Developer’s Guide

Creating a database solution 4-7
Protecting your database solution files
If passwords have not been defined, your solution files can be
opened in FileMaker Pro, and users can access and modify scripts,
field and relationship definitions, access privileges, and layouts. You
may want to set a master password that gives you access to the entire
file and another password that gives users limited access.
To create a master password and a limited password for users:
1. In FileMaker Pro, choose File menu Access Privileges > Passwords.
2. In the Password text box, type a password to use for the master
password.
3. Select all the privileges you want for the master password, then
click Create.
4. In the Password text box, type a password to give users limited
access.
5. Remove access privileges for Access the entire file, Design layouts,
Edit scripts, Define value lists, and Change password.
Leave these
privileges
deselected
for limited
access
6. Click Create.
You can set an option to automatically enter the limited access
password and suppress the password dialog box from appearing
when the file is opened.
To automatically open the solution with the limited access password:
1. In FileMaker Pro, choose Edit menu > Preferences > Document.
Mac OS X: choose FileMaker Developer application menu >
Preferences > Document.
2. Select Try default password and type the limited access password
in the box.
3. Click OK.
Select to suppress the
password dialog box
Tip Press and hold the Shift key (Windows) or Option key (Mac OS)
while the file is opening to force the password dialog to open. You
can then enter your full-access or master password and modify the
file.
You can permanently remove access to the Access Privileges menu
command after you’ve defined the passwords, as well as access to
other menu commands, by selecting the Permanently prevent
modification of database structure option in the Developer Tool. See
“Removing design access to your databases” on page 6-11 for
information.