Note: This FAQ only applies to customers with Enterprise accounts who have been set up with FileMaker Server for remote access to their database. If you do not have an Enterprise account, see the FAQs on using Alder for instructions on how to upload, open and close your databases.

Adding a New Database
First, you'll want to upload your FileMaker file(s) via FTP to bigleaf.forest.net. Use your account username and password to connect. Upload the file(s) to the very root level of your directory -- do not create any additional folders or upload any non-database files to your space on bigleaf. Make a note of the file's exact name.

Log into the digital.forest FileMaker Server Manager with your account name and password. If you do not remember your name and password, or if you have a problem logging in, please contact digital.forest Client Support.

In the Add New Database section of the FileMaker Server Manager, type in the exact name of your database file, including the .fp5 extension if applicable (eg, client_portfolio.fp5). Click the Add New Database button. As long as the file is named properly and located in the proper place on bigleaf, you will then be able to open and close your file with the FileMaker Server Manager.

Opening A Database
To open your database file, locate the file in the listing of databases in the FileMaker Server Manager and click the Open button. FileMaker Server cannot provide you any direct feedback, but you can connect to bigleaf.forest.net in the File->Open Remote area of your copy of FileMaker Pro to verify that the file has opened.

Once you initially open the file, it will re-open automatically if the server restarts.

Closing A Database
Log into the digital.forest FileMaker Server Manager with your account name and password. If you do not remember your name and password, or if you have a problem logging in, please contact digital.forest Client Support.

To close your database file, locate the file in the listing of databases in the FileMaker Server Manager and click the Close button. The FileMaker Server Manager instructs FileMaker Server to do a "force close" on the file -- any guests currently connected to your file will be asked to close the file and will be forced to disconnect in 2 minutes. FileMaker Server cannot provide you any direct feedback, but you can connect to bigleaf.forest.net in the File->Open Remote area of your copy of FileMaker Pro to verify that the file is no longer in the list of available files.

Warning: Please wait at least 2 minutes after issuing a Close command before you download or delete the file from your FTP space, to allow the server time to disconnect users and clean up. Modifying the file via FTP sooner could lead to corruption or data loss.

If you don't expect to use a database again in the future, we recommend following the instructions below to delete your database from the system.

Deleting A Database
Before you attempt to delete a database, please close the database,using the instructions above, and wait at least 2 minutes. Attempting to delete an open file could lead to corruption or data loss.

To delete your database file, locate the file in the listing of databases in the FileMaker Server Manager and click the Delete button. The database should be removed from your list of databases.

In order to prevent confusion and maintain a stable environment, please delete your database from your FTP space after removing it from the FileMaker Server Manager.