Clients computers may connect to your Crate Pro database files through a local and / or remote connections. An example is user that has a laptop that connects locally to the hosted database files while in the office, but connects remotely when out on the road or at another location. You can set up both a local and remote connection on any one client. 

Terminology: 
The computer with the Crate Pro database files is called the host in peer-to-peer configurations. If your purchase includes FileMaker Server the host computer is called the server .  Your Crate Pro 6 database files are installed on one computer whether its a host or server. All other computers are called clients. 

FileMaker Server is only installed on your file server. FileMaker Pro is installed on all clients. Virtual or terminal server configurations are handled differently.

The speed of Crate Pro can be affected by the speed of your network and internet connection like any other hosted program. A wired connection over a wireless is generally faster. Especially for the host / server. Using FileMaker Server over a user computer to host the files, better manages your data transfer and will be faster.  This is especially true in the peer-to-peer configuration where the host may be slowed by the user using other applications at the same time as its hosting Crate Pro 6. 


Effective 2016, dial-up internet connections are too slow to manage external connections.

Connecting to Crate Pro from a Client from INSIDE your local network:

  • Inside your local network means that you're on the same subnet

  • Crate Pro must be open and running on the host or server computer 
    • If you're using FileMaker Pro to host your files - if on the Host you get a message "Network Sharing is Turned Off", go to the FileMaker menu and click on File > Sharing > Share with FileMaker clients and select to turn it ON.
    • If using FileMaker Server: Open the FileMaker Admin console 
      • FMS 13-16: Select Activity and set the Crate Pro files to 'Normal' 
      • FMS 17-19: Select 'Databases  and set the Crate Pro files to 'Open'
  • Open