Encrypting a file (FileMaker Pro Advanced)
Use the Developer Utilities to encrypt your database files.
When you encrypt a file, you create an encryption password that users must enter to access the file. To change a file’s encryption password, you must re-encrypt the file.
Warning  Do not forget the encryption password that you assign to an encrypted database file. If necessary, write it down and store it in a secure place. If you lose or forget the encryption password, you will not be able to access or change the file.
If you have a multi-file solution, encrypt all database files with the same encryption password and shared ID. When one encrypted file attempts to access another encrypted file, FileMaker Pro displays the Database Encryption Password dialog box if the files’ encryption passwords or shared IDs do not match.
Tip  Encrypt multiple files at the same time so they have the same encryption password and shared ID.
To encrypt a file:
1.
Close all the database files that you are going to encrypt.
2.
Choose Tools menu > Developer Utilities.
3.
If you have used Developer Utilities on the same database solution before and saved your settings, click Load Settings, locate and select the appropriate .sav file, the click Load.
4.
Click Add, select the file or files that you want to encrypt, then click Add again.
Encrypt files that are in a multi-file solution all at the same time.
5.
For Project Folder, click Specify to choose a location for the encrypted solution.
6.
To rename the encrypted copy of the file, for Rename file, type a filename and click Change.
7.
To be able to quickly repeat the process, click Save Settings, and choose a folder and location for your settings file. See Saving solution settings (FileMaker Pro Advanced).
8.
For Solution Options, click Specify.
9.
In the Specify Solution Options dialog box, select Enable Database Encryption (or Re-encrypt files).
10.
For Shared ID, type any combination of uppercase or lowercase characters, numbers, and symbols between 1 and 32 characters.
Important  The shared ID is case sensitive.
Encrypted files in multi-file solutions are linked by the shared ID.
11.
For FileMaker Account, click Specify.
12.
Enter the account name and password for an account with Full Access privileges, then click OK.
13.
For Encryption Password, click Specify.
14.
Type an encryption password and a password hint for the files, then click OK.
Important  The encryption password is case sensitive.
You can use any combination of uppercase or lowercase characters, numbers, and symbols in the encryption password.
15.
By default, FileMaker Pro Advanced uses secure storage to encrypt container data that is stored externally. If you do not want to encrypt container data when you encrypt your database files, select Keep Open Storage.
Note  You can change the secure or open storage of container data that is stored externally after you encrypt database files. For more information about storage options for container data, see Setting up container fields to store data externally.
16.
Click OK, then click Create.
To change the password for an encrypted file:
1.
Close all the encrypted files whose password you are going to change.
2.
Follow steps 2-15 in “To encrypt a file” above.
3.
For the Encryption Password text box at the bottom of the Specify Solution Options dialog box, enter the current encryption password for the database file or files.
Note  The Encryption Password text box is visible only if one or more of the selected files is encrypted.
4.
Click OK, then click Create.
Notes
 •
If FileMaker Pro Advanced fails to create an encrypted file, review the log file in your project folder for error messages.
 •
To add a new database file to an encrypted multi-file solution, encrypt the new file with the same encryption password and shared ID as the database files in the solution.
Related topics 
Tips for creating account names and passwords
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