Connecting to a FileMaker Database With the Database Connectivity Toolkit?
Primary Software: LabVIEW Development Systems>>LabVIEW Professional Development System
Primary Software Version: 8.5
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: LabVIEW Toolkits>>LabVIEW Database Connectivity Toolset
Problem: I know FileMaker is an ODBC-compliant database, but I am having trouble connecting to it with the Database Connectivity Toolkit. Is there a specific procedure for doing this?
Solution: FileMaker is a database application that is ODBC-compliant and was originally released for Apple Macintosh. It is compatible with both Mac OS and Windows and can be networked simultaneously to a mixed Windows and Mac OS X user base. LabVIEW can connect to any database that is ODBC driver compliant.
A trial version of FileMaker Pro can be downloaded from the FileMaker website.
Instructions for Windows XP:.
- Open FileMaker and create and save a database if an existing one is not already present. A FileMaker database must be open in order for you to connect to it.
- In FileMaker, enable ODBC sharing (File»Sharing»ODBC/JDBC»On).
- You will need to have Microsoft Data Access Components installed in order to install the ODBC client driver. Make sure that you have MDAC 2.8 SP1 is installed which is available from www.microsoft.com.
- From the FileMaker CD or Trial Installation Files, navigate to xDBC\ODBC Client Driver Installer. This will install DataDirect 32-BIT SequeLink 5.5, which is the ODBC driver needed for FileMaker.
- Navigate to Control Panel»Administrative Tools»Data Sources (ODBC)»System DNS»Add»DataDirect 32-BIT SequeLink 5.5.
- Choose a meaningful Data Source Name (DSN) and localhost for the Server Host.
- The port should be 2399. Make sure that you do not have any other services running on this port.
- Select the filename of the database you want to use as the data source but do not type the file extension. If you have spaces in the database name you must replace them with %20.
- Use the DB Tools Open Connection VI to connect with the FileMaker database. Enter the name of the DSN along with the username and password that FileMaker prompts you for when you open the database. You should now be able to connect to the database.
Instructions for Windows 7:.
- Download FileMaker xDBC Client Drivers Update .
- Run and install the update.
- Open FileMaker and create and save a database if an existing one is not already present. A FileMaker database must be open in order for you to connect to it.
- In FileMaker, enable ODBC Sharing (File»Sharing»ODBC/JDBC and select On for ODBC/JDBC Settings; set the access permissions as desired).
- Open the folder created by the update. While the name of the file will vary according the version of FileMaker you are using, it should be called something like FMSA11.0v3_xDBC_Update_11.3.81.exe. It will be in the same place as you saved the update installer in step 1. Then navigate to the ODBC Client Driver Installer folder and run the .msi installer.
- Navigate to Control Panel»Administrative Tools»Data Sources (ODBC)»System DNS. Select add and choose FileMaker ODBC.
- Follow the prompts.
Note: The ODBC FileMaker Driver does not work with the 64-bit version of the FileMaker Driver Manager. This means if you are using Windows7 64-bit, on step 6 you will need to navigate to C:\Windows\SysWOW64 and manually run odbcad32.exe instead of going through the control panel.
Related Links: Direct PDF Link: FileMaker 9 ODBC and JDBC Guide
Direct PDF Link: FileMaker 11 ODBC and JDBC Guide
Product Manuals: Database Connectivity Toolset User Manual
FileMaker: Information Regarding Installing Drivers
Attachments:
Report Date: 03/12/2008
Last Updated: 10/21/2011
Document ID: 4JB714LC
