Opening files as the host
To host a file so other users can access it as clients:
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the file must be enabled for network sharing, as described in the next section
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you must be the first to open it
If the file has associated lookups, related files, or uses external scripts, you must open and share those files as well.
Note  Avoid hosting files that are located on a remote or networked volume. For optimal performance, the file you're hosting should be on the hard disk of your computer.
When you share a file, by default it is visible to all other networked users via the Open Remote File dialog box. To prevent a shared file from appearing in this list, select Don’t display in Open Remote File dialog. This option is a good choice for sharing files that must be open but should not be accessed directly by users. These may include related databases, files with external scripts, and/or files that are used to generate a value list.
To enable a file for FileMaker Network sharing:
1.
Open the FileMaker Pro file.
Note  To enable or change a file’s sharing status, you must open it with an account that has Manage Extended Privileges access privileges. Users do not need to have Manage Extended Privileges access privilege to become the host of a database, but must have these access privileges to change the sharing status of a file. See About accounts, privilege sets, and extended privileges for more information.
2.
Choose File menu > Sharing > FileMaker Network.
3.
In the FileMaker Network Settings dialog box, set Network Sharing to On.
Once sharing is enabled for a file, the first user to open the file becomes that file’s host.
4.
Select the file(s) to be hosted from the list of Currently open files.
5.
For Network access to the file, choose an option.
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All users provides access to all FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Go users on your network.
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Specify users by privilege set limits network access to users based on their privilege set.
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No users prevents any access via FileMaker networking.
6.
Click OK.
To change a file’s sharing status:
1.
Open the FileMaker Pro file.
2.
Choose File menu > Sharing > FileMaker Network.
3.
In the FileMaker Network Settings dialog box, select the file from the list of Currently open files.
4.
For Network access to the file, choose an option.
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All users provides access to all FileMaker Pro users on your network and to FileMaker Go users.
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Specify users by privilege set limits network access to users based on their privilege set.
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No users prevents any access via FileMaker networking.
To disable FileMaker network sharing:
1.
Choose File menu > Sharing > FileMaker Network.
2.
In the FileMaker Network Settings dialog box, set Network Sharing to Off.
Tip  As the host, you can send a message to all clients accessing the database. Choose File menu > Sharing > FileMaker Network, select the file to notify, and click Send Message. Type a message in the Send Message dialog box and click OK. Clients see the message in a dialog box. They can dismiss the dialog box by clicking Cancel, or the dialog box will close automatically 30 seconds after appearing.
Related topics 
Closing shared files
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