calculated fields and summary fields whenever possible.