I have a medium sized FMP7 database that was originally developed in FMP4 
and is still organized in its original 20+ separate files.  It's working 
fine on a single OSX Mac, but now we're considering sharing it between two 
office workers in different home offices.  I was thinking that it might be 
possible to put the files on a secure internet server and do the sharing 
over the internet.  I'm not thinking of having a web interface to the data, 
just a web server as the host of the files to provide connectivity between 
the two offices and the data.  I would assume that both offices have 
broadband connections.  Can anyone tell me if this idea can work?  What 
communication protocol would be needed?  I assume FTP and HTTP would not 
work.  How about a VPN tunnel between the two offices and host the data on 
one of the two, or on a third server in one of the offices?  Would it be 
best to convert the whole system to the FMP7 single-file format?  Any issues 
if the two offices were not equipped with the same type of computers (Mac 
vs. PC)?  Lots of questions - anyone have experience with this?

TIA

Don 

First, one thing I have to stress:

Do NOT use OS-level filesharing to network the files. I know back in FM 
4 and earlier, people would share databases by putting the files on a 
server folder somewhere and both open them. Do *not* do this - it can 
and probably will corrupt your database.

Now, on to the answer:
If one worker leaves the computer on all the time, that person should 
leave the database open all the time with database sharing turned on. 
The other user uses the "Open Remote" command in the File menu to 
connect to the first worker's computer over the Internet and open the 
database that way. The data is not encrypted though and can be sniffed 
on the network.

If you would rather the file be on a server somewhere, purchase FM 
Server and install it on a computer that is always on and connected to 
the Internet. FM Server is faster at serving databases and it does other 
nice things like automatical backups, scheduling of scripts to run, etc. 
FM Server also has encryption, so your data will be encrypted travelling 
over the network. A VPN is not needed in this case. The two workers then 
connect using "Open Remote" in the File menu.

If you don't need encryption or already have a VPN, for just two people, 
I would go with the first option. Otherwise, I'd go with the second option.

Kevin
  I have a somewhat related question. I'm undertaking a FMPro7 project with 
no previous FM experience though I've done a lot of MS Access, SQL Server 
apps. The end product is intended to be used/shared on a LAN among fewer 
than 10 users. So what are my options in terms of what is required on the 
user machines? I gather from your response below that you'd suggest FMServer 
for the server machine, right? Do I need distinct FMPro7 on each client? If 
I use FMDev7 to create the app can I just install it on the client machines 
without additional licensing cost?

Thanks in advance,
  Bill

"Kevin Hayes" <me@here.com> wrote in message 
news:cnik8i$v1$1@zcars0v6.ca.nortel.com...
> First, one thing I have to stress:
>
> Do NOT use OS-level filesharing to network the files. I know back in FM 4 
> and earlier, people would share databases by putting the files on a server 
> folder somewhere and both open them. Do *not* do this - it can and 
> probably will corrupt your database.
>
> Now, on to the answer:
> If one worker leaves the computer on all the time, that person should 
> leave the database open all the time with database sharing turned on. The 
> other user uses the "Open Remote" command in the File menu to connect to 
> the first worker's computer over the Internet and open the database that 
> way. The data is not encrypted though and can be sniffed on the network.
>
> If you would rather the file be on a server somewhere, purchase FM Server 
> and install it on a computer that is always on and connected to the 
> Internet. FM Server is faster at serving databases and it does other nice 
> things like automatical backups, scheduling of scripts to run, etc. FM 
> Server also has encryption, so your data will be encrypted travelling over 
> the network. A VPN is not needed in this case. The two workers then 
> connect using "Open Remote" in the File menu.
>
> If you don't need encryption or already have a VPN, for just two people, I 
> would go with the first option. Otherwise, I'd go with the second option. 

"Bill Cohagan" <bill@teraXNOSPAMXquest.com> wrote in message
news:rnwnd.14036$g21.13225@fe1.texas.rr.com...
> Kevin
>   I have a somewhat related question. I'm undertaking a FMPro7 project
with
> no previous FM experience though I've done a lot of MS Access, SQL Server
> apps. The end product is intended to be used/shared on a LAN among fewer
> than 10 users. So what are my options in terms of what is required on the
> user machines? I gather from your response below that you'd suggest
FMServer
> for the server machine, right?

For any more than a few users doing occasional sharing, yes.

> Do I need distinct FMPro7 on each client?

If you want the data to be shared between users, yes. Unless the inbuilt
Instant Web publishing stuff provides enough functionality for them to use
only a web browser.

> If
> I use FMDev7 to create the app can I just install it on the client
machines
> without additional licensing cost?

Run-times built using the Developer version have a cut down version of the
FileMaker engine built in. Part of this is that there is no networking
component. See above.

Cheers

Webko

Bill Cohagan wrote:
> Kevin
>   I have a somewhat related question. I'm undertaking a FMPro7 project with 
> no previous FM experience though I've done a lot of MS Access, SQL Server 
> apps. The end product is intended to be used/shared on a LAN among fewer 
> than 10 users. So what are my options in terms of what is required on the 
> user machines? I gather from your response below that you'd suggest FMServer 
> for the server machine, right? Do I need distinct FMPro7 on each client? If 
> I use FMDev7 to create the app can I just install it on the client machines 
> without additional licensing cost?

If you have 5 or fewer users then you can use FM's built-in sharing. It 
is slower than server though. If up to ten you can buy a pack of server 
w/10 FMPro licenses at a discount - that is what I recommend if all the 
users need extensive access to the database. If they just need to look 
at some data, then you can use the Instant Web Publishing on FM Pro.

The Runtime made by Developer does not work with networking - single 
machine only. The reason for this is someone could buy one copy of 
developer and make networkable apps for thousands and thousands of 
people and FileMaker would never see revenue from that.

Don wrote:
  Would it be
> best to convert the whole system to the FMP7 single-file format?  Any issues 
> if the two offices were not equipped with the same type of computers (Mac 
> vs. PC)?  Lots of questions - anyone have experience with this?
> 
> TIA
> 
> Don 
> 
> 


No. Look at the FM whitepaper on data separation; 2 files is definately 
the way to go in all but the most very, very basic solutions; even 
then... (IMO)


Chris Brown
Neurosurgery
University of Adelaide