Sharing files on a network
 
Sharing files on a network
If your computer is connected to a network, you and other FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Go users can use the same database file simultaneously.
FileMaker Pro Network Sharing supports the sharing of files with up to 5 concurrent users (not including the host). FileMaker Go clients are included in the limit of 5 users. To support more users and web publishing technologies such as XML, PHP, FileMaker WebDirect, and the FileMaker Data API, use FileMaker Server.
•The information in this topic pertains to sharing files on a local area network. To host databases over a network, see Opening files as the host. To publish files on the web or an intranet, see Publishing databases on the web. To share files via ODBC or JDBC, see Using ODBC and JDBC with FileMaker Pro.
•macOS: If you are unable to share files on a local network, verify on the host computer that either the macOS Sharing firewall has been turned off, or that you have added an open network port configuration for port 5003 to the system sharing preferences. For more information, see macOS Help.
Important  Sharing (or hosting) a FileMaker Pro database is independent of any operating system file sharing. Access control you set up in Windows or macOS is not associated with access privileges you set up in FileMaker Pro, and vice versa.
Working in shared files
The first FileMaker Pro user to open a local file that has FileMaker Pro Network Sharing enabled becomes the host. Or, after you upload a file and have FileMaker Server open it, FileMaker Server becomes the host. Users who open a shared file after it is opened by the host are clients.
Note  FileMaker host software allows only recent versions of FileMaker client software to connect. For compatible versions of host software, see the FileMaker Pro technical specifications.
Once a shared file is open, the host and clients have access to the same information, and all changes to the file appear in each user's window.
•Modifications to the data made by any user are saved in the shared file. Any changes to layouts and scripts are also saved in the shared file.
•Specified sort orders, find requests, import and export field orders, and print setups are specific to each user.
Although multiple users may make changes in a shared file at the same time, there are limitations to the types of simultaneous changes that are permitted.
 
Changes to
Limitation
Data in fields and records
Two people can’t edit the same record at the same time.
Layouts and layout elements
Two people can’t modify the same layout at the same time.
Value lists
Two people can’t modify or define value lists at the same time.
One person can edit a value list while another person is using it in Browse or Find mode.
Scripts
Two people can’t modify the same script at the same time.
One person can edit a script while another person is using it.
Tables, fields, relationships (database schema)
Two people can’t modify any of these elements at one time.
Data source references
Two people can’t modify or define data sources at the same time.
One person can edit a data source while another person is using it.
Accounts and privileges
Two people can’t modify or define accounts and privileges at the same time.
One person can create or modify an account or privilege while another person is using it.
Notes 
•Access privileges may restrict the ability of users to change certain elements in a file. See Protecting databases.
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