New features in FileMaker Server 13

FileMaker Server 13 includes the following new features and improvements for server and group administrators.

Admin Console is a web application with an easy-to-navigate, streamlined user interface. You simply click an item in the navigation pane on the left to display a set of tabs or key information on the right, such as FileMaker Server Status, Activity, or Schedules. See Checking the status of your deployment.

Admin Console loads quickly in many major web browsers, including Safari, Internet Explorer, and Google Chrome. In addition, you can quickly access the FileMaker Server settings using the General Settings, Database Server, and Web Publishing panes.

• Manage your server directly from the redesigned Status pane, which displays the number of clients connected, the number of databases hosted, and the status of FileMaker Server components.

• Check if a component is running, then start and stop FileMaker Server components from the Status pane. See Checking the status of your deployment.

• Use FileMaker WebDirect™ to share layouts from FileMaker databases with web clients over the Internet or an intranet. Anyone with compatible web browser software and access to the Internet or an intranet can connect to your FileMaker WebDirect solution to view, edit, sort, or search records, if they have access privileges. With FileMaker WebDirect, data in the web browser updates as FileMaker Server pushes data to the web browser. See Configuring web publishing settings.

• In FileMaker Pro, choose File menu > Sharing to upload a database to FileMaker Server, where it will be hosted on the server. See Hosting databases.

• View the database and client information on the Activity pane to monitor databases and client connections to a database. See Administering clients and Administering databases.

• Use the toolbar menus on the Activity > Databases tab to open, close, verify, or download a database. Pause one or all of the hosted databases, then use Resume to restart them. See Administering databases.

• Use the toolbar menus on the Activity > Clients tab to send messages to clients or disconnect clients. See Administering clients.

• Select a folder that corresponds to each additional database folder for hosting databases. See Setting up additional database folders.

• Ensure that container data folders are backed up during a scheduled backup or progressive backup. See Setting up the container data folders.

• Use the General Settings > Administrator Groups tab to configure settings for administrator groups. See Adding administrator groups.

• Host encrypted database files on FileMaker Server so that the data is secure. The server administrator or group administrator specifies the encryption password at the time each hosted database is opened. See Opening hosted files.

• Select a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) option to provide secure connections between the Database Server and FileMaker clients. Clients can still download and use interactive content using an HTTP connection even with a secure connection setting selected. See Configuring Database Server settings.

• Open an encrypted database or save the password on the server for each encrypted database you open. Clients never need to enter the encryption password to open databases hosted by FileMaker Server. See OPEN command.