Development Guide

Chapter 4
Protecting databases in FileMaker Go
This chapter explains the behavior for opening protected files and logging in after multitasking. It
also provides information for keeping your databases secure.
Opening files protected with passwords
When users try to open a protected file, a dialog prompts them to specify an account and
password. FileMaker Go checks the following settings in the specified order to determine how to
open a protected file. If none of these settings are used, the user needs to enter the login
information to open the file.
1. URL protocols
In FileMaker Pro, you can use the FMP protocol in a URL in order to open a shared, remote
FileMaker
Pro file. See “Opening files and running scripts using the FMP protocol” on page 21.
2. File Options setting to log in automatically
In FileMaker Pro, you can use the File Options setting to automatically log in using a specific
account and password when you open the database.
3. User manual override
In FileMaker Go, users can temporarily bypass the default login information when they open a
file by touching and holding a filename in the file list. Releasing the filename displays a dialog
where users can enter a different account and password.
Logging in after multitasking
When you press the Home button on your device, FileMaker Go moves to the background and
saves the state of the file. FileMaker
Go also saves the state of the file when you answer a phone
call. When you switch back to FileMaker
Go, you return to where you left off.
Files can be configured to require reauthentication after being in the background for a specified
period of time. See
“Using the fmreauthenticate extended privilege” on page 21.
After FileMaker Go moves to the background, you must re-enter your account and password to
return to the file, unless:
1 you are using the Guest account.
1 your account name and password match the account name and password set in the File
Options dialog in FileMaker Pro.
1 you have returned to the file before the time limit specified in the fmreauthenticate extended
privilege.
1 you are using an account that does not have the fmreauthenticate extended privilege.
Note These conditions also apply to files converted from an earlier version of FileMaker Pro.