Usenet <wjm (AT) wjm (DOT) org> wrote:

Are you talking about IWP or regular FileMaker? (the subject of this
thread). IWP can handle guest logins via the web w/no problem.


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To send email, remove the invalid and nospams.

What I am talking about is using a web browser to access a database hosted
by FileMaker Pro 8, via Instant Web Publishing.

In all prior versions, when IWP access was enabled for the Guest account,
opening the database via Web would default to Guest access. No
authentication challenge would appear when opening it via Web. (You could
handle logging in a registered user under script control.)

This behavior brings a web visitor directly to your solution.

In FileMaker Pro 8, a forms-based authentication screen *always* appears
when opening a database hosted via IWP. The look and feel is similar to the
IWP home page. The visitor must either supply an account name and password,
or select "Guest," and click Login.

Screen shot at http://www.wjm.org/images/login.jpg.

This makes FileMaker IWP practically unacceptable for integrating a simple
database resource (such as a directory) into an existing site, or using IWP
to present a complete web-based solution.

Many users will not know what is happening when confronted with a sign-on
screen:

- They will think they've gotten into a restricted area and simply close the
window or navigate away.
- The whole screen is unbranded (or I should say, branded with the ugly
default blue FileMaker "Instant Web Publishing" banner). It looks nothing
like the rest of your site.
- It exposes the database file name with the heading, "Open database 'fubar'
with:" above the Account Name/Password fields.

This is a shame given the other improvements to IWP. For example, in
addition to the new calendar popups and tab controls, IWP no longer shows
the ugly gray stripe along the side of a web page when hiding and locking
the status panel.

I hope someone discovers a workaround to return to the old behavior.

Bill

"Michael Diehr" <md03NOSPAM (AT) xochiNOSPAM (DOT) com.invalid> wrote

Bill,

It works, you probably just have it misconfgured.

I'm using FM Server 7 Advanced with IWP using a guest account, and it
does NOT ask for any sort authentication. I think something may be
wrong with your setup?

Make sure you have a [Guest] account, and that you have assigned it a
privilege set that includes [fmiwp].

-Mike


Bill Marriott <wjm (AT) wjm (DOT) org> wrote:


--
To send email, remove the invalid and nospams.

Bill Marriott <wjm (AT) wjm (DOT) org> wrote:

In FM7, you can hack iwp_home.html file to customize this a bit.
In FM8 they provide an explicit option to use a custom file.

See above.



--
To send email, remove the invalid and nospams.

Oops -- just re-read your message, and you are complaining about FM8 vs.
FM7. I thought you were talking about FM7 vs. FM6.

My comments may not apply, then.

But do check privileges for the Guest account?


Michael Diehr <md03NOSPAM (AT) xochiNOSPAM (DOT) com.invalid> wrote:


--
To send email, remove the invalid and nospams.

Yes, you are right, the database home page can be hacked in FM7, and
customized properly in FM8. In this case, it would be the file iwp_auth.html
that would need to be hacked. FileMaker does not provide a way for this file
to be properly "customized."

However,

1) It will take some research to see if JavaScript can be used to bypass
this authentication screen altogether. It may not be possible.

2) This does not help when using a hosting provider. These companies serve
up multiple databases from different parties. The IWP home page can be
bypassed altogether in these situations by directly linking to the database.
But iwp_auth.html cannot; it always appears for all hosted files. Even if #1
were possible, it's unlikely you'd be able to get the hosting company to
"hack" this page for you.

FileMaker Server 7 Advanced has not been released yet; let's hope the
hosting companies out there put pressure on FMInc to correct this serious
limitation before release. Unfortunately, I don't think a lot of them know
about this yet so if they make the upgrade a lot of solutions will be
broken.

Bill


"Michael Diehr" <md03NOSPAM (AT) xochiNOSPAM (DOT) com.invalid> wrote

This is not a perfect solution, but my understanding is that if only
the guest privilege has access then FM won't put up the User / Password
dialog.

Yes, if the Guest privilege set is the only one with access via IWP enabled,
the authentication challenge will not appear. Good tip. I hope this is the
beginning of a workaround...

You're also right this is far from perfect

Bill

"FP" <a (AT) pottnerconsulting (DOT) ca> wrote

Bill Marriott <wjm (AT) wjm (DOT) org> wrote:


Do you know if any improvements have been made to IWP and
popup-blockers? E.g. the Open URL script step? Under FM7 IWP, if you
have a popup blocker turned on using Safari, the step fails. The page
just refreshes and nothing happens.

I do not have handy access to Safari, but you can test this with the trial
version of FM8 in your system. I do not notice any difference in the way
Open URL works, nor mention of a fix for this in the documentation. I am
guessing it still won't work because all pages called by Open URL open in a
new window.

I hope you try it and let us know...

Bill

"Michael Diehr" <md03NOSPAM (AT) xochiNOSPAM (DOT) com.invalid> wrote