Administrator’s Guide

6-6 FileMaker Server Administrator’s Guide
Windows: You can also use tools on the toolbar in the Schedules list
to enable and disable scheduled tasks. For more information, see
“Viewing scheduled tasks in the Schedules list (Windows)” on
page 6-3.
Using the command line to automate tasks
(Windows)
You can use the command line interface to automate tasks with
FileMaker Server, such as backing up files using the Windows
Backup and Schedule services, or administering files from the
FileMaker Server computer.
You can use the command line to:
1 start or stop FileMaker Server
1 host FileMaker Pro files
1 close files hosted by FileMaker Server
1 pause or resume a file or files to periodically flush the cache
Below is a list of commands available with FileMaker Server. Text
enclosed in the [ ] characters indicates that the item is optional.
[path] indicates one or more filenames (possibly including wildcard
characters) or folder names are optional parameters to the command.
#minutes indicates you need to type a numeric value for the number
of minutes before guests are disconnected after a stop or close
command.
Prevent all
schedules from
running
Windows: Choose Action menu > Allow schedules to run.
Mac OS: Choose Schedules menu > Allow Schedules to Run.
The checkmark on this command disappears, indicating that
this option is turned off.
This setting overrides any individual schedule settings you
have enabled and all checkmarks in the list are dimmed
indicating that all schedules are disabled. If you open the
Properties (Windows) or Edit Schedule dialog box
(Mac OS) for a disabled scheduled task, however, the
checkmark in the Enable this schedule option might still be
checked.
Allow enabled
schedules to run
Windows: Choose Action menu > Allow schedules to run.
Mac OS: Choose Schedules menu > Allow Schedules to Run.
A checkmark appears on this command, indicating that all
scheduled tasks that are individually checked in the
scheduled task list are enabled.
Scheduled tasks that were individually disabled are not re-
enabled until you enable them individually.
To perform
this action Do this
Command syntax Description
fmserver start [-s] Start the FileMaker Server service. Include the -s option to
skip automatically opening files in the FileMaker Server 5
folder (and subfolders one level down).
fmserver stop
[-m “message text”]
[-t #minutes]
Stop the FileMaker Server service, send a custom
message to guests, and set the number of minutes
before the files close.
fmserver open [path] Host specific FileMaker Pro files.
fmserver close [path]
[-m “message text”]
[-t #minutes]
Close specific FileMaker Pro files, send a custom
message to guests, and set the number of minutes
before the files close.
fmserver pause [path] Pause activity on specific or all FileMaker Pro files.
Pause files before copying them to another folder, for
example, when backing them up. Useful with the NT
Backup and Schedule services. If you don’t specify a
path, all hosted files are paused.
Pause causes all changes for a particular file to be
written from cache to disk and prevents guests from
making any changes to the file until the file is
“resumed.” After a file is successfully paused, it’s safe
to copy it using a script or back-up program.