Optimal installation of gFM-Business ERP software

Based on the FileMaker platform, the ERP software gFM-Business can be used in a variety of ways. In the simplest version, the software is used on a single workstation and is installed automatically on macOS and Windows using the installation program. In the Network the gFM-Business ERP system with FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Go can be used by several users simultaneously on the Apple iPad.

However, the single-user versions can also be set up so that they can be used on multiple computers. Multi-user licenses can also be installed on a FileMaker web server to enable location-independent access to the Database to allow. Find out in this article how you can use and install the gFM Business ERP software optimally for your purposes.

gFM-Business document and system folder

One of the most important components of gFM-Business is the document folder. All documents created by gFM-Business are stored in this folder if automatic archiving of receipts and documents has been activated. The document folder is independent of the location of the databases. On macOS and Windows, every workstation with which the gFM-Business ERP software is to be used must have access to this folder.

The installation of gFM-Business contains the following directories:

• gFM-Business database folder - The gFM-Business databases contain all the data stored in the software as well as the program logic. In gFM-Business free, Basic and Light, the databases are located in the folder [gFM-Business free] or [gFM-Business Light]which is installed by default under macOS in the program folder of the Mac and under Windows in the document directory of the logged-in user. With gFM-Business Professional, the databases are located in the directory [Databases]which is located within the main directory of gFM-Business.
• gFM-Business document folder - The gFM-Business document folder contains directories for storing documents that were created in gFM-Business as well as the system directory that is required for executing some functions in gFM-Business. The position of the gFM-Business document folder is variable and is specified separately for macOS (top line) and Windows (bottom line) for each user in the user administration of the software. Click on the arrow symbol in front of the field to open a dialog box for selecting the document folder.

In the single-user version of gFM-Business Professional, the gFM-Business databases are located by default in the folder [Databases] of the gFM Business folder. If the gFM-Business document folder is to be set up on a network drive for shared use, the folder [Databases] remain on the local computer for performance reasons. If the document directory is moved to another location or drive, the gFM-Business ERP software must be informed of this by the setting in the user administration for each user (see above).

Installation on a single workstation (free/Basic, Light)

For the use of the software on a single workstation, gFM-Business is available with the free/Basic version as Invoice program or with the light version as ERP software with an extended range of functions. All the following information relates to not to the single-user version of gFM-Business Professional, which is used with FileMaker Pro. The installation of gFM-Business Professional is identical to the installation in the network, see next chapter.

With a standard installation of gFM-Business free, Basic and Light, the following components are installed on your hard disk:

Installation on macOS

• Folder gFM-Business free/Light in the program folder of your Mac. Simply move it from the installation image to your program folder.
• Document folder gFM-Business in the document folder of the logged-in user. This is only created automatically after the start of gFM Business within the setup wizard.

Installation under Windows

• Folder gFM-Business free/Light in the document folder of the logged-in user
• Document folder within the gFM Business folder

Installation on an external medium (hard disk, USB stick)

The single-user versions of gFM-Business can also be installed on an external medium such as a USB stick or an external hard disk for use on multiple devices. The software can be used on any number of computers with the same operating system (Mac or Windows) and transported on the external medium.

To do this, move the folder gFM-Business free/Light to the external medium. Under macOS, you will find this folder in the Applications folder of your Mac, under Windows in the Documents folder of the logged-in user. Under macOS, also move the document folder gFM-Business to the external medium, which you will find in the document folder of the logged-in user.

In future, only start the software directly from your external medium (Mac: gFM-Business.app, Windows: gFM-Business.exe). After the first start, set up the document directory for all users in the user administration of gFM-Business (see above). All data will then be saved exclusively on the external medium.

Installation in the network with FileMaker (Professional)

To use the gFM-Business ERP software in a network, a multi-user license is required with the number of network licenses for simultaneous access to the database. A valid FileMaker Pro license must be installed on each Mac or Windows computer that is to access the database.

Install FileMaker Pro on Mac or Windows

To use gFM-Business in a network, install a FileMaker Pro license on each Mac or Windows workstation that is to access the software. The easiest way to install is with the FileMaker installation program. If you also want to access the database from an iPad, install FileMaker Go on the iPad, which you can download free of charge from the App Store. You don't have a FileMaker license yet and would like to try gFM-Business Professional? Download a 45-dayTrial version of Claris FileMaker Pro down.

