User manual

Sharing databases on a network 13-3
1 FileMaker Pro saves the host’s sort order, find requests, and print
setup (Windows) or page setup (Mac OS). If you’re a guest, you can
save your settings by defining a script. See “Creating scripts to
automate tasks” on page 10-1.
1 When you share a file with system formats that are different from
the settings on your computer, you can choose which formats to use.
See FileMaker Pro Help.
1 With FileMaker Pro for Windows, you can include information
from other applications using Object Linking and Embedding
(OLE). When you share FileMaker Pro for Windows files, users of
computers running the Mac OS can cut, copy, and paste OLE objects
as graphics, but can’t edit them.
1 When you share related files, FileMaker Pro limits access to some
commands and records to keep users from interfering with each
other.
1 When you make changes to a master record, FileMaker Pro
prevents other users from changing the same record.
1 When you make changes to a related field, FileMaker Pro
prevents other users from changing the associated related record
and master record.
1 Other users can access the record after you select a field in a
different record, select a different record in the same file, or leave
the master record.
About hosting files
Because many FileMaker Pro commands are processed on the host
machine, you will see better performance if you host your shared
files from the fastest available computer.
You must keep your shared file(s) open to make them available to
guests.
For the best performance when hosting a file, open it first on the
computer that is directly connected to the hard disk on which the file
is stored. Remotely hosting a file stored on another computer is not
supported, as it might compromise data integrity and will result in
poor performance. Examples of remote hosting include opening a
Multi-User-enabled file via the built-in file sharing in Windows,
over Mac OS personal file sharing or AppleShare, or from a file
server.
If you need to contact or alert the guests who are using your database,
you can broadcast messages to them. In the File Sharing dialog box,
click Send Message. Type the message, then click OK. Your guest(s)
see the message in a dialog box. They can dismiss the dialog box by
clicking Cancel—or the dialog box dismisses itself 30 seconds after
appearing.
Opening files as the host
To host a file, you must be the first user to open it.
1. Choose File menu > Open.
2. In the Open File dialog box, select a file, then click Open.
3. Choose File menu > Sharing.
To open the File Sharing dialog box, you must open the file using a
password that provides the Export records access privilege.
Warning Anyone who opens a database file with the Export records
access privilege, including FileMaker Pro guests, can then publish
the database on the Web by enabling FileMaker Pro Web
Companion. In this case, your database is protected over the Web by
any FileMaker Pro access privileges. However, you should exercise
caution when granting access privileges. For more information, see
“Protecting published databases” on page 14-5.