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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- FileMaker databases that contain sensitive or confidential (disc level) data should NOT be published on the web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
- Enter telnet servername 2399
- If this returns an error then ODBC is down and you can proceed
- Open a web browser and enter http://servername.dartmouth.edu:16000/ and launch the admin console
- Under Configuration select ODBC/JBDC
- Un-check the box Enable ODBC/JDBC
- Click Save in the lower right corner of the admin console
- Wait 30-60 seconds
- Check the box Enable ODBC/JDBC
- Click Save in the lower right corner of the admin console
- Open a command prompt
- Enter telnet servername 2399
- This should now accept a connection, confirming the issue is resolved
- Alternatively, you may launch the application fmxdbc_listener.exe from C:\Program Files (x86)\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Database Server\Extensions\xDBC Support
- This will open a command window which will need to stay open until the server can be rebooted