OK, I am no genius when it comes to things Filemaker but I have
followed all of the help file stuff pertaining to the sharing of
databases over a local network. I have opened the approriate port on
each computer and literally done everything I can think of and it still
isn't seeing my shared open databases that are on my mac (I am mainly
looking to share from the mac 10.3.9 to the PC XP/SP2 FMP 8.5v1 on
both).

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I might be doing wrong or not
doing right or any help ideas?

I have turned to this group a couple of other times and always been
sorted out perfectly by some kind genius.

Thanks very much! :-)

lym

I guess you should describe more what precise actions you undertook.
Below is what I think is right. Other may argue or complete what I say.
First on a LAN, you should decide which is the 'Host' machine (could be Mac
or PC) that will hold the files and you note its IP address (192.168.1.10
for example). Put the files in a folder which is to be set non-shared in the
OS sense.
Then, if there are more than 2 machines, you have a router. In it, you have
a function of re-routing the ports to a specific IP. Port 5003 is reserved
to FileMaker and then should be set to redirect to Hsot IP..
Then on any workstation, open the remote files by clicking on the 'Host'
button - that is crucial - and indicate the Host IP. The remote files will
show up.
You also should make sure you have a copy of FileMaker on each machine, set
to TCP/IP, and that the hosted files are set as multiuser (within FMP, not
from the OS sharing mechanism).
Remi-Noel
PS : the platform as such is not relevant for sharing FileMaker files.

"lym" <no (AT) chancebuddy (DOT) com> a écrit dans le message de news:
101120061323293237%no (AT) chancebuddy (DOT) com...

Hello Remi-Noel,

Remi-Noel Menegaux schrieb/wrote:

Inside your local network, there shouldn't be any need for routing...

Regards,
Christian
--
Christian Schmidt | Germany | ChriSchmiLi (AT) gmx (DOT) de
No HTML Mails, please!!
De eene hett 'n Rittergut, de annere ritt 'n Gitter rut.

Filemaker Pro shares VERY easily. Put the data files in folder that is
not marked as shared. I know how to share folders on XP, but not on
Mac. Anyway... open the files on one machine. Mark the files as
multi-user. On the other machine OpenRemote. You should see the files
being hosted and can open them. This is truly one of the beauties of
Filemaker. It just makes it tooooo easy.

I know from putting the datafiles in a OS marked shared folder will
cause problems. It causes a conflict with Filemaker's built-in
networking/sharing. I share versions 5-8 between OSX and XP.
TK


lym wrote:

Hi, thanks for the responses.

Frankly, it would be easier to describe what steps I DIDN'T DO to try
to get this working. I do indeed have the application installed on
bothe machines.

First of all, my connection to the internet is on the Mac and I have
the databases in a folder on its main HD. Port 5003 has been opened on
both the router and in the windows firewall.

The privileges for the folder with the databases has been set to no
access, although I have tried every conceivable setting also.

QUESTION: Do you need to restart the FM Pro or the client machine
every time you update the access? Could that be a reason it isn't
working?

The PC is "seeing" the host MAC every time.

I have the desired database open and shared with full privs for
everyone and their brother. The FM pro network sharing is on and is
set for all users (on both machines).

It just isn't seeing the database when I click on the host computer
name from the open remote screen on the PC (client) machine.

Need more? I don't know what else to say...

Thanks again for your help! :-)

lym


In article <4554dbcf$0$10020$426a74cc (AT) news (DOT) free.fr>, Remi-Noel Menegaux
wrote:

You seem to have done everything. But it seems than you answered to me,
Remi-Noel, only, while the two other responses you've got simplified a lot
what I said.
The one from Christian said rightly that port 5003 was needed only from
remote, and not from a local network, which is your case. It shouldn't harm
to have done it though.
The one from TKTexas gave you a practical way to see the base on B from
machine A, and it is very easy to try and it should work.
Now your question about restarting either FMP or the machine when a change
in the address is made seems odd to me as it is often better to do it, while
often not necessary. But you know all that already.
One thing you seem to have not mentionned is : did you set the files to be
multiuser - File / Sharing - from within the FileMaker hosting them ? If
not, then they can't be seen.
I can't think of anything else.
My advice to you at this stage is just to stick strictly word to word to
what TKTexas said and it should - I mean it WILL - work.
Please tell us.
Remi-Noel
The only thing that puzzles me in your answer is :
right thing to do is, from the client machine, to open FMP, go to the File
top Menu and hit the OpenRemote line. If it is what you do and if the files
to be seen are set as multiuser on the Host FMP, then I am stuck to remain
silent.
Maybe a last thing : review calmly and carefully the physical set up and in
particular the Ethernet cables : are all the pins at each end straight and
not broken or missing ? You also may try to forget about the router
temporarily and connect the Mac and the PC directly with a new crossed
Ethernet cable, no internet, no firewall.
Again it is working in millions of installations all over - and it surely
did for me say in 50 client sites - so there is no reason why it shouldn't
work for you. It must work.
As TKTexas said, sharing data bases in FileMaker is quick and easy ....
Regards and my best wishes.

"lym" <no (AT) chancebuddy (DOT) com> a écrit dans le message de news:
121120061732192439%no (AT) chancebuddy (DOT) com...

Hello lym,

lym schrieb/wrote:

Do you want to share your Database(s) to a computer located in your
LAN or to a computer sitting somewhere else on the internet?
Only in the latter case your router is involved.

Did you set the database in FM Pro (see "Sharing") to "MultiUser"?

As the access rules to the DB are implied on the server machine, you
need not.

IMO no.

MAC or Mac?

Maybe it ist still set to "invisible"?
What does the file name of the DB file look like?

Well, and please don't top post.

Regards,
Christian
--
Christian Schmidt | Germany | ChriSchmiLi (AT) gmx (DOT) de
No HTML Mails, please!!
De eene hett 'n Rittergut, de annere ritt 'n Gitter rut.