Verifying databases are available to FileMaker clients

Note The following information is for server administrators and group administrators.

When FileMaker Server starts, it automatically opens and hosts all FileMaker Pro databases located in the default database folder and any additional database folder, if specified. On the Activity > Databases tab, the Status column displays Normal for the databases.

To verify that databases were opened when FileMaker Server started and that databases are available to FileMaker clients, check the following:

• The status of files listed on the Activity > Databases tab is Normal.

• The Go/Pro column shows a bullet (

) symbol, indicating that the fmapp extended privilege is set for at least one account.

• You can open remote files in FileMaker Pro and in FileMaker Go.

• The Event.log (or the Windows Event Viewer) should have FileMaker Server messages about opening the file.

1. Start FileMaker Server Admin Console. See Starting Admin Console.

If you manually added files to the default database folder after startup, those files are listed as Closed, and you must open them. When you open a database from FileMaker Server using the Activity > Databases tab, FileMaker Server automatically enables sharing via FileMaker Network (extended privilege fmapp). See Opening hosted files.

3. If the status of a database is Closed, select the database, then Click

, and choose Open.

When FileMaker Server opens files that were not closed properly, FileMaker Server performs a consistency check on each file and logs the result of the check in the event log.

Tip If a folder containing databases is closed, click the arrow next to the folder to open it.

4. If the Go/Pro column does not contain a bullet (

) symbol, then users can’t open the hosted database with FileMaker Go or FileMaker Pro. You must close the file on the server, open it with FileMaker Pro, then enable the fmapp extended privilege for the accounts that can use FileMaker Go or FileMaker Pro to open the hosted database.

To verify that a database is usable from a FileMaker Pro client machine:

3. Choose View menu > Local Hosts, then choose your server from the list. The name of the database should appear in the column on the right.

If the database is not listed, review the steps above and in Hosting databases.

Note If you are a group administrator, your server administrator must configure your administrator group to allow you to verify databases in your group folder. For more information, contact your server administrator.