WebDirect

FileMaker Server comes with one (1) client connection for user connections (WebDirect and FileMaker Go). A FileMaker Server can optionally be extended by additional simultaneous accesses.

If a FileMaker server with corresponding databases has been set up, the WebDirect start center can be called up in the browser under the following URL:

http://HostOderIP-Adresse/fmi/webd

HostOrIP address denotes either a host name or an IP address at which the FileMaker server can be reached on the network. If SSL has been activated, the fully qualified domain name from the SSL certificate must be entered for 'HostOrIP address' instead of the IP address.

Open a database directly in WebDirect with the following URL:

http://HostOderIP-Adresse/fmi/webd#Datenbankname

If you want to start a script to start a database, use the following URL:

http://HostOderIP-Adresse/fmi/webd#Datenbankname?script=Scriptname&param=Script-Parameter

Hier gilt es zu berücksichtigen, daß Namen und Parameter jeweils in HTML-Syntax angegeben werden müssen. Umlaute müssen entsprechend kodiert dargestellt werden (z.B. ü für ‚ü), ebenso wie Leerzeichen (%20).

Restrictions for WebDirect

Because databases with WebDirect are executed in a browser, there are some limitations compared to execution with a FileMaker Pro client. For example, it is not possible to open multiple windows in a WebDirect application. Below you will find the restrictions that you must observe when developing databases for WebDirect.

Plugins - WebDirect only supports plugins that have been explicitly developed for use in WebDirect. Most "normal" plugins developed for FileMaker cannot be run under WebDirect.

Printing and PDF files

In WebDirect it is not possible to print records in the same way as in a FileMaker Pro client. It is also not possible to create PDF files when using WebDirect. However, if the FileMaker solution used has a print file that logs all printouts, it is possible to program a workaround. To do this, mark a printout from WebDirect and print it later via a transaction machine or by a user with a FileMaker Pro client.

Database definitions

WebDirect users cannot make definitions for fields, value lists, layouts, scripts, relationships, external data sources or database schemas. However, changing layouts or layout views is also possible in WebDirect.

Table view

FileMaker WebDirect does not support display in table view. If a script switches to table view in WebDirect and no other view has been defined in the layout, FileMaker WebDirect switches to list view.

Objects lying on top of each other (stacked)

Under WebDirect, FileMaker does not support stacked objects, even if the top object is transparent or hidden. Do not use stacked objects for WebDirect layouts, but use calculated objects instead, for example.

Unsupported text styles

FileMaker WebDirect does not support some text styles: highlighting, paragraph text formats, and tab stops. The display of rich text formats is only supported if this format is also supported by the browser used.

Customized menu bars

The use of customized menu bars has no effect in FileMaker WebDirect and is not supported.

Unavailable script steps

Not all script steps are available for FileMaker WebDirect. The following script steps are not available for use in WebDirect:

• Activate page view mode
• Execute search/replace
• Insert from device
• Insert from index
• Insert QuickTime
• Copy data/query
• Copy all data/queries
• Save data records as Excel
• Save data records as PDF
• Customize window
• Change window position/size
• Arrange all windows
• Rolling windows
• Show/hide text ruler
• Set zoom level
• New file
• Open file
• Close file
• Convert file
• Set network access
• Set system formatsUse
• Save copy as
• Restore file
• Set up printer
• Print
• All spell check functions
• All functions for menu items with the exception of "Help"
• Allow formatting bar
• Error tone
• Speak
• Dial phone number
• Install menu set
• Set DDE Execute
• Execute AppleScript
• Send event
• Store cache on disk

All further information can be found in the FileMaker WebDirect Guidewhere you will also learn how to optimize your FileMaker solution for use in WebDirect.