Encrypting database files (FileMaker Pro Advanced)
Encryption protects FileMaker database files from unauthorized access while the files are being stored on disk. Encrypted files can be decrypted as needed.
You create an
encryption password for the file, which protects the data if the file is copied or stolen. To change a file’s encryption password, you must re-encrypt the file.
Warning Encryption passwords cannot be recovered. Do not forget the encryption password that you assign to an encrypted database file. If necessary, write it down and store it in a secure place. If you lose or forget the encryption password, you will not be able to access or change the file.
If you have a multifile
solution, encrypt all database files with the same encryption password and
shared ID. When one encrypted file attempts to access another encrypted file, FileMaker Pro displays the Database Encryption Password dialog box if the files’ encryption passwords or shared IDs do not match.
Encrypted database files cannot be opened by versions of FileMaker Pro prior to 13.0.
To encrypt a file:
1. Close all the database files that you are going to encrypt.
2. Choose Tools menu > Developer Utilities.
3. If you have used Developer Utilities on the same database solution before and saved your settings, click Load Settings, locate and select the appropriate .sav file, then click Load.
4. Click Add, select the file or files that you want to encrypt, then click Add again.
Encrypt files that are in a multifile solution all at the same time.
5. For Project Folder, click Specify to choose a location for the encrypted solution.
6. To rename the encrypted copy of the file, for Rename file, type a filename and click Change.
8. For Solution Options, click Specify.
9. In the Specify Solution Options dialog box, select Enable Database Encryption (or Re-encrypt files).
10. For Shared ID, type any combination of uppercase or lowercase characters, numbers, and symbols between 1 and 32 characters.
Important The shared ID is case sensitive.
Encrypted files in multifile solutions are linked by the shared ID.
11. For FileMaker Account, click Specify.
12. Enter the account name and password for an account with Full Access privileges, then click OK.
13. For Encryption Password, click Specify.
14. Type an encryption password and a password hint for the files, then click OK.
Important The encryption password is case sensitive.
15. By default, FileMaker Pro Advanced uses secure storage to encrypt
container data that is stored externally. If you do not want to encrypt container data when you encrypt your database files, select
Keep Open Storage.
16. Click OK, then click Create.
To change the password for an encrypted file:
1. Close all the encrypted files whose password you are going to change.
2. Follow steps 2-15 in “To encrypt a file” above.
3. For the Encryption Password text box at the bottom of the Specify Solution Options dialog box, enter the current encryption password for the database file or files.
Note The Encryption Password text box is visible only if one or more of the selected files is encrypted.
4. Click OK, then click Create.
Notes
•Temporary files that are created by encrypted files are also encrypted.
•To add a new database file to an encrypted multifile solution, encrypt the new file with the same encryption password and
shared ID as the database files in the solution.
•When you export records from an encrypted database file, the records are always exported to a file that is not encrypted, regardless of the export file format.