Uploading database files using FileMaker Pro

In FileMaker Pro, you can transfer database files from your local computer to a FileMaker Server deployment for hosting. In FileMaker Pro, choose File menu > Sharing > Upload to Host. Before uploading files, read the notes below. See Claris Pro and FileMaker Pro Help.

Important  Before you upload a database file, be sure to close it first.

Notes 

• Before you can upload files, you must have the server administrator account name and password.

• Specify the proper location for your database files. FileMaker Server hosts database files in a default database folder (Databases), a secure database folder (Secure), and an additional database folder. The default database folder and the additional database folder support hosting files in subfolders one level down. You can select or change folders on the Configuration > Folders tab. See Database and backup folder settings.

• When you upload encrypted files to the secure database folder, FileMaker Pro asks you for the encryption password so that FileMaker Server can automatically open the files after they are uploaded. If you upload encrypted files to a folder other than the secure database folder, they must be opened on the server by the server administrator.

• Before uploading files to the secure database folder, you must:

  • encrypt the files (see Claris Pro and FileMaker Pro Help)

  • ensure that the Guest account is not using the Full Access privilege set

  • ensure that no Full Access accounts have empty passwords

  • ensure that no Full Access account has a password stored in the database using the File Options dialog box Log in using option

  For encrypted files hosted in the secure database folder, FileMaker Server does not permit Guest account access or access for accounts that automatically log in (accounts specified for the Log in using option enabled in the File Options dialog box).

• When the uploaded database is opened, the Database Server checks whether the file has some form of sharing enabled. If no sharing is enabled, FileMaker Server automatically enables sharing via FileMaker Network (fmapp extended privilege) for the Full Access privilege set. If you enable only the fmwebdirect extended privilege for sharing via FileMaker WebDirect and don't enable fmapp, then users can't access the file with FileMaker Pro.

• By default, the databases you manually upload must not have a Guest account using the Full Access privilege set, a Full Access account with an empty password, or a Full Access account with the password stored in the database using the File Options dialog box Log in using option. Database files with these types of accounts are insecure.

  If you need to host insecure database files, use the CLI command fmsadmin set serverconfig securefilesonly=false.

  Restart FileMaker Server for this configuration setting change to take effect. See Using the command line interface.

  This command will allow insecure database files in the default database folder and the additional database folder; it will not allow insecure database files in the secure database folder. If you have not changed this default behavior, then FileMaker Server will not let you open database files with these types of insecure accounts. If you have not changed this default behavior, then FileMaker Pro will not let you upload database files with these types of insecure accounts.