FileMaker FAQs and Best Practice

This article includes the best practices and FAQs for FileMaker's centrally hosted databases.
Dartmouth has 3 FileMaker servers:

  • Filemaker1.dartmouth.edu (non disc, web direct enabled,if needed)
  • Filemaker2.dartmouth.edu (disc level)
  • Filemaker3.dartmouth.edu (disc level)

Best Practices

  • Who can use Dartmouth's centrally hosted FileMaker servers?
    • A&S Faculty/Staff and some Geisel Departments
  • What are the requirements to host a database on FileMaker's centrally hosted servers?
    • A&S Faculty/Staff Your device must be enrolled in DAP, please see this article: How to determine if a device is enrolled in DAP to verify
    • Geisel Medical school devices are not required to be enrolled
      • Please escalate these requests to the Client Solutions Engineer team. 
  • How do I set up my database to be hosted?
  • My Department already has FileMaker databases how do I connect?
    • Please have the database owner submit a request for your access including which database and host(if known) and what groups you need to be added to.
    • The Service Desk team will add your account to the OIM role that will license you for the software and the groups specified in your ticket request.
    • Once the access has been granted you should be able to install the licensed version of Filemaker (v19 currently) from the Software Center
    • After installation, please connect to your hosted database by visiting this KBA
      • The database owner for your department should know which host you need to connect to. If not we can help 
      • Your credentials are typically your netID and Dartmouth password.
        ​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​FileMaker FAQ:

Can I publish my database with Webdirect?

  • FileMaker offers the ability to publish a FileMaker database to the web so that people can access the database without having the client installed.
  • There are limitations to accessing a FileMaker database via the web. 
    • FileMaker databases that contain sensitive or confidential (disc level) data should NOT be published on the web
    • Filemaker1.dartmouth.edu(non-disc) is the only database that can use Webdirect 
      • filemaker.dartmouth.edu is the link to access web-enabled databases

My database font displays Wingdings, what should I do?
Occasionally Windows OS databases may experience a problem where suddenly every FileMaker layout item turns into a font that looks like Wingdings.

Some of the possible fixes by doing the following:

  • Update to the latest version of Adobe Reader.
  • Delete the Windows font cache at C:\Windows\System32\FNTCACHE.DAT and restart the machine.
  • Delete the Adobe cache inside C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp\acrord32_sbx\
  • Use a zoom level other than 100%.

In most cases deleting the Font Cache resolves the issue.​​​​​​​

I have to Restart ODBC/JDBC Process, how do I do that?

Cause:
The process fmxdbc_listener.exe fails

Open a command prompt

  1. Enter telnet servername 2399
  2. If this returns an error then ODBC is down and you can proceed
  3. Open a web browser and enter http://servername.dartmouth.edu:16000/ and launch the admin console
  4. Under Configuration select ODBC/JBDC
  5. Un-check the box Enable ODBC/JDBC
  6. Click Save in the lower right corner of the admin console
  7. Wait 30-60 seconds
  8. Check the box Enable ODBC/JDBC
  9. Click Save in the lower right corner of the admin console
  10. Open a command prompt
  11. Enter telnet servername 2399
  12. This should now accept a connection, confirming the issue is resolved
  1. Alternatively, you may launch the application fmxdbc_listener.exe from C:\Program Files (x86)\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\Extensions\xDBC Support
  2. This will open a command window which will need to stay open until the server can be rebooted

 

 

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