Opening files protected with passwords
When you attempt to open a protected file, you will need to enter one or more passwords and supply other information, such as an account name, in order to open the file. You may also be able to open the file by using Guest Access if privileges for the file are configured to permit it.
To open a file protected with passwords:
1.
Open the protected file as you would any other FileMaker file.
See Opening files.
2.
If you see the Open Encrypted Database dialog box, enter the encryption password, then click OK.
If you don’t know the encryption password, see your database administrator.
3.
In the Open Filename dialog box, enter your account name and password, then click OK.
If you don’t know your account name and password, see your database administrator. If you don’t have an account, click Guest Account if available.
Notes
 •
Passwords are case-sensitive. For example, if your password is zFootBallz2, FileMaker Pro will not accept zfootballz2. If you’re having trouble entering a valid password, make sure the Caps Lock key on your keyboard is disabled.
 •
Account names are not case-sensitive. For example, if your account name is Chris, you can successfully open the file by entering chris or CHRIS as the account name.
 •
FileMaker Pro may display a Change Password dialog box when you try to open a protected file. You can also change your password whenever you want if your privileges permit it. See Changing your password for a file.
 •
You can allow your password for the current file to be saved in your credentials (Windows) or keychain (OS X). See Setting file options. For more information about storing credentials, see Windows Help and Support. For more information about the keychain, see OS X Help.
 •
If you are assigned an account that uses the Full Access privilege set, you can prevent the Open Filename dialog box from appearing each time the file is opened by designating a default account name and password to automatically use when opening the file. See Setting file options.
 •
If an account name and password is entered automatically when you open a file but you want to enter different account information, hold down the Shift key (Windows) or the Option key (OS X) when opening the file. The Open Filename dialog box will appear and you can specify another account name and password.
 •
If you try to access a protected file through a file that’s not authorized to access that file, you are asked if you want to authorize the file now. Click Yes to authorize the file. If you click Yes but are not logged in to the files with Full Access privileges, you must then enter an account with Full Access privileges.
 •
When a file you are opening is hosted, you may see an icon that indicates the security level of the connection to the host. Secure connections are encrypted using SSL. In the title bar of the Open Filename dialog box:
 •
Open lock icon (Windows) or Open lock icon (OS X) means the connection is not encrypted
 •
Closed lock icon with exclamation point (Windows) or Closed lock icon (OS X) means the connection is encrypted without verification from a third-party certificate
 •
Closed lock icon (Windows) or Closed lock icon with checkmark (OS X) means the connection is encrypted with verification from a third-party certificate
Topics in this section
Changing your password for a file
Was this topic helpful? Send feedback.