ODBC and JDBC Guide

Chapter 4 | Using ODBC to share FileMaker data 20
Using the ODBC client driver
You can use the ODBC client driver with any ODBC-compliant application. Sharing your FileMaker
database file as a data source, you can:
1 perform mail merges with Microsoft Word.
1 create charts with Microsoft Excel.
1 move FileMaker data to a DBMS like Microsoft SQL Server.
1 further analyze your FileMaker data with query or reporting tools to create charts, construct ad-
hoc queries, and perform drill-down analysis.
1 create a Microsoft Visual Basic application that shares information with FileMaker Pro.
To share a FileMaker database file as a data source, use FileMaker Pro to define accounts that
need access to the database file. Then, control access to the database file by assigning privilege
sets to the accounts, including the extended privilege of access via ODBC/JDBC. Finally, enable
the FileMaker
Server or FileMaker Pro host application to share data via ODBC/JDBC. For details,
see FileMaker
Pro Help or FileMaker Server Help.
Important Prior versions of the FileMaker ODBC client driver are not compatible with
FileMaker
14. To connect to a FileMaker 14 database file, you need to install and configure the
new ODBC client driver.
Note To confirm that the FileMaker XDBC Listener is currently running, you can use the Activity
Monitor on OS X or the Task Manager on Windows to check the status of the FileMaker XDBC
Listener process. When the process is started, it is named fmxdbc_listener, and events are logged
by that name. The FileMaker XDBC Listener process is separate from the FileMaker Server process.
You can use the FileMaker Server Admin Console to stop and start the XDBC Listener process. On
the FileMaker Server Status pane, set ODBC/JDBC to OFF to stop the XDBC Listener and set
ODBC/JDBC to ON to start the XDBC Listener.
Overview of accessing a FileMaker database file
From an ODBC-compliant application, you can construct SQL queries to access a FileMaker
database file. The ODBC client driver must be installed on the computer generating the SQL query.
To access a FileMaker database file:
1. In FileMaker Pro, review the privilege sets you’ve assigned to accounts that will access the
database file.
Accounts that need access must use a privilege set with the extended privilege of Access via
ODBC/JDBC.
2. Enable the FileMaker Server (via FileMaker Server Admin Console) or FileMaker Pro host
application to share data via ODBC/JDBC.
FileMaker Server Admin Console: Choose General Settings > ODBC/JDBC then select
Enable ODBC/JDBC.
FileMaker Pro: Choose File menu > Sharing > Enable ODBC/JDBC and set ODBC/JDBC
Sharing to On.