Software tips, techniques, and news.
By Kiyan Allaei Posted on January 17th, 2018 in Hosting, FileMaker
With the release of the FileMaker Cloud 1.16, several features that were exclusive to on-premise FileMaker Server are now available. The 1.16 update includes, but is not limited to, the features listed below.
The release of the FileMaker Cloud Admin API now allows you to manage server-side schedules, pull a list of logged-in users, send messages to connected users, and much more. Our free FileMaker Cloud Schedule Manager allows you to create and manage script schedules for your FileMaker system.
To download our FileMaker Cloud Schedule Manager or read more about what all it can do, see our FileMaker Cloud Admin API Article.
The FileMaker Data API, which was formally only available for FileMaker Server, allows you to access your FileMaker data using the standard REST API. By going with a standardized format developers are able to integrate any platform they choose with FileMaker solutions on FileMaker Cloud.
Details on enabling and using the data API can be found at our FileMaker Data API Article.
FileMaker Cloud now enables the use of the Print, Print Setup, and Save Records as PDF script steps on both FileMaker Pro and FileMaker WebDirect.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is an open-standard file format that allows developers to interact with REST APIs without using a plugin. FileMaker Cloud now supports JSON parsing for server side scripts.
For more details on using JSON with FileMaker please read our FileMaker JSON Functions Article.
FileMaker Cloud now supports OAuth 2.0, which allows clients to authenticate via Amazon, Google, and Microsoft Azure. Configuration for OAuth identity providers can be found in the Client Authentication section under the configuration tab on the FileMaker Cloud Admin Console (shown below)
A FileMaker Pro client must be used to configure specific users’ accounts to authenticate via an identity provider. This setting is found under:
File -> Manage Security -> highlight desired account -> Edit…
Since the initial version of FileMaker Cloud, many updates have brought Cloud up to par with FileMaker Server. FileMaker Cloud now includes the following features that were not available with the initial launch:
The 1.16.0.55 update brought FileMaker Cloud to near parity with FileMaker Server; however, there are three features FileMaker Server supports, which are currently unsupported for Cloud.
Cloud backups run on a 20 minute schedule and one week's worth (504) are stored before automatic deletion begins; however, preserved backups are not deleted. Backups can be run on demand and preserved at any time as shown in the image below.
As shown in the graphic above, backups are accessed through the "Backups" section of the Cloud admin console. From here users may request an on-demand backup, which is then automatically preserved. Snapshots can then be attached to preserved backups, allowing the database files to be downloaded as needed. Only one snapshot can be attached at a time, but users may download specific database files as opposed to downloading every file hosted on the server.
Unencrypted files can now be uploaded to FileMaker Cloud from a Pro client. Once uploaded, FileMaker Cloud will request an encryption password and encrypt the file itself, saving users the time of encrypting their files through their Pro clients. It is important to note that in order to upload an unencrypted file to Cloud, you will need to have at least three times the file size in space available to upload. The total space available can be viewed from the Dashboard section of the admin console. If you don't have that much space available, you may upgrade the AWS storage volume size at any time through the Subscription section of the admin console.
FileMaker Cloud can now be set up on the following AWS regions:
All FileMaker Cloud disk types have been changed from magnetic to solid state drives (SSD), increasing overall speed.
For details on moving your existing system to FileMaker cloud, please read the “Moving to FileMaker Cloud" section of our FileMaker Cloud Overview Article.
With this update, the full power of FileMaker Server is now available in the cloud. If you're interested in seeing if FileMaker Cloud is the best choice for you, contact us for a free technical analysis to review and assist in optimizing your application(s) before moving to the FileMaker Cloud.
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Kiyan is an outgoing and energetic certified FileMaker developer whose technical passion is the world of databases. His collaborative and positive attitude creates a natural draw for clients seeking solutions to meet their database needs.