FileMaker Pro 4.1 Mac User's Guide

What the Web Companion does
Publishing files on the Web 11-3
FileMaker Pro Web Companion functions as a Web server by
communicating with Web browsers that request data from, or submit
data to, a FileMaker Pro database. Similar to other Web server
applications, the Web Companion delivers HTML Web pages and
image files to the Web browser. The Web Companion supports the
HTTP-Put and HTTP-Get commands. For more information about these
HTTP commands, refer to an HTTP reference.
The Web Companion also acts as a Common Gateway Interface (CGI)
application, by handling the interaction between FileMaker Pro and
Web browser software.
Note You can also publish databases using other common gateway
interface (CGI) applications, which you must purchase from third-party
vendors.
Why publish a database on the Web?
When you host a database on the Web, the number of people who can
use your file is potentially large: the only requirements are Web browser
software and access to the Internet (or an intranet). Your file is available
to anyone, using virtually any kind of computer, virtually anywhere in
the world. You can, however, limit access using passwords.
You can also publish your database on the Web so that you can access it
anywhere—on the road, at another office, or at home.
Publishing your database on the Web—an overview
The following section provides an overview of the steps required to
publish your database on the Web using Instant or Custom Web
Publishing.
Instant Web Publishing
1. Create a database, or select an existing database to publish.
Perform the following steps on a computer connected to the
Internet or an intranet via TCP/IP.
2. Make sure that the Web Companion plug-in is enabled in Application
Preferences.
3. Make sure that Instant Web Publishing is enabled in the Web
Companion Configuration dialog box.