FMTouch Server Sync - Instructions, Discussion, etc [v1.74]

[Michael Petrov]

Server Sync - Recent Updates History
Updates in v1.74 (v1.74 is only for Mac, v1.71 will show up in the Windows plugin):
- Container fields now properly sync on the Mac when using server sync. Before even with the extra sync script container fields would not transfer in either direction.

Server Sync - Installation Instructions

We have a new simpler method for server sync with FMTouch. The following are the requirements to enable FMTouch Server Sync:
- FMTouch on your iPhone with your database DDR loaded through the regular sync method. Once a DDR is loaded regular sync operations can be done through the server method.
- A FileMaker Server with XML web publishing enabled (FileMaker Server 9 and 10 are the only ones supported now)
- The Server Sync plugin installed within the web publishing engine of FileMaker Server (FMGateway servers have this plugin deployed on all shared servers, dedicated server customers please send an email to the support address to have the plugin installed and enabled for you)
- A sync helper script imported into your database

This syncing method is currently experimental and is only supported using these forums and email. Phone support is not available for getting this setup on your own servers at this time.

FMGateway Users: please see the separate simpler instructions at the bottom of this post.

Installation Instructions
Step 1. Download and Install the Plugin
- Download the attached zip file (at the bottom of the forum post) and extract it on your computer.
- The plugin will be installed as a web publishing plugin, this means it WILL NOT appear under the FileMaker Server "Extensions" area
- Within the downloaded zip file locate "FMTouch_WPE_Sync.fmx" or "FMTouch_WPE_Sync.Not allowed on this forum", this is the plugin file for the next step
- Install the plugin into the following locations (you need to create the "Plugins" folder if it is not there):
Windows: C:\Program Files\FileMaker\FileMaker Server\Web Publishing\publishing-engine\wpc\Plugins
Mac: /Library/FileMaker Server/Web Publishing/publishing-engine/wpc/Plugins
- Restart web publishing using your FileMaker Server Admin Console, or restart the whole server
Special Note: If you have a two machine deployment with the web publishing deployed separately from FileMaker Server, the plugin must be installed on the web publishing machine and not the main FileMaker Server machine.

Step 2. Import Helper Script (this must be done to each database you intend to sync with)
- Open the Test DB folder in the server sync distribution
- Open ServerSync.fp7
- Open your database
- Choose Scripts->Manage Scripts
- Select the "Import" button
- Find ServerSync.fp7
- Import the "__FMWS_WPE_Sync" script and "__FMWS_FMTouch_Tools_Web_Safe" script
- If you have trouble with this process, please watch this movie that shows it on a different script

Step 3. (Optional, if you have IWP enabled on your server) Test Plugin Installation
- Upload and open ServerSync.fp7 on your FileMaker Server
- Use IWP to access it (using admin/admin for the username/password)
- Click the "CLICK ME IN IWP TO TEST" using IWP
- If it says "SUCCESS", you're ready to go

Step 4. Use Server Sync in FMTouch
- Make sure your hosted database has a user with a password that has the "fmxml" extended privilege set for him
- Go to "Sync" in FMTouch, choose "Server Sync"
- Enter the address of your web publishing component of FileMaker Server
- Enter a username and password of a user in your database with fmxml privileges
- Click the button to choose a database, choose your database
- Click back into the password field, then click "Done" on the keyboard
- Now click "Connect"
- Sync as usual

Very Important Notes
- If you have a copy of FileMaker Pro on the same machine as the server and it has IWP enabled, you might run into problems if you added the new WPE sync plugin to your FileMaker extensions
- The plugin mainly uses port 5555 to communicate with some work done on the XML web publishing port (80 or 443 for SSL), you might need to open this port in your firewall or port forward it.


FMGateway Instructions:
FMGateway Step 1. Upload Your Database to FMGateway
- Use the email instructions that came with your account to upload your database to FMGateway

FMGateway Step 2. Import Helper Script (this must be done to each database you intend to sync with)
- Open the Test DB folder in the server sync package
- Open ServerSync.fp7 in the Test DB folder
- Open your database on FMGateway using "Open Remote..." in FileMaker Pro
- Choose Scripts->Manage Scripts
- Select the "Import" button
- Find ServerSync.fp7
- Import the "__FMWS_WPE_Sync" script and "__FMWS_FMTouch_Tools_Web_Safe" script
- If you have trouble with this process, please watch this movie that shows it on a different script

FMGateway Step 3. Prepare your Database for Server Sync
- Open your database from FMGateway using "Open Remote..."
- Open up the database users, add a new user call it "iphone_user", give it a password (do not leave it blank)
- Assign the Data Entry Only privilege set to the new user
- Go to the Extended Privileges area in the same window, find the "fmxml" privilege in the list, double click it, and choose "Data Entry Only" for this group
- Click OK, your database is now ready for server sync

FMGateway Step 4. Use Server Sync in FMTouch
- Go to "Sync" in FMTouch, choose "Server Sync"
- Enter the address of your FMGateway server, for example 25.fmgateway.com (do NOT use your subdomain here)
- Enter "iphone_user" for the username, and the password you gave the user
- Click the button to choose a database, choose your database
- Click back into the password field, then click "Done" on the keyboard
- Now click "Connect"
- Sync as usual


Best Regards,
Michael Petrov

[John_Reed]

I seem to be stymied here. I'm trying to follow your instructions, but initially I found no library entry for "Library/Filemaker Server/..." in either my root nor my user directory. So I decided to do what you suggest, I should allow sharing via "Instant Web Publishing." When I invoked that option, I got a dialog box (after watching the "timeout" wheel spin for several seconds) as follows: "FileMaker cannot share files over the Web because instant Web  Publishing could not be started."

