Using ODBC and JDBC with FileMaker Server

You can use FileMaker Server as:

  • a data source (FileMaker Server only). You can share hosted FileMaker Pro database files with other applications on the same computer or over a network using ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) and JDBC (Java Database Connectivity). For example, use FileMaker Pro data in other applications to create charts, analyze numbers, and generate reports.

  • an ODBC client application. Hosted FileMaker Pro databases can interact with data sources on the same computer or over a network. For example, hosted FileMaker Pro databases can work with an Oracle data source interactively as defined in the FileMaker Pro relationships graph and in layouts.

FileMaker Server as a data source (FileMaker Server only)

FileMaker Server platform includes the software you need to share databases as data sources via ODBC and JDBC, including the FileMaker client drivers you use to access your databases from other ODBC- or JDBC-compliant applications. See Sharing FileMaker Pro databases via ODBC and JDBC (FileMaker Server only) for information about enabling a database file for sharing.

For information about using client drivers and using SQL with a FileMaker Pro database file as an ODBC or JDBC source, see FileMaker ODBC and JDBC Guide.

For details about supported SQL statements, expressions, and functions, see FileMaker SQL Reference.

FileMaker Server as an ODBC client application

When you use FileMaker Server as a client application, you must install and configure drivers for the ODBC data sources to access and set up the data source names (DSNs) that hosted FileMaker Pro databases are designed to use. For example, to access data from an Oracle database using ODBC, you must install and configure an Oracle ODBC client driver and set up exactly the same DSNs that the FileMaker Pro database was designed to use. FileMaker Server supports several third-party drivers. See Accessing external ODBC data sources.

See Claris Pro and FileMaker Pro Help for information about:

  • working with ODBC data sources interactively, in the relationships graph, and in layouts

  • importing ODBC data in batch operations with SQL queries

What you need to work with ODBC and JDBC in FileMaker Server

To

See

Host a FileMaker Pro database as a data source (FileMaker Server only)

Sharing FileMaker Pro databases via ODBC and JDBC (FileMaker Server only)

FileMaker ODBC and JDBC Guide

Host a FileMaker Pro database that accesses an external ODBC data source

Accessing external ODBC data sources

Claris Pro and FileMaker Pro Help

Related topics