Introduction to FileMaker Pro web security    13

Supported by FileMaker Pro  Supported by FileMaker Pro 

Feature

access privileges

Web Security Database

Control updating of records

Yes

Yes

Control deleting of records

Yes

Yes

Important

  In general, it is best to secure your data at as low a level as possible, at the record and/or 

field level. The best means of doing this is to use FileMaker Pro access privileges. Access privileges 

provides data security regardless of the method used to access the data, whether it is through 

FileMaker Pro networking, the Remote Data Access Companion (RDAC), Instant Web Publishing, 

or Custom Web Publishing. In some instances when using Custom Web Publishing, you may 

require the additional security features provided by the Web Security Database. 

FileMaker Pro access privileges

Access privileges let you set different types of access for different users, control access to database 

functionality, and create record level access based on customized criteria. 

When used with the Web Companion, access privileges allow you to give web users:

browse access

edit access

delete access

the ability to create records

access to data in records based on custom criteria

The Web Security Database will not override assigned access privileges if a  Database Password  

is placed in the Web Security Database. When the Web Security Database is used in combination 

with FileMaker Pro access privileges, access privilege definitions take precedence over any user 

permissions and field restrictions that you have set in the Web Security Database. In other words, 

you can't add Web Security Database privileges to a database if those privileges have been denied 

by FileMaker Pro access privileges.

Important

  Don t forget that access privileges also let you set other types of access for users, such as 

the ability to export records, design layouts, change passwords, and print. These privileges should 

be disabled for web only passwords. A password assigned for web use can also be used by a 

FileMaker Pro user. Unless you disable these other actions, a user accessing the database using 

FileMaker Pro and a web only password may have more privileges than you intend, such as the 

ability to modify the database design.

Passwords and groups are the primary methods of assigning access privileges in FileMaker Pro 

databases:

Passwords

 control access to and limit activities within a database file. You may have several 

passwords in one database file. For example, one password can allow users to create and edit 

records, while another password only allows users to view (browse) records.