Sharing files on a network
If your computer is connected to a network, you and other Windows and OS X FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Go users can use the same database file simultaneously.
FileMaker Pro Network Sharing supports the sharing of files with up to 5 concurrent users (not including the host). FileMaker Go clients are included in the limit of 5 users. To support more users and web publishing technologies such as XML, PHP, and FileMaker WebDirect, use FileMaker Server.
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The information in this topic pertains to sharing files on a local area network. To host databases over a network, see Opening files as the host. For information about publishing files on the web or an intranet, see Publishing databases on the web. For information about sharing files via ODBC or JDBC, see Using ODBC and JDBC with FileMaker Pro.
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Important  Sharing (or hosting) a FileMaker Pro database is independent of any operating system file sharing. Access control you set up in Windows or OS X is not associated with access privileges you set up in FileMaker Pro, and vice versa.
If you are the first person to open a shared file, you are the host. Users who open a shared file after you are clients.
Notes
Once a shared file is open, the host and clients have access to the same information, and all changes to the file appear in each user's window.
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Although it's possible for multiple users to make changes in the same shared file at the same time, there are limits to the types of simultaneous changes that are permitted. The following table describes the types of changes you can and cannot make to shared files.
 
Note One person can edit a value list while another person is using it in Browse or Find mode.
Note One person can edit a script while another person is using it.
Note One person can edit a data source while another person is using it.
Note One person can create or modify an account or privilege while another person is using it.
Note  Access privileges may also restrict the ability of users to change certain elements in a file. For more information, see Protecting databases
Topics in this section
Sharing and hosting files
Working with shared files as a client
Opening shared files as a client
Sharing files with FileMaker Go clients
Uploading files to FileMaker Server