Move databases to FileMaker Cloud

If you are using Claris FileMaker Server and want to use FileMaker Cloud, you must download your databases from FileMaker Server, and then upload them to FileMaker Cloud.

Before you begin:

  • You must have a Claris ID account and be a team manager to upload a database file. See Claris Customer Console Help.

  • FileMaker Cloud only supports secure storage of externally stored container data. If you have container fields configured with open storage, you must transfer the container data to secure storage using FileMaker Pro. See Transferring container data.

To move databases to FileMaker Cloud:

  1. In FileMaker Pro, create account access entries that authenticate users via the Claris ID identity provider or the external identity provider (IdP) for each database to upload. See Creating and editing account access.

  2. In FileMaker Server Admin Console, close the databases you want to download. (You can use Admin Console to send warning messages to connected clients beforehand.)

  3. In Admin Console, download the databases to a local destination.

  4. In FileMaker Pro, upload the databases. See Uploading, encrypting, and opening database files.

Notes 

  • When you download a database that uses external storage for container data from FileMaker Server, the directory structure of database and container data is preserved. When you then upload the database to FileMaker Cloud, all files (including container data) are uploaded to the default storage destination.

  • In FileMaker Server, if you use an additional database folder for databases that include externally stored container data, you can specify a separate folder for this container data. FileMaker Cloud doesn’t allow you to specify destination database folders; all files are uploaded to the default storage destination.

  • To use FileMaker Admin API to upload databases, See Uploading custom apps to FileMaker Cloud.