User manual FILEMAKER FILEMAKER PRO 11 ADVANCED V2 UPDATER_README

[. . . ] You may use this documentation solely with a valid licensed copy of FileMaker software. All persons and companies listed in the examples are purely fictitious and any resemblance to existing persons and companies is purely coincidental. Credits are listed in the Acknowledgements document provided with this software. Edition:01 Contents Chapter 1 About publishing FileMaker Pro databases on the web About this guide Web publishing requirements Connecting to the Internet or an intranet About hosting databases with FileMaker Pro About hosting databases with FileMaker Server Advanced Web publishing improvements Publishing files from previous versions of FileMaker Pro Chapter 2 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 Publishing your database on the web Sharing a database with Instant Web Publishing Choosing a language for Instant Web Publishing Specifying a port number for web publishing Checking the maximum number of web connections Restricting access except to specified IP addresses Disconnecting inactive web accounts Linking to a database from an HTML page Publishing FileMaker Pro data on static web pages General steps for publishing static data Chapter 3 11 12 13 14 14 14 15 15 16 Working with FileMaker databases on the web Web browser requirements Accessing a FileMaker database from the web Logging into a file Working with data in Instant Web Publishing Viewing and modifying records in Browse mode Finding records Logging out of a database and closing a web session Displaying a database with the status area hidden Differences between FileMaker Pro and Instant Web Publishing Benefits to accessing databases with Instant Web Publishing Benefits to accessing databases with FileMaker Pro 17 17 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 22 22 Chapter 4 Designing a database for Instant Web Publishing Tips for designing layouts for Instant Web Publishing Tips for rendering layouts in Instant Web Publishing Design considerations for List View and Table View Tips for working with data in a web browser General database design considerations Working with graphics, sounds, and movies on the web Setting the initial layout and view Hiding the status area to customize the interface Specifying the sort order for web users Scripts and Instant Web Publishing Script steps tips and considerations Creating a script to log out of a database and close the session Hosting databases with FileMaker Server Advanced: an overview Documenting your solution Chapter 5 23 23 24 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 29 29 30 Testing, monitoring, and securing your site Testing your database with a network connection Testing your database without a network connection Monitoring web activity with log files Securing your data Index 31 31 31 32 35 Chapter 1 About publishing FileMaker Pro databases on the web With FileMaker® Pro, you can display your databases on the web in a variety of ways. This makes your data: 1 available to many people using a compatible web browser, anywhere in the world. [. . . ] Contact your internet service provider or network administrator for information about mapping a domain and host name to your IP address. 1 If you configure FileMaker Pro to use a port number other than 80 (the default), that port number must be appended to your IP address, for example: 10. 0. 0. 1:88. See "Specifying a port number for web publishing" on page 13. 18 FileMaker Instant Web Publishing Guide 1 You can also create an HTML page that contains a link to a database published on the web. For more information, see "Linking to a database from an HTML page" on page 15. The Database Homepage lists the FileMaker Pro databases that are open on the host computer and enabled for web sharing. Web users click a filename to open a database. Click a filename to open the database The Database Homepage lists files shared with Instant Web Publishing Logging into a file When opening a database, web users may be prompted for their account information. 1 If you have not defined or modified the default accounts for a file, web users must use the default user account name "Admin" if prompted to log into a database (unless the Guest account is enabled). 1 If you have not assigned a password for an account, web users only specify the account name. 1 If the Guest account is disabled, then users will be prompted for account name and password when they open the database. 1 If the Guest account is enabled, and has the Instant Web Publishing privilege set enabled, all web users automatically open the database with the access privileges assigned to the Guest account. If the Instant Web Publishing privilege is assigned to the Guest account: 1 Web users are not prompted for an account name and password when opening a file. 1 All web users will automatically log in with the Guest account and assume the Guest account privileges. You can let users change their login accounts from a web browser with the Relogin script step (for example, to switch from the Guest account to another, more full-featured account). 1 The default privilege set for Guest accounts provides "read-only" access. For more information, see FileMaker Pro Help. Working with FileMaker databases on the web 19 1 Web users generally cannot modify their account password from a web browser. It is possible, however, to build this functionality into your database with the Change Password script step (to enable web users to change their password). 1 With FileMaker Server Advanced, you can enable an additional log in screen that does not display filenames in the Database Homepage unless web users have an account name and password that provides access to the file. Working with data in Instant Web Publishing In FileMaker Pro, the Instant Web Publishing status area has been redesigned to resemble the desktop application. Benefits to accessing databases with FileMaker Pro Although accessing a database from the web is very similar to FileMaker Pro, it is not as responsive as accessing a database from a FileMaker Pro network client: 1 There are no customization features available on the web. Although web users can choose layouts and different layout views, they cannot add, delete, or modify fields, layouts, scripts, relationships, and so on. 1 Web users cannot directly interact with the hard drive, so import/exporting data, drag and drop, and automation with OLE, ActiveX, and Apple events will not work. 1 Web users can only enter data in text, number, date, or time fields; they cannot enter or modify container field objects like images, sounds, and QuickTime files. 1 1 1 1 1 Web users cannot enter data with rich text formatting (RTF). Web users should only interact with a database from one web browser window. FileMaker Pro keyboard commands are not available for use in the web browser. Chapter 4 Designing a database for Instant Web Publishing With FileMaker Pro, data displayed on a web form with Instant Web Publishing looks and behaves similarly to a FileMaker layout. When you design solutions that are accessed on the web, there are some limitations of the technologies that you should be aware of. For example, FileMaker Pro layouts are rendered on the web using Cascading Style Sheets, which doesn't offer as robust graphics support as the FileMaker Pro application. Tips for designing layouts for Instant Web Publishing FileMaker Pro layouts determine which fields web users see, and how the data is formatted. You are no longer limited to picking a couple of layouts to display in web views. 1 1 1 1 Like FileMaker Pro, default web layouts can be specified with startup scripts. User accounts and privileges determine which layouts web users can view. Web users can only search on fields that are present on the current layout. If you're designing layouts specifically for searching, note that web users can't enter search criteria for summary, global, or container fields. Tips for rendering layouts in Instant Web Publishing Layouts are rendered in web browsers using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). For example: 1 1 1 1 Rounded rectangles are displayed as rectangles. [. . . ] For information on enabling Instant Web Publishing in FileMaker Server Advanced, see the FileMaker Server Advanced Web Publishing Installation Guide, included with FileMaker Server Advanced. Documenting your solution Instant Web Publishing cannot cover the nuances of how web users should interact with your particular databases. It's helpful if you can provide your own documentation, especially if you're presenting a lot of layouts and automating tasks with scripted buttons. You should include information about the following information in your documentation: 1 Browsing and finding records: Let web users know that they work with data in Browse mode or Find mode. Instruct users how to create, edit, delete, find, and sort records. 1 Navigating the database: Instruct web users on how to view records in appropriate layouts and layout views. 1 It is important that web users properly close their session, or connection to the host computer, by clicking the Log Out button in the status area. [. . . ]