ODBC and JDBC Guide

Chapter 4 | Using ODBC to share FileMaker data 20
Using the ODBC client driver
The ODBC client driver supports ODBC 3.0 Level 1. 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 analyses
1 create a Microsoft Visual Basic application that shares information with FileMaker Pro
Advanced
To share a FileMaker database file as a data source, use FileMaker Pro Advanced 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 fmxdbc extended privilege for access via
ODBC/JDBC. Finally, enable the host application to share data via ODBC/JDBC. Visit the Product
Documentation Center for the details in FileMaker Pro Advanced Help, FileMaker Server Help, or
FileMaker Cloud Getting Started Guide.
Important Prior versions of the FileMaker ODBC client driver are not compatible with the current
version of FileMaker. To connect to a FileMaker database file, you need to install and configure
the ODBC client driver that matches the version of FileMaker you are using.
Note To confirm that the FileMaker XDBC Listener is currently running, you can use the Activity
Monitor on macOS or the Task Manager on Windows to check the status of the XDBC Listener
process. When the process is started, it is named fmxdbc_listener, and events are logged by that
name.
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 Advanced, 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 fmxdbc extended privilege for
access via ODBC/JDBC.
2. Enable the FileMaker Server, FileMaker Pro Advanced, or FileMaker Cloud host application to
share data via ODBC/JDBC. Visit the Product Documentation Center
for the details in
FileMaker Pro Advanced Help, FileMaker Server Help, or FileMaker Cloud Getting Started
Guide.
3. Make sure the FileMaker database file you want to access is hosted and available.
If your FileMaker database solution uses more than one FileMaker database file, all of the
database files must be on the same computer.