FileMaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual

Sharing over the Internet

FileMaker Network Sharing is the easiest way to share your database. Folks simply open the file, and it works exactly like a file on their hard drive. The catch is that they need a copy of FileMaker Pro on whatever computer they’re using to connect. (Of course, when you consider how cool FileMaker Pro is, you’re probably doing them a favor.) If you want to open up your database to people who don’t have FileMaker—and you’re willing to live with a less elegant interface—you can use Instant Web Publishing. This feature turns your computer into its own Web server. Like magic, it turns all your layouts into Web pages and lets anybody with an up-to-date Web browser search, sort, and edit your data directly.

Turning on Web Sharing

Enabling Instant Web Publishing (IWP for short) is just as easy as turning on FileMaker Network Sharing. First, choose File → Sharing → Instant Web Publishing, and then click On. Once IWP starts up, FileMaker shows you the URL by which people access your databases. (You also get to pick a language for your Web pages. This action doesn’t translate the information in your database, though. Instead, it controls what language all of FileMaker’s built-in buttons, labels, and links use in the Web browser.)

Advanced Web Publishing Options

The Advanced Web Publishing Options window lets you configure FileMaker’s built-in Web server. You get to pick a port (more on that next) and restrict access to only certain computers, among other settings. Clicking ...