As I indicated in an earlier e-mail message, when I tried a "normal" install of the "FMSync" extension, that too was denied; my existing extensions folder contains ver. 1.38, and the current ver. 1.80 extension wasn't allowed to replace it, as I apparently didn't have "sufficient access privileges?"

So what do I have to do to get this expensive iPhone gimmick to function?

[bandmandq]

John,

when I tried a "normal" install of the "FMSync" extension, that too was denied; my existing extensions folder contains ver. 1.38, and the current ver. 1.80 extension wasn't allowed to replace it, as I apparently didn't have "sufficient access privileges?"

What do you mean by "That too was denied"  meaning you could not enstall the FMSync?  What is current ver as 1.80?  I can only find version 1.72 of the plugin.

Please elaborate more and maybe we can help more.

[John_Reed]

OK, I downloaded the FMSync installer and when I opened the .dmg file, I got a folder entitled "FMTouch Plugin and Sample Database" containing 4 items: A "DDR" folder; fmtouch.fp7; FMTouch_Sync.fmplugin; Install Plugin.mpkg.

When I do a "get info" on the .fmplugin file, it says "Version: FMTouch_Sync version 1.80, Copyright 2009 by FMWebschool"

I have to say that after first trying these things I downloaded Filemaker's SSL upgrade for my 9.0 v3 program, but still couldn't open Web Sharing afterwards, for the same reason given before. However, I didn't try the installer package again, I'll do that and report back...

I tried the package installer again, and the version of FMTouch_Sync.fmplugin remaining in the "Extensions" folder after install was still 1.38.

[Michael Petrov]

Hi John,

First of all you are in the wrong forum thread - for FMTouch Server Sync you absolutely must have FileMaker Server - you just have FileMaker Pro. With that in mind, you need administrative privileges to replace the current FMTouch_Sync plugin. Perhaps try closing FileMaker and then deleting it first - then paste the new copy in. If that still doesn't work, take the copy you can't replace and use Get Info on it. Within that dialog make sure it is set to allow you to read.

One way or another though do not follow the steps in this guide - they are for syncing with FileMaker Server only.

Best Regards,
Michael Petrov

[Nico]

It works perfect !!!!   

[mastreck]

Ok I trying this. However I get stuck in the FM Touch program when I select the Database that is on the Server.  The pop-up scroll selector comes up with the name of the database, however when I touch on the name of the database, it does nothing.  No where else that I touch on the screen can I get rid of the pop-up scroll selector.  I've back out and tried again, with the same results.

[Michael Petrov]

Ok I trying this. However I get stuck in the FM Touch program when I select the Database that is on the Server.  The pop-up scroll selector comes up with the name of the database, however when I touch on the name of the database, it does nothing.  No where else that I touch on the screen can I get rid of the pop-up scroll selector.  I've back out and tried again, with the same results.

This is slightly odd behavior for now, the best way to get rid of it is to tap into the username or password field - then click the Next/Done button on the keyboard that comes up. We are working on making this part of hte selection nicer.

[thedbaser]

We have a 2 server setup and neither one of them have the plug in folder after wpc there is the FM Web Publishing but not plug in folder. Can you help me.

[Michael Petrov]

We have a 2 server setup and neither one of them have the plug in folder after wpc there is the FM Web Publishing but not plug in folder. Can you help me

You need to create the "Plugins" folder yourself inside of the wpc folder and then place the plugin there. In a 2 machine setup place it on the web publishing machine and then make sure to restart the web publishing component.

[mtamitch]

Hi - I am running Mac Server with Filemaker Server Advanced 9. I have created a plugins folder and put the plugin in the folder. I have restarted web publishing, but the plugin doesn't seem to be installed, when I check it using step 3.

Any ideas?  Thanks

[Michael Petrov]

Make sure the plugins folder is named "Plugins" with a capital "P" and make sure that if you have a two server setup FileMaker web publishing is restarted on the correct server. You might even want to restart the whole machine on which you created the Plugins folder to make sure.

[dearbho]

FYI,
in your server sync instructions there is a disparity.  In step 1 you suggest that we download a file to install on the FM server.

step 1:  Within the downloaded zip file locate "FMTouch_WPE_Sync.fmx" or "FMTouch_WPE_Sync.Not allowed on this forum", this is the plugin file for the next step


At the bottom of the instructions, you've got a different filename...

FMTouch_ServerSync_v1.0.zip (572.19 KB - downloaded 88 times.)


That's the file you're supposed to download correct?  just named incorrectly?

[Michael Petrov]

I say "within the downloaded zip file" - the zip file "FMTouch_ServerSync_v1.0.zip" contains those files, and a couple of more to get this running. You are supposed to download "FMTouch_ServerSync_v1.0.zip" and then open it up to find the fmx files that I reference in the instructions.

[dearbho]

 could use some help.
I followed the instructions to the letter.  I only did not implement step 3 (IWP) which was supposed to be optional.

I can connect to the server, select from a list of databases, connect to the database. 
I get the message:


Database open on FMTouch: FmTouch Sample
Database open on Computer: online

Incompatible Database

NOT READY


----
every 2 seconds the screen flashes with a Getting Database Name, a progress bar and then it disappears.


NOTES:
I'm running fm server 10. FM Touch 1.49
In my FM server admin console the database has xml checked off (extended priviledges for xml set)
I also imported both scripts into the database  "__FMWS_WPE_Sync" script and "__FMWS_FMTouch_Tools_Web_Safe
I had fm advanced (client) installed on the same machine.  I removed all traces of it - still have the same problem.

It seems I can connect to server, connect to database but can't sync.   Suggestions?