Connect to files

There are two ways to work with a FileMaker Pro file on your iOS or iPadOS device:

  • transfer and work with a file on a local device

  • connect to a hosted file

Transferring and working with a file on a local device

You can transfer a file to your iOS or iPadOS device, then work offline with a local copy of the file on that device. When you make data changes to the local file, the remote file is not updated. See Transfer files.

Connecting to a hosted file

Connecting to a hosted file from an iOS or iPadOS device allows you to work with data shared with other users. When you change data in a hosted file, the change is immediately shared with other users of the same file. You can connect to files that are hosted by FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server, or FileMaker Cloud and are shared over a Wi-Fi or mobile data network by enabling FileMaker Network sharing. To enable FileMaker Network sharing, see FileMaker Pro Help.

For the following instructions, if you are working in a file, first tap Actions menu icon, then tap Launch Center Launch Center icon.

Connect to a locally hosted file

To open files hosted on your local network, use FileMaker Go to connect to FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Server.

  1. Tap Hosts Hosts icon.

  2. For Local Hosts, choose a host.

    To connect to a host that doesn't support encrypted connections or whose SSL certificate cannot be verified, see Manage permitted hosts.

  3. Choose a file.

    To search for a file when you are viewing files in a list, use the search box (swipe down to refresh the list of files).

Connect to a hosted file from the Favorites or Recents tab

  1. Tap Favorites Favorites icon or Recents Recents icon.

  2. Choose a file.

Connect to a file hosted by FileMaker Cloud

If you use FileMaker Go and you have a Claris ID account, you can connect to a file hosted by FileMaker Cloud from the My Apps tab.

  1. Tap My Apps My Apps icon.

  2. Sign in to your Claris ID account.

    Your teams are displayed in Locations.

  3. Tap a team folder, then choose a file.

See Claris Customer Console Help.

Add a host

  1. Tap Hosts Hosts icon.

  2. Tap Add Hosts icon.

  3. Type a fully qualified domain name or an IP address. You do not need to type fmnet:/ .

  4. (optional) Enter a name for the host. It will appear in the hosts list.

  5. Tap Save.

Notes 

  • On iPad, Locations displays as a sidebar on the My Apps tab, and Local Hosts displays as a sidebar on the Hosts tab.

  • To refresh a list of files, swipe down on the list.