Step 9: Set up external data sources

In addition to data entered by web users, FileMaker WebDirect custom apps can access external ODBC and FileMaker data sources.

Setting up ODBC data sources

To support authentication with an ODBC data source in FileMaker WebDirect, use FileMaker Pro to store the user name and password for the data source in the custom app. See FileMaker Pro Help.

If a custom app is configured to use ODBC data source single sign-on (SSO), users will be prompted to enter authentication information when attempting to access the ODBC data source.

For information about ODBC data sources, see FileMaker Server Help and FileMaker Cloud Help.

Setting up external FileMaker data sources

To access external FileMaker data sources in FileMaker WebDirect, all referenced database files must be hosted on the same FileMaker Server or FileMaker Cloud deployment as the FileMaker WebDirect custom app.

To support authentication with an external FileMaker data source in FileMaker WebDirect, the FileMaker WebDirect custom app and the external data source should have matching account names and passwords assigned to privilege sets with the FileMaker WebDirect extended privilege enabled.

If the web user's account name and password in the FileMaker WebDirect custom app do not match an account in the external data source, the user will be prompted to sign in to the external data source when the FileMaker WebDirect custom app attempts to access it.

For information about external FileMaker data sources, see FileMaker Pro Help.