Copy databases to the host computer

If you use gFM-Business without FileMaker Server with FileMaker Pro in the network, you now set up the so-called "Peer-to-Peer" mode. This operating mode can be used with up to five clients in the network. One of your workstations acts as a "server" to share the databases with all other workstations in the network.

First think about which workstation you would like to use as your Host-computer you want to use. If possible, you should select the computer of a user who is usually the first user to switch on their computer. Once you have decided on a computer, copy the databases associated with gFM-Business with the extension .fmp12 to this computer.

Activate peer-to-peer sharing

To share the databases with FileMaker Pro on the network, you must enable peer-to-peer sharing once on the host computer. To do this, first start gFM-Business(.fmp12) with FileMaker Pro. Open a module in gFM-Business, for example the Customer management. Now select the following menu item from the menu bar:

File menu > Sharing > Share with FileMaker clients

Now select in the left column [Currently open files] each displayed file in turn and click at the top under [Network sharing] in each case to the option [On]. Then confirm the dialog with the [OK]. All gFM-Business databases are now shared on the network for use on other workstations.

Open gFM-Business from the client

Installing FileMaker Pro on the client workstations is sufficient - the gFM Business databases do not need to be copied to the client computers. If gFM Business is shared by a host computer on the network, open the database on the client as follows:

• Start FileMaker Pro on the client computer
• In the menu bar, select the function [File > Open remote]
• Select the host computer in the left-hand column
• Select the database in the right-hand column [gFM-Business] from
• Confirm the dialog with the button [Open]

gFM-Business is then opened by the host computer. The data is not saved on the client computer, but on the host computer, which shares the databases in the network.

Installation in the network with FileMaker Server

If the gFM-Business ERP software is to be used on more than five workstations in the network, FileMaker Server is required for network sharing. FileMaker Server is available for macOS and Windows computers. The first step is to install FileMaker Server using the installation program supplied by FileMaker.

Transferring the databases to the FileMaker server

The next step is to transfer the FileMaker databases with the .fmp12 extension to the FileMaker server. This can be done either in FileMaker Pro with the menu bar function [File menu > Sharing > Upload to FileMaker Server] or manually. If you copy the databases manually to the FileMaker server, place them in the following target directory:

/Library/FileMaker Server/Data/Databases

If you copy the databases manually to the server, you must set the file system rights for each database for the user fmserver user on [Read and write] set. To do this, click on each database with the extension .fmp12 in the Finder and select the function [Information] or press the key combination [cmd-i]. At the bottom of the info dialog, add the user fmserver user with read and write permissions.

Open gFM-Business from the client

If gFM-Business is shared by a FileMaker Server on the network, open the database on the client as follows:

• Start FileMaker Pro on the client computer
• In the menu bar, select the function [File > Open remote]
• Select the host computer in the left-hand column
• Select the database in the right-hand column [gFM-Business] from
• Confirm the dialog with the button [Open]

gFM-Business is then opened by the FileMaker Server. The data is not saved on the client computer, but on the FileMaker Server, which shares the databases in the network.

Installation for location-independent use on the Internet

If you want to access gFM Business from anywhere via the Internet, you have the following options for this purpose:

Sharing with your own FileMaker server

Installation of your own FileMaker server, which is shared via the Internet. With this option, the FileMaker server can be located either in the local network or in a data center. If the server is to be located in the local network, please ensure that the local network has sufficient speed to the Internet. FileMaker Server is available for macOS, Windows and Linux computers.

Sharing with the Fritz!Box and FileMaker Pro or Server

In a separate contribution we explain how FileMaker databases and thus also gFM-Business can be shared with a Fritz!Box via the Internet. Sharing can be done either with FileMaker Pro for up to four additional simultaneous accesses or with FileMaker Server.

Release on a server of a hosting provider

If the FileMaker databases are to be accessed exclusively from any location via the Internet, it is advisable to rent the databases on a fast web server in a data center. For this purpose, there are several providers who specialize in hosting FileMaker databases, e.g. Honds in Germany or Walkingtoweb in Switzerland.

Sharing with the Claris FileMaker Cloud

Claris offers with the FileMaker Cloud offers a complete package with which FileMaker databases can be shared extremely efficiently via the Internet. The Claris FileMaker Cloud is technically based on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and thus provides a very fast infrastructure. You can find more information about the FileMaker Cloud in the Claris Store.

Installation of gFM-Business on an Apple iPad

For the local installation of the gFM-Business ERP software with FileMaker Go on an Apple iPad we have developed a separate contribution written.