Managing external storage of container data

For each database, you can define one or more base directories in which to store container data externally. The default location for each base directory is the database's location. You can add, edit, or delete base directories. You must have full access privileges to create or change base directories.

To create or change a base directory:

  1. Choose File menu > Manage > Containers.

    The Storage tab displays at least one base directory (the default). You can edit this base directory, but you can't delete it unless there are others in the list.

  2. In the Storage tab, create, edit, or delete a base directory for the container fields in this database.

    You can set up subdirectories for individual container fields in Field Options.

    3. To

    Do this

    Create a new base directory

    Click New. In the New Base Directory dialog box, type a path for the base directory. A base directory can be an absolute path, a path relative to the database location, or a network path. (You can see examples of base directories at the bottom of the dialog box.) A base directory cannot contain references to a parent folder ("/../").

    Edit a base directory

    Select a base directory in the list, then click Edit. In the Edit Base Directory dialog box, change the path shown for Base Directory.

    Delete a base directory

    Select a base directory in the list, then click Delete.

    Note  You cannot delete a base directory if it contains data, is used by a container field that stores data externally, or is the only base directory in the list, or if any data transfers are pending.
  3. Click OK.

Notes 

  • If you rename the database, you may need to change the database name in the base directory. FileMaker Pro does not automatically update the database name in the base directory.
  • If a base directory ends with a colon (:), the last part of the path is treated as a prefix for filenames. For example, if the directory is /invoices/inv_:, then all invoices will be stored in the Invoices directory, and their filenames will have the inv_ prefix.
  • You cannot create, edit, or delete a base directory if the database is hosted on a different computer.

Related topics