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FileMaker Hosting
F.A.Q. |
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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. Most customers will also want to ensure 'Guest access' is turned off. If you don't know how to do these steps and don't mind us seeing into your database just tell us - we are happy to do these steps for you.
FileMaker can corrupt files that are manipulated while open so it is best to quit the program before duplicating, making any copies or moving your files.
It is a good idea to name your file something distinct as a file name can only be used once on a server so such names as 'Customers' or 'Accounts' are likely to have been used already by our other clients. In addition if you have more than one file you may want to prefix the file names with something like your companies initials so that your files are grouped together in the open remote dialogue.
Then just send the file(s) by email. If your files 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 files 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 not be delivered.
A more flexible method is to use Dropbox who currently provide 2GB storeage for free. When you have set up an account or log on to an existing account in your browser you can invite us to share a folder within your Dropbox that you have put your FileMaker files in. We can use the same folder to pass back files to you. If you use Dropbox please issue the invite to crispin@molesoft.co.uk as this is our current dropbox ID.
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 to host is likely to be a well connected server in the country where most accesses will occur. We have a number of customers who connect regularly from within Europe including Italy, France, Spain & Germany. 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 or if you make changes just after the top of a working day hour (when the hourly backup runs) you can always contact us and ask for this to be restored if your changes go wrong.
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. Server scripts can be tricky to get right so we set limits on script run time and abort the script if the limit is exceeded. This ensures a looping script does no affect other users for an extended period.
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 are backed up.
I am a developer and understand FileMaker server. Can I have more direct control of my files?
- Full time FileMaker developrs can ask for this facility. There are special conditions we set to ensure you do not impact other users by setting up processor intensive backups or server scripts at anti-social time of day. Please contact us to discuss this if this is a route you wish to take. One of the questions we will ask is if you have a fixed IP address.
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 program allows hosted 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. If you are using FM Go please also read our re-connection FAQ.
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?
- We using the latest version of FileMaker Server 11v02. As long as your files open in FileMaker versions 7 to 11 (ie .fp7 files) they should be fine.
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 is much reduced with FileMaker Server 11 and anyway only lasts a few seconds. Backup 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. The end of day backup is transfered a server in our offices where it is kept for 24 hours. We also have an archive backup which keeps end of day backups for 90 days.
- 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.
When I use my iPad/iPhone and the signal is poor I keep on having to relogin. Can anything be done?
- FileMaker Go can be set to try to log back in without requiring a username/password after a break in communication. To set this you need to use a full copy of FileMaker Client and go to File...Manage...Security... in FileMaker the create a special Extended privilege called 'fmrestorelogin'. Then set it to be used by the Privelige set the user is going to be using. Sadly this currently has no effect on the standard client versions of FileMaker.
FileMaker Go also has a setting for 'Auto-Restore Login' which you should turn on.
My question is not answered here, what should I do?
- Give Crispin Hodges or Paul Jansen a call on 0044 (0) 1372 275 053 or email your query
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