When you install FileMaker Pro ODBC drivers on Windows 7 64-bit machine you may find that you are missing the Drivers when you open the Data Sources(ODBC) utility.  There are many articles about a possible regedit change but in this case that didn’t apply.

The driver is a 32-bit driver and the ODBC utility is for the 64-bit.  So to see all the 32 bit drivers go to C:\Windows\sysWOW64\odbcad32.exe and the run the 32-bit ODBC utility.  Remember to create an alias to the file to make it easier to find next time.

Tagged with:
 

FileMaker Server and IIS

IIS 6.0 Communication Issues with FileMaker Server 9, 10, 11

We had a installation on a Windows 2003 Server that failed at the communication with IIS 6.0 every time.  We tried a number of different approaches to remedy the problem but always came back with the same result.  IIS would serve web pages just fine by itself but failed when FileMaker would try to create its link.

FileMaker Server would install successfully and host files using the native sharing over port 5003 without a problem.  But every time it came time to connect with IIS and enable Web Publishing we would receive the error “Web server test failed.  Return code = -1″.  The jakarta redirect would never install but fmi-test would.  Also FileMaker Server would kill IIS every time it tried to link up and IIS would restart.

We called FileMaker Priority Support and they gave some hints but nothing solved the issue.  Here some of the many steps we took:

  • Removed and reinstalled IIS, Manually removed fmi-test
  • Removed and reinstalled FMS, removed FileMaker Server folder
  • Removed all components – IIS 6.0 , FileMaker Server, Java, Apple Bonjour
  • Change Port to 591, Disabled Filewall connections

Suggested Steps from FileMaker Pro Support

  • Remove and Reinstall FMS and IIS  (It’s their favorite step!)
  • Change Ports
  • Installed with network card disabled
  • Reboot Server with only Microsoft services enabled and then manually start Apple Bonjour and FileMaker Server and try the deployment again

None of these worked and It was on a production box that could not be easily rebuilt as it was doing other important tasks as well.  Another good reason that it is always a good idea to have a dedicated machine for your Production databases.

In comparing installations to another Windows 2003 Server with FileMaker Server installed and PHP/IWP working, we finally found that an old employee had change the directory rights on the FileMaker root folder.  He had removed the Users group and explicitly gave himself access to the directory, sub-directories and files .  As soon as we restored the default permissions as they were supposed to be to the Filemaker folder everything worked like magic.

Lessons Learned

  • DO NOT let non-server admins mess with your production servers even if they think they know what they are doing
  • When re-installing FileMaker Server remove the root FileMaker folder and not just the FileMaker Server folder.  (Don’t forget to backup your data.)
  • Continue to encourage clients to have a dedicated FileMaker Pro Server

Alternate Field Names / Labels

Again I ran into a situation with a client the other day that would like to have different column heading labels when their records were exported to an Microsoft Excel file.  When Filemaker Pro exports the column headings it of course exports the field names as they are defined into the database definition.  I submitted to FileMaker, Inc some time ago a request to add an alternate field name when the database fields are created.  Microsoft Access has had this for years, which I believe they call caption.  The purpose this serves it is gives a human readable label to an otherwise unclear database label.  To the developer of the system a field called ‘sompid” may be very clear but ‘school of medicine patient identification’ makes it much easier for any person to understand what the field is referring to.

If you are like me I don’t like using any spaces or any characters such as %, -, !, $, etc.  This process works well again for developers but not the end users.

Field Examples / Human Readable Label

__kp_Student /Student ID
NameFL / Full Name
AddressCity / City
PhoneH / Home Phone

You get the idea.

Granted the example of the ‘sompid’ had a much too long ‘human readable label’ but hopefully you understand the point.  It would be nice to have the caption/alternate label added when you add new fields to a layout and also when you export your data say to MS Excel.   Something that we would love to see.

Tagged with:
 

Why FileMaker Pro?

FileMaker® Pro is the #1-selling easy-to-use database software that manages people, projects, assets and more—the easy way! FileMaker Pro 11 gives you the tools you need to manage, customize and share all your information on a network or over the Web with Windows and Mac users.

Read the reviews and awards earned by the FileMaker® Pro product line. FileMaker is used by a growing list of companies both large and small. Read customer stories about how others are using FileMaker products.

  • FileMaker Pro is 100% cross platform. Both Windows and Mac’s can share the same database with no problem.
  • FileMaker Pro is multi-user right out of the box. Share your database with your co-workers. Scalable to share 125 files with 250 users using FileMaker® Server or even more with FileMaker Server Advanced.
  • FileMaker Pro allows you to easily publish your database to the web or you can access the database remotely.
  • Store an enormous amount of data. 8 TB
  • Build a custom solution, or choose from 30 FileMaker Starter Solutions to see results immediately.
  • Easily convert your Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheets into versatile FileMaker databases with a simple drag and drop.
  • Store and manage virtually any file type including images, Adobe® PDF documents, movies, Microsoft Office files and more.
  • Design custom layouts suited to your needs, output professional business reports, add your logo—all without programming.
  • Use the Layout and Report Assistant to guide you through creating layouts, labels, and reports so your screens and reports look just the way you want.
  • Customize by dragging and dropping fields and objects wherever you want.
  • Choose from hundreds of pre-programmed functions to automate your FileMaker solutions.
  • Extend rich business solutions to co-workers, customers, vendors, and others on a network or over the web.
  • Create Adobe PDF documents and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for easy sharing and analysis.
  • Control your user privileges and access through FileMaker Pro 9 software’s advanced security system.
  • Secure your database traffic using SSL encryption between your FileMaker Pro Server and Clients.
  • Script Triggers
  • Dynamic Reporting
  • Native Charting.  Chart a whole new course!
  • New developer tools such as Layout Folders
  • Reoccuring Imports
  • Snapshot Link
  • Quick Find
  • Portal Filter and more!

FileMaker is a trademark of FileMaker, Inc., registered in the U.S.and other countries.

 

FileMaker, Inc just annouced the release of FileMaker Pro Version 11 product line.  Visit FileMaker’s website for further details.  We are partically please that FileMaker has chosen to add a native graphing feature that has been long desired.  We will give you more thoughts on  the new software in the very near future.

If you looking to move to version 11 and or need to convert your solution just give MyDBSolutions a call and we would glad to assist with your project.

Tagged with:
 

FileMaker Wish List

Here is our wish list of features that we would love to see in FileMaker Pro.  These are not in any particular order nor is it a complete list.  Enjoy!

  • Dynamic Portal Sorting with out having to create a million portals or manipulate the data
  • Calculations on the Fly.  Love to be able to do a calculation in a merge field for example.
  • Calculations outside of having to create new field definitions.  Defined in a query
  • Select Distinct!
  • Sub-Layouts.  Have a master form with sub-layouts which pull from different table occurrences.  This would help in building dashboard type views
  • Closing dialog box that would let the user know the file is being saved and not to say disconnect from their VPN until it is done.
  • Native Progress bars.
  • True sever side functions such as deleting and sorting records, etc.  Tell the server to delete or sort the records rather than having the client do all the work.
  • Gradiant Visual Effect
  • Less Screen Flicker in redraws
  • Cross Tab reporting.  Need we say more?
  • Icons/Graphics in Dialog boxes
  • Send HTML email without use of a Plugin
  • Built in Barcode support without plugin/fonts
  • Of course it would be great to have FileMaker Pro and Server be 64 bit.
  • Better debugging tools when FileMaker Server crashes.
  • True type ahead in a quick search
  • Container fields that can create thumbnails of the picture stored
  • Save to a word doc without plug-ins / XSLT
 
© MyDBSolutions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.