FileMaker Cloud 2.18.0 Getting Started Guide

FileMaker Cloud^® is a service that provides access in the cloud to custom apps (databases) that use FileMaker^® Pro Advanced, FileMaker Go^®, and FileMaker WebDirect^™. FileMaker Cloud uses the FileMaker ID integrated sign-on system to authenticate users and is offered directly from Claris International Inc.

FileMaker Cloud offers an annual subscription for one or more years. Before you purchase a FileMaker Cloud subscription, determine the number of users you will need for your subscription.

Your FileMaker Cloud subscription includes:

• FileMaker Cloud
• FileMaker Pro Advanced
• FileMaker Go
• FileMaker WebDirect
• FileMaker Data API and OData (Open Data Protocol) annual limit

To upgrade your FileMaker Cloud subscription, see FileMaker Customer Console Help.

FileMaker Cloud hardware and software requirements are listed here: FileMaker Cloud Technical Specifications.

1. In the FileMaker Store, select the FileMaker Cloud page.
2. If you need a multiple-year contract, select the number of years.

3. Choose the number of users for your subscription.

   The total price for the annual bill is updated based on the number of selected users.

4. Click Add to Cart.
5. Review the information in the shopping cart, then click Continue to checkout.

6. Sign in to your FileMaker ID account.

   If you don't have an account, click Create your FileMaker ID. Follow the onscreen instructions to create a FileMaker ID account.

7. Enter the licensed user information, then click Next Step.
8. Enter the billing information, then click Continue.
9. Review the order information, then click Place Order.

After your order is processed, you will receive a confirmation email.

After you purchase FileMaker Cloud, you will receive an email with a link to FileMaker Customer Console.

1. Use the link in the email to go to FileMaker Customer Console, then click Get Started.
2. Review and accept the Terms of Service.

3. Enter your preferred host name.

   Your preferred host name will also be your server domain name. Choose a unique name that doesn't include any third-party trademarks.

   Important:You cannot change your preferred host name after it is approved.

4. Click Continue.

5. Review the information about the logs collected by Claris International Inc., then click Submit.

   It may take up to 24 hours for your preferred host name to be approved. You can use the provided temporary host name until your preferred host name is approved.

6. After your preferred host name is approved, you receive an email with a link to FileMaker Cloud Admin Console.
7. Sign in to Admin Console using your FileMaker ID user name (email) and password.

Notes

• When you are signed in to Admin Console using the temporary host name, don't make any instance changes until your preferred host name is approved.
• Your FileMaker Cloud subscription includes an SSL certificate. FileMaker Cloud does not support custom certificates.

You must have a valid license certificate file to install the client software. Keep the license certificate in a safe place in case you need to reinstall the software.

To download the license certificate and the client software:

1. In FileMaker Customer Console, click Subscription > Downloads.
2. For Download License Certificate, click Download.
3. To download the software, click the link for your FileMaker client.

Use the downloaded license certificate when you install FileMaker Pro Advanced.

To upload your databases to FileMaker Cloud, see FileMaker Cloud Help.

If you are using FileMaker Server or FileMaker Cloud for AWS and want to use FileMaker Cloud, you must download your databases from FileMaker Server or FileMaker Cloud for AWS, and then upload them to FileMaker Cloud.

Notes

• You must have a FileMaker ID account and be a team manager to upload a database file. See FileMaker Customer Console Help.
• FileMaker Cloud only supports secure storage of externally stored container data. If you have container fields configured with open storage, you must transfer the container data to secure storage using FileMaker Pro Advanced.

1. In FileMaker Customer Console, invite users who will use the databases. You can also create a group and add users to the group. See FileMaker Customer Console Help.
2. In Admin Console for FileMaker Server or FileMaker Cloud for AWS, close the databases you want to download. (You can use Admin Console to send warning messages to connected clients beforehand.)
3. In Admin Console, download the databases to a local destination.
4. In FileMaker Pro Advanced, create account access entries that authenticate users via the FileMaker ID identity provider for each database to upload. See FileMaker Pro Advanced Help.
5. In FileMaker Pro Advanced, upload the databases. See FileMaker Cloud Help.

Notes

• When you download a database that uses external storage for container data from FileMaker Server or FileMaker Cloud for AWS, the directory structure of database and container data is preserved. When you then upload the database to FileMaker Cloud, all files (including container data) are uploaded to the default storage destination.
• In FileMaker Server, if you use an additional database folder for databases that include externally stored container data, you can specify a separate folder for this container data. FileMaker Cloud doesn’t allow you to specify destination database folders; all files are uploaded to the default storage destination.

FileMaker Cloud uses the following ports.

Number	Used by	Protocol/Purpose
80	FileMaker Cloud web server, Admin Console users, client users	HTTP
443	FileMaker Cloud web server, client users	HTTPS
5003	FileMaker Pro Advanced, FileMaker Go client users	Hosting databases
16000	Admin Console users	HTTPS

This section describes FileMaker Cloud security features and the steps you can take to manage these features in your FileMaker Cloud instance.

Software patches: You receive notifications when available patches require restarting your FileMaker Cloud instance.

Database encryption: FileMaker Cloud requires all database files to be encrypted. If a database is not encrypted, FileMaker Cloud encrypts the database and creates an encryption password when you upload the file. In FileMaker Cloud Admin Console, retrieve the encryption password and save it in a secure place. See FileMaker Cloud Help.

Session timeouts: Review and update session timeouts for FileMaker clients, if needed. When client users' idle periods reach the timeout setting, they are disconnected. Setting session timeouts reduces the risk of database files being accessed by an unattended computer or mobile device.

Log file entries: Frequently, download and review the Event.log file for the keyword SECURITY to see security-related entries.