Connect to Solutions

There are two ways to work with a FileMaker Pro file on your iOS device:

Transferring and working with a file on a local device

You can transfer a file to an iOS device, then work offline with a local copy of the file on the device. When you make data changes to the local file, the remote file is not updated.

To transfer a file to a device, see Transfer Files.

To open a local file on your device, see Work with Files and Hosts.

Connecting to a hosted file

Connecting to a hosted file from an iOS device allows you to work with data interactively: when you change data on the device, the data is updated on the host computer, and vice versa, for the duration of a session. You can connect to files that are hosted in FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server, or FileMaker Cloud and are shared over a Wi-Fi or mobile data network.

Before you connect to a file, make sure the file is enabled for FileMaker Network sharing. See FileMaker Pro Help.

Connect to a hosted file

  1. If you are working in a file, tap Actions menu icon, then tap Launch Center Launch Center icon.
  2. Tap Hosts Hosts icon.
  3. Tap Hosts in the top-left corner, then choose the server that hosts the file.

    To connect to a host that doesn't support encrypted connections or whose SSL certificate cannot be verified, see "Manage permitted hosts" in Work with Files and Hosts.

  4. Choose a file.

    To search for a file when you are viewing files in a list, use the search box (swipe down if it is not visible).

    Note: If you don't see the file you are looking for, tap Hosts icon. If the file is on the selected host, enter the filename, then tap Open. If the file is on a different host, enter hostIPAddress/fileName.

Connect to a hosted file from the Recent list

  1. If you are working in a file, tap Actions menu icon, then tap Launch Center Launch Center icon.
  2. Tap Recent Recent icon.
  3. Choose a file.

Add a host

  1. If you are working in a file, tap Actions menu icon, then tap Launch Center Launch Center icon.
  2. Tap Hosts Hosts icon.
  3. Tap Hosts in the top-left corner, then tap Add Hosts icon.
  4. Type an IP address or a domain name. You do not need to type fmnet:/ .
  5. (optional) Type a host name.
  6. Tap Save.