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FileMaker Hosting
FAQ |
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I understand you offer a 1-month free trial. What do I need to do to try the service?
- Make sure you have passwords set and that at least the master ([Full Access]) account has 'Access via FileMaker Network (fmapp)' enabled.
- Then just send the file(s) by email. If they are too big to email it often makes a big difference if you zip them first. Usually this is done by right clicking on the file and selecting the compress option. If your files are still too large then www.yousendit.com offer a 'liteaccount' free service that works fine. It has a limit of 100MB and one file so if you have multiple files or your file is above this figure you will need to compress them/it first. This is done by right clicking (ctrl clicking if a Mac) on the file/folder and selecting zip/archive/compress. Beware with a lite account if you send a second file before the first one is picked up the first one be overwritten.
I was using the server but I lost communication. Now I can't log back on
- FileMaker clients and server require a continuous connection. If this is broken you get a lost communication message. With FileMaker Pro you will have to wait five minutes before logging back on as at first the server is 'not aware' the original connection has gone so sees another login from the same copy of FileMaker as an error. The main candidates for connection breaks are, weak WiFi signal, poor ADSL connection, your processor went to sleep. FileMaker Go (iPhone, iPad and Touch) allows you to reconnect.
What is the advantage of using UK-based FileMaker servers?
- If you are connecting from the UK you stand a better chance of a high bandwidth connection. You can test how well we are connected using the Speed Test tool on the home page.
- Low latency. If you use a US based server when you request data from it there is a delay caused by the distance involved. Some FMP operations require several calls for data from the server before displaying your screen so latency is particularly critical.
- US-based servers are occupied by backups when European business hours start.
I want to connect from various countries in Europe. Will there still be advantages to having my files hosted at www.filemaker-hosting.co.uk?
- The best place is a well connected server in the country where most accesses will occur but we have a number of customers who connect regularly from within Europe. Indeed on a recent trip we experienced a very good connection from a hotel in Lipari (Sicily).
Do I need to purchase a copy of FileMaker's server software to use your service?
- No, our hosting packages include the use of a server that already has a license for FileMaker Server.
What about passwords?
- We will not need to view your database so we do not need your password (unless you want us to set up a server script for you). You can use 'guest access' to give the public a read only view but remember once hosted on the internet it will be easy for others repeatedly try to access your system so it is a good idea to protect it with hard to guess account names and passwords (perhaps containing numbers as well as letters).
What if I want to change the design of my database once it is hosted?
- One of FileMaker's many strengths is that you can design pages, change structure, write scripts etc. with a hosted file on a remote server just as if it were a local file.
What if I want a copy of my file before making changes?
- You can request occasional copies of your files by contacting us.
What if I want more frequent/direct access to my files?
- We can transfer our overnight backup of your files to an ftp site of your choice. There may be a small extra charge for this depending on the hosting package you choose.
Can I have server scripts that run every day?
- Yes, you can have one server script that runs every night as long as it takes no longer than 4 minutes to execute. You can choose if it is to run near the end of the day or at the start of the new day. You can also have scripts that run more frequently during the day but we may charge for this.
Occasionally my FileMaker file freezes for a few seconds. Is this a fault?
- No. There a several possible causes. For instance if your internet connection is fully occupied with perhaps a large download, also you can expect a freeze for a few seconds just after the top of the hour as you files a backed up.
I am a developer and understand FileMaker server. Can I have full control of my files?
- Possibly. Please contact us to discuss this.
My files end .fp5. Can you serve these as well as .fp7 files?
- We're afraid not - you will have to upgrade them. It's easy to do this for simple files. For more complex solutions you may need a developer to help you. It is also common for FileMaker .fp5 solutions to comprise many individual files and hosting companies such as ourselves tend to charge per file. In view of this you may want to combine files as part of the upgrade process.
Will I be able to connect to my FileMaker files from my iPhone or iPad?
- In July 2010 FileMaker released 'FileMaker Go'. This programs allows FileMaker files to be accessed with ease from the iPhone and iPad. The program has a few limitations but connects and works very well with our servers.
Can I have my plugins installed on your server?
- Possibly but server versions of plugins tend to be expensive. Please call us and discuss what will be possible and affordable.
Where are your terms and conditions?
- You can read them here (PDF)
What version of server are you on and will it work with older versions of FileMaker?
- As long as your files are open in FileMaker 7 or above they should be fine. We are about to migrate to FileMaker Server 11. When this happens the IWP status bar will move from the side to the top. FileMaker have made this change so the bar matches the look of FileMaker they introduced in FileMaker Pro 10.
How fast will my FileMaker files run on your servers?
- Our servers have spare processor time and their connections to the internet are fast. However this is not the whole story. The speed you connect to the internet is crucial and as explained elsewhere the latency which a natural side effect of your distance from the server is important too.
FileMaker stores your design and some of your data in cache. This is called in as required from the server. As a result the database will be slower at first and then speed up as you revisit screens and view data you have viewed before.
Design of your database can be important too. Avoid a lot of graphics and summary fields on layouts that total up long lists. Also portals with a lot of sorted data can take some time. FileMaker requests all lines for portals even ones that are out of view. Sadly the new filtered portals do not help as all the data is still requested by you client.
Another factor can be tables with a lot of fields. Sometimes the request for just one piece of information can require the database to deliver all the information from that record. With this knowledge you can often structure your database for speed by such techniques as moving containers with graphics in then to another table that is accessed through a relationship.
Lastly if you ever search un-indexed data your searches will be slow as the system needs to read every bit of data to give a result. This can be slow when working with the file itself. If you do this over the internet the delay before you see the results will be extended significantly. Again it is often possible to change the way the database works so your searched fields are indexed.
It is normal for there to be a slowdown as your file is backed up. This happens just past the top of each hour during office hours.
How often do my files get backed up?
- During the working day the served files are backed up every hour to the master hard disk. A copy is also taken onto another (solid state) disk every odd hour and to a backup server every even hour. There backups are overwritten 24 hours later. In addition at the end of each day a backup is made that is kept a week. Lastly the end of day backup is transfered a server in our offices. This is overwritten every 24 hours.
- It is also possible to have the end of day backup sent by FTP to space you provide - but this may be subject to an extra charge.
My question is not answered here, what should I do?
- Give Crispin Hodges a call on 0044 (0) 1372 275 053 or email your query
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