Verifying databases are available to FileMaker clients

Hosting databases > 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 folders, if specified, when the Automatically open databases that are in the database folders setting is enabled on the General Settings > Startup tab.

On the Activity > Databases tab, the Status column displays Normal for the databases that are open and available for clients to use.

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. See Event log.

To verify the status of files listed on the Databases tab:

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

2. Click the Activity > Databases tab.

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.

It may take several minutes to open a complex file.

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:

1. Start FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Pro Advanced.

If the application is already open, choose File menu > Open Remote.

2. In the Launch Center, click the Hosts tab.

3. Click your server name in the hosts lists.

If the list isn’t displayed, click

If your server is not listed on the Hosts tab, check the following:

•Are the ports open on the server machine?

•Is a network issue preventing the client machine from accessing the server machine?

•Windows: Is Bonjour installed on the server machine?

4. The available databases are displayed.

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.