Replacing File on Server DELETES REMOTE CONTAINER DIRECTORIES

     dbail:

     Thank you for the post. 

     "You can remove one or more selected databases with Closed status or delete empty subfolders. The selected databases are moved to the folder Removed_by_FMS/Removed. The Removed_by_FMS/Removed folder is created inside either the default Databases folder or the additional database folder depending on which folder the selected databases are in."

     The remote container directories were not deleted, but moved to: 

     Databases\Removed_By_FMS\Removed\RC_Data_FMS\FILENAME

     "If you remove a hosted file, upload a file with the same filename, and remove the second file, then FileMaker Server overwrites the first removed file with the second removed file."

     For more information, please review page 108 of the FileMaker Server 13 Help Guide.

     TSFalcon

     FileMaker, Inc.

     And can we then move the remote container directories back? Simply by drag and drop via the OS interface or do we use some feature of the admin console to do this? (Not currently using FMS 13 so apologies if the answer for this is obvious...)

     @dbail:

     Thank you for the reply. 

     "You have to delete it first."

     Please review the page in the help linked earlier. The files are not deleted. The files are moved. The external container data is also moved to maintain the link to the external files.

Storing container field data externally

     "No way of restoring is available through the console and if you are paying a hosting service you will not have direct access to the filemaker files.  How backward is this."

     Please review the following knowledge base article for a way to download the file through the Admin Console:

Copying a FileMaker Database Hosted on FileMaker Server

How do I make a copy of a FileMaker Database that's located on a FileMaker Server?

     If you have a free TechNet account, then here is an additional white paper:

Container Fields in FMP12

     @PhilModJunk:

     Thank you for the reply. 

     "And can we then move the remote container directories back?"

     You could as long as all the proper permissions and links to the external files do no change; however, that would be unnecessarily complicating the process because if I have a local database with external files inserted into a container field, then I do not need to move files over manually. I can simply use the Upload Database assistant. It transfers the external container field objects to the correct folders on the server for hosting automatically.

     TSFalcon

     FileMaker, Inc.

     markus schneider:

     Thank you for the reply. 

     The article linked shows FileMaker Server 13 under the "Products" section on the left side.

     The new FileMaker Server 13 Admin Console has the option to "Download Database" when a file is closed from the folder menu in the top right. (See screenshot below).

     TSFalcon

     FileMaker, Inc.

     

          that would be unnecessarily complicating the process

     I'm not sure that it does if you are replacing an older copy of the database file with a new one and have removed the older copy of the database file from the server--which as you have indicated, moves the container fields to the Removed directory along with the database file. You wouldn't want to use the upload tool to move the removed copy of the database file back to the server, just the container directories to get them back where they need to be for the new copy of the file that you, presumably, have just uploaded.

     I strongly recommend to update a document's date... there _are_ older doc's around, found by search engines. One's never sure, if a document is valid or not (even, when there is a sidebar.. when browsing search results, a site might have a sidebar or not - but a date labeled 'last updated' is always clear..)

     @dbail: Can You upload the DB file using the client's sharing functionality - when You select the file and in that's directory lies the container-data? The manual says that FM will upload the file and all of it's external container data - but nothing more...

     While one can copy those items manually, I also recommend to use FM's upload functionality (we have permission issues every now and then, when customer are copying files manually (on OSX)). That's why we desperatly need the upload function on the server (as it was under FMS12 and older - there isn't a client on the server machine everywhere)

     No - You do not delete the file... in order to replace a file on FMServer, that file has to be closed - and removed from the FMServer. Was this way since FMS10 at least. 

     Then, You can upload the file again.

     FileMaker Server moves the files to the 'removed by FileMaker Server' - directory.

     That's all fine until now.. but I'm unsure, if the container data will be uploaded again when You choose 'upload' from a FM client - that's why I asked. The manual says that while uploading database-files, container data should be uploaded as well..

     the procedure for replacing files has been this way since FMS10 (FMS9 was the first version with an admin-console, I don't recall if it allready had all of the functionality).

     The 'removing' part is pretty OK for me. You close the files, remove them (via admin tool) - and FMS _moves_ them to the 'removed' folder. One can then  copy a file, work on it locally - and upload it again to FMS. 

     FMS has no longer any control over removed files - One has to 'reload' them first. That's why I am asking for bringing back the 'upload'-function to FMS (with FMS13, this has to be done via FM client)

     The part that I'm missing (not from dbail - from FileMaker..) is the re-upload of the container-data. Where do I have to place the container-data? Yes, I can try&error - but I'd like to have this in the manuals (at least, I couldn't find it)

     (-: