Working with databases

The Databases page lists the databases hosted by FileMaker Cloud.

FileMaker Cloud attempts to open all uploaded FileMaker Pro databases when your FileMaker Cloud instance restarts, unless the Only open last opened databases option is selected on the Configuration > General Settings tab. See Uploading, encrypting, and opening database files.

Database status

The icons to the left of a database name indicate the status of the database.

Icon Status

database file is closed 

Database file is Closed

database file is open 

Database file is Open

database file is paused 

Database file is Paused

database file is in a transitional state 

Database file is in a transitional state, such as opening, closing, or verifying

To work with database files:

On the Databases page:

To Do this

Open databases

For a single Closed status closed database, click action arrow and choose Open.

For All Databases, click action arrow and choose Open All.

Note  If the status changes to Checking status opening, FileMaker Cloud is checking the file's structure before opening the file. Checking a large file may take several minutes.

Pause databases

For a single Open status open database, click action arrow and choose Pause.

For All Databases, click action arrow and choose Pause All.

Connected clients can read data from the database while it is paused, but can't modify the database until hosting is resumed.

Resume databases

For a single Paused status paused database, click action arrow and choose Resume.

For All Databases, click action arrow and choose Resume All.

Close databases

For a single Open status open database, click action arrow and choose Close.

For All Databases, click action arrow and choose Close All.

See "Sending a message to clients of a database before you close it" below.

Download a database

For a single Closed status closed database, click action arrow and choose Download.

Before you download a database, make sure you have the encryption password for the database. See Downloading databases.

Remove databases

For a single Closed status closed database, click action arrow and choose Remove.

For All Databases, click action arrow and choose Remove All.

After you confirm, the database is moved to the Removed Files list on the Backups page. The file remains on the Removed Files list until FileMaker Cloud permanently deletes it according to the Removed Databases Retention Policy set on the Backups page > Backup Settings. However, if the file is included in any preserved backups, the file will remain on the Removed Files list to reflect that fact until you no longer preserve those backups. See Restoring backups, Deleting databases permanently, and Working with preserved backups.

After you remove a database, it might take some time for the Dashboard to update the used and remaining space for FileMaker Data Storage.
Rename a database

For a single Closed status closed database, click action arrow and choose Rename.

Show the encryption password for a database

For a single database, click action arrow and choose Show Encryption Password.

See About encryption passwords.

Sending a message to clients of a database before you close it

When you close databases, if you see the Close Databases dialog box, do the following:

  1. Enter an optional message to send to clients.

  2. For Delay Time, enter the number of minutes between when the notification is sent and when clients are disconnected.

    Clients may see a dialog box with a 30-second countdown. If they click OK, they are disconnected immediately. If they click Cancel, they can continue working until the delay time is reached. Depending on the delay time, they may see subsequent dialog boxes until the delay time expires.

Important  If you specify a delay time of 0, then clients are disconnected immediately and they may lose unsaved work.

Completing the process of closing many database files, a large database file, or a file with many connected clients may take several minutes.

Notes 

  • To find a specific database in the databases list, enter a search string in the search box.

  • You can sort the databases list by filename, status, or the number of clients. To reverse the sort order, choose the same sort value again.

  • To see more information about the status of a database, pause the pointer over its status icon.

  • You can close a database that displays Opening or Checking status opening status, which cancels the consistency check performed when the file is opened.