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Chapter 1 | Introducing FileMaker WebDirect
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For security reasons, browsers run web applications like FileMaker WebDirect with limited
access to system resources. (This limited environment is called a sandbox.) For example,
FileMaker WebDirect can’t access arbitrary locations in the file system, so the Import Records
and Export Records script steps work differently than in FileMaker Pro.
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Many tasks such as CSS cascading, determining focus, propagating events, and tabbing are
ultimately controlled by the web browser and behave differently than in FileMaker Pro. For
example, FileMaker WebDirect intercepts Tab key presses and sends them to the Database
Server to determine the next object in the layout’s tab order. But at some point, pressing the
Tab key exits the webpage and enters the web browser’s interface (for example, the address
bar). Another example is event propagation: browsers enable web applications to respond to a
click only after the click happens, unlike FileMaker Pro, which enables your solution to respond
via script triggers before, during, or after a click.
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Objects in HTML5 observe a true parent-child hierarchy—that is, a child object is always
contained within a single parent object. For example, an image that extends across the
boundary between the header and body parts of a layout in FileMaker Pro displays exactly as
it is placed, spanning both parts. However, in FileMaker WebDirect, the image can be in only
one part, so the image is cropped at the boundary between the parts it spans.
For detailed information, see chapter 2, “Designing a FileMaker WebDirect solution.”
FileMaker WebDirect requirements
To publish databases using FileMaker WebDirect, you need:
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a Windows or OS X computer running FileMaker Server
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access to the Internet or an intranet
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one or more FileMaker databases
You must convert files created in FileMaker Pro 11 and earlier to the FileMaker Pro 12 format.
For more information on file format conversion, see FileMaker Pro Help.
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a web browser for testing access to your solutions (see “Requirements for accessing
FileMaker WebDirect solutions” on page 28)
Connecting to the Internet or an intranet
When you publish databases on the Internet or an intranet, the host computer must be running
FileMaker Server, and the databases you want to share must be open.
In addition:
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It is strongly recommended that you publish your database on a computer with a full-time
Internet or intranet connection using TCP/IP. You can publish databases without a full-time
connection, but they are only available to users when your computer is connected to the
Internet or an intranet.
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The host computer should have a dedicated static (permanent) Internet Protocol (IP) address
or a domain name. If you connect to the Internet with an Internet service provider (ISP), your IP
address might be dynamically allocated (it is different each time you connect). A dynamic IP
address makes it more difficult for users to locate your databases. If you are not sure of the type
of access available to you, consult your ISP or network administrator.
