Password-protecting a local file
To prevent others from opening a local FileMaker Pro file (a file located on your computer that isn't shared), protect the file with passwords. In addition, make sure you password-protect all accounts that have been assigned the Full Access privilege set.
After password-protecting a file, you will be prompted to enter an account name and password every time you open the file. Anyone who doesn't have the account information can't open the file.
To share a file with others and provide varying levels of file access to different users, see Planning security for a shared file.
To password-protect a local file:
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Make the following changes to the accounts in the file:
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Edit the Admin account so that it has a different account name, a password, and uses the Full Access privilege set.
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Make sure the Guest account is inactive.
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Delete any other accounts in the file or make them inactive.
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If necessary, edit the Full Access privilege set to allow yourself any extended privileges that you may want for yourself.
See Editing extended privileges for a privilege set. If you don't need any extended privileges, leave them disabled.
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Disable automatic sign-in.
Choose File menu > File Options. In the Open tab, make sure Log in using is not selected.
Warning Passwords defined within FileMaker Pro files cannot be recovered. Don't forget the account name and password that is assigned to the Full Access privilege set. If necessary, write it down and store it in a secure place. If you lose or forget this account name and password, you may not be able to access or change the file.
Notes
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Though files shared over a network should always be password protected, you may want to remove password protection from files you're not sharing. To remove password protection from a file, first remove passwords from all accounts. Then, in the File Options dialog box, make sure Log in using is selected, with Account Name and Password set to Admin and a blank password. See Setting file options.