Web-based Remote Administration

Chong-ho (Alex) Yu, Ph.D., MCSE, CNE, CCNA

Problem:

How can I administer the FileMaker via the Web interface?

Solution:

In FileMaker Pro, you can remotely open and close databases, and also assign access rights to different users via the Web interface. To enable remote administration, you must configure the Web Companion such as giving an administrative password.

 

 

Open and close databases

On some occassions you may want to remotely open and/or close databases. Imagine these situations: A database is close accidentally and users cannot access it, or a database which contain sensitive information is accessed illegally. You don't have a terminal client and you can't wait to drive back to the office to open or close the database. If you have already set up webpages for opening and closing databases remotely, you can perform remote opening and closing with a few clicks only.

 

Part of the source code for remote opening is as the following:


		<FORM ACTION="FMPro" METHOD="post">
            <P><INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="-format" VALUE="open_reply.htm"></P>
            
            <P><INPUT TYPE=radio NAME="-db" VALUE="CIA/CIA.FP5"> CIA
            Agent List</P>
            
            <P><INPUT TYPE=submit NAME="-dbopen" VALUE="Open database">
         </FORM>

It is important to point out that when you specify the value of the input (the database to be open), you must include the full path (directory and file name), otherwise FileMaker Pro will not be able to locate the database. In addition, you have to specify a format file such as a reply message to indicate that the database is open successfully.

 

The source code for remote closing is similar to the previous one, except that you should not specify the full path for the database. It is because when the database is open, FileMaker Pro could locate it without knowing the path. You can open or close only one database at one time. After selecting a database and submit the request, you need to enter the ID and password in a dialog box. The ID is "admin" and the password is the one set in the Web Companion configuration.

 


	      <FORM ACTION="FMPro" METHOD="post">
            <P><INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="-format" VALUE="close_reply.htm"></P>
            
            <P><INPUT TYPE=radio NAME="-db" VALUE="CIA.FP5"> CIA
            Agent List</P>
            
            <P><INPUT TYPE=submit NAME="-dbclose" VALUE="Close database">
         </FORM>

Caution: If you close a database, download it to your local desktop, modify it, upload it back to the server, and then re-open it using the preceding approach, make sure that the database is standalone without links (relationship) to other databases. If not, you will find that after the database is re-open on the server, relationships are broken (databases are like teenage boys and girls. Relationships are very fragile).

Remote security

Remote security has been set up in FileMaker Pro by default. To access the remote security page, simply type the URL and the directory name "security." For example, if the URL for your FMP Web Serevr is 1.2.3.4, then enter http://1.2.3.4/security/ in the location box of the Web browser. From there you can add or delete users, assign different access rights to different users.

Navigation

FMP Tips Contents

Other computer tips

Search Engine

Credit/Copyright ©

Simplified Navigation

Table of Contents

Contact Me