Filemaker JDBC Driver & How to Connect

DbSchema is connecting to Filemaker using JDBC Drivers.

  1. What are JDBC Drivers
  2. What is the JDBC URL
  3. Download the Filemaker JDBC Driver
  4. How to Connect using the DbSchema Filemaker

What are JDBC Drivers?

JDBC drivers are Java library files with the extension '.jar', used by Java applications to connect to the database. Usually they are provided by the same company which developed the database software. DbSchema is an Filemaker Client which already includes the Filemaker JDBC driver. DbSchema can configure the Filemaker JDBC URL and test the connectivity.

What is the JDBC URL?

The URL is a string (text) with a specific format containing information about the host where the database is running, the port, username, database name, etc. The URL format is specific to each driver. Any wrong character in the URL may make the database connectivity fail. Therefore we recommend installing DbSchema and try to get connected, and you will find the JDBC URL in the connection dialog.

Driver Information

  • Required File(s): fmjdbc.jar
  • Java Driver Class: com.filemaker.jdbc.Driver
  • URL: jdbc:filemaker://HOST:2399/DB
  • Website: Filemaker

Download Filemaker JDBC Driver

The driver files are compressed in a zip file.

Please write to us for any question or issues with the driver.

Connect to Filemaker

To get started with Filemaker, you can register for a trial on http://www.filemaker.com. There download and install the Filemaker Pro. After starting the application, you can choose for a starter solution. Go for the 'Tasks' solution first.

To make the database available for outside connections you should:

  • Set a connection for the 'admin' user. For this go in the File menu Manage / Security
    Configure Filemaker security
    Configure Filemaker
  • Enable JDBC Sharing:
    Enable Filemaker Sharing

Filemaker Known Issues

We couldn't find a way to reverse engineer foreign keys from Filemaker. Neither the driver DatabaseMetaData.getImportedKeys() or getExportedKeys() nor any system table, function or view does not list them. If you find a way to list them please let us know. It is also useful for us if you write to Filemaker support about this, maybe after few issues they will consider implementing a way to list them.

Connect to Filemaker using DbSchema

DbSchema is using JDBC Drivers to connect to the database. Installing the application you can easy set up a connection. DbSchema will build the JDBC URL for you.
  1. 1 Download DbSchema. DbSchema has a free community edition. No email or registration is required.
  2. 2 Choose to connect to the database, and choose Filemaker. Connect to database
  3. 3 Connection-dialog

    At this point, DbSchema already downloads the JDBC driver into this folders:

    • C:\Users\YourUser\.DbSchema\drivers\Filemaker (Windows) or
    • /Users/YourUser/.DbSchema/drivers/Filemaker (Linux and MacOS).

    In the Connection Dialog, select the driver and the JDBC URL template. For databases using multiple possibilities to connect, may exists multiple templates. Choose if the database is running on the current machine or a different port. If is running on a different machine (remote), you need to find the host name. Hover the Host info label using the mouse to get instructions.

  4. 4 Press the Ping button to test the connectivity.
  5. 5 Edit JDBC URL In the URL combo there is an option to 'Manually Edit the URL'. Select this option to see the generated JDBC URL.
  6. 6 DbSchema Layouts After connecting, DbSchema will create the first diagrams (layouts). Double-click any table header or column to edit.
  7. 7 SQL Editor Activate the SQL Editor from the menu to edit and execute queries. For a detailed list of features, please read the DbSchema Quick Tour.