FileMaker - How to Login Remotely to a FileMaker Database

Turning off the default screen

When you launch FileMaker, the default setting is this screen. It is useful if you are always creating new databases, otherwise it can be kind of annoying and confusing. So, my suggestion is to first turn off this screen. This is done by clicking the small check box near the bottom left of the screen, labeled 'No longer show this dialog'. (you can always turn it back on in the FileMaker Preferences screen)

Click the No Longer show this dialog option

Then click on the 'Open an existing file' button

and finally, click the OK button bottom right.

Click on the Open button...

Click Remote...

OR....Click on the 'Remote' button Click on the 'Remote' button

This saves a step, if you click Open Remote...to start with.

Adding a Favorite Host

1) Toggle the button labeled 'Local Hosts' to read 'Favorite Hosts'

Select popup Favorite Hosts

Click Add

Edit Favorite Host dialog box

Enter the following information:
The IP address for the appropriate database and give the Favorite Host Name short cut a name.

Then click 'Save'

Note: you will have to click on the Hosts: (get the IP address from your manager) line in the Hosts box for the databases to show up in the Available Files area.

So now, click on the database you want and then click the 'Open' button.

Login Screen: Enter Name and Password

Things will chug away for a while as the program attempts to access the file over the network. When it retrieves the database, you should be prompted for
your Account Name and Password.

Type in your name and Password and click the 'OK' button.
Wait some more, and the file should open up. Please be patient as it may take a little while.

Changing your User Preferences

To save some time at login...in the event that your user name in FileMaker is not the same name as your computer user name. You can fix this in FileMaker's Preferences area.

Preferences - General

One thing that will speed up logging in, is to change a setting in your FileMaker Preferences. Click on the FileMaker Pro menu at the top left of your screen.
Select Preferences.

Speeding up Logins

If your user name is different than your computer settings, you may want to click the User Name 'Other' button and enter your FileMaker Account name.
That way, when you log in, this name will be the default in your log in password screen.

Changing Passwords

From the File Menu, select Change Password...See notes below about choosing a strong password. Remember your database is available on the internet and hackers do try and open these things up, so please use a password that they won't get to easily.

Enter your old password and then your new password twice and click 'OK'.

Notes on Creating Strong Passwords

Make your password at least eight characters in length.

Include at least one character from each of the following three character groups:
* Upper case alphabetic characters (A-Z),
* Lower case alphabetic characters (a-z),
* Numbers and symbols ( 0-9~`!@#$%^&*()_-+={}[]|\:;"<>',.?/ )

Notes:
1) Passwords may not include blank spaces or control characters, such as return, tab, etc.
2) Mac OS X users who store data on OIT's UNIX clusters should avoid using an ampersand (&) in their passwords. Including an ampersand will prevent
the systems from connecting successfully.

Embed at least one number or symbol within the password rather than adding it to the beginning or end of an otherwise alphabetic string.

Do NOT make your password a dictionary word or common name with numbers and symbols merely substituting for similar looking alphabetic characters (e.g., "P@ssw0rd").

Remember to change your password regularly. This practice limits the amount of time that someone can use to guess your password and the amount of time that your password can be used if it is uncovered.

Strong Passwords Can Be Easy to Remember
A simple way to create a strong but easy-to-remember password is to take a phrase that means something to you and relate each word of the phrase to a corresponding letter, number or symbol. For example, the phrase "I am one happy volunteer at the Folk Festival" could become the password Im1Hv@FF

IMPORTANT - The above password has only been shared as a technique for crafting a strong but easy to remember password. You should NOT use Im1Hv@FF as your own password nor should you use any sample password shared in any other password guide. Prospective intruders often review password guides when compiling their lists of passwords to try.

That's it, you should be able to view/edit and access most records. If you have any problems, please consult your manager or the database consultants.

Here is a useful Article on Creating Stronger Passwords from Macworld online.

Short cut

Once you have gone through the whole 'Open Remote' procedure at least once, you can speed things up by using the 'Open Recent' menu item. This takes you quickly to the most recent databases you have accessed. It is next to Open Remote in the File Menu.