Uploading files to a host

Use FileMaker Pro to transfer database files to FileMaker Server or FileMaker Cloud. If a database uses container fields that store data externally, FileMaker Pro also uploads the externally stored data.

Note  Before you upload files:

  • Be sure that accounts have extended privileges that enable sharing. For example, for FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Go clients to open a hosted file, the fmapp extended privilege must be enabled. See Editing extended privileges for a privilege set.

  • You must have an account on the host that permits uploading.

    • For FileMaker Server, you must have the account name and password for the server administrator.

    • For FileMaker Cloud, you must be signed in with a Claris ID or external identity provider (IdP) account as a team manager.

  • Close the files first if they include script triggers that activate before a file closes—for example, the OnWindowClose or OnLastWindowClose script triggers.

Each type of host may have different requirements for the files you are allowed to upload. See Claris Server and FileMaker Server Help and FileMaker Cloud Help.

To upload files to a host:

  1. Choose File menu > Sharing > Upload to Host.

  2. In the left pane, click Show next to the type of host you want displayed in the list.

    3. Choose

    To display

    Favorites

    Hosts you previously added as favorites

    Local

    FileMaker Server hosts located on your TCP/IP subnet

    If signed in as a team manager: FileMaker Cloud Teams (FileMaker Pro only)

    Your team’s FileMaker Cloud host

    If you’re not signed in with a Claris ID or external IdP account, click Sign In.

  3. In the list, choose the host you want to upload files to.

    Or, to add a host, click Add favorite host button and type the host’s domain name (as host.domain.com) or IP address.

  4. For a FileMaker Server host, enter your account information, then click Sign In.

    To add your account information to your Credential Manager (Windows) or keychain (macOS), select Save password in Credential Manager (Windows) or Save password in Keychain Access (macOS).

  5. To change the destination folder or create a new folder (if supported by the host), click Change.

  6. Select the files you want to upload.

    7. To

    Do this

    Add files to the upload list

    Click Browse, select all the files that you want to add to the list, then click Open. Or, drag files to the right pane.

    Exclude files from the upload list

    Clear the checkbox next to any file that you don’t want to upload.

    You may be asked for the encryption passwords for the files you’re uploading.

  7. For each file, look in the Status column. If FileMaker Pro detects a problem with a file, it updates the status for that file and clears the checkbox. Confirm that all the files you want to upload are selected.

  8. If you want the files to be available on the host for clients to use immediately (if supported by the host), select Automatically open files (on server) after upload.

  9. Click Upload.

    When the upload is completed, FileMaker Pro updates the status for each file to indicate whether the upload was successful.

  10. To open an uploaded file in FileMaker Pro, select Open with FileMaker Pro for the file. Then click Done.

    FileMaker Pro opens each selected file. The filename and the host name appear in the window’s title bar.

Notes 

  • When you upload a file, the connection to the host is encrypted using SSL. If you’re using FileMaker Server and security is important in your environment, your server administrator needs to install a custom SSL certificate.

    In the Upload to Host dialog box, you may see a lock icon that indicates the security level of the connection. See About the security lock icons.

  • You can’t upload a file that already exists in any folder on the host; filenames must be unique for the entire host regardless of the folder or subfolder.

  • After the upload is completed, FileMaker Pro stores in the local version of the file that this file has been uploaded. When you try to open the local version of the file, FileMaker Pro prompts you to choose whether to open the local version or the hosted version of the file.

  • If you cancel a multifile upload in progress, files that are completely uploaded remain on the host, partially uploaded files are removed from the host, and FileMaker Pro does not upload any remaining files. The Status column in the Upload to Host dialog box indicates which files were uploaded successfully.

  • FileMaker Pro does not check encrypted database files for consistency before uploading them.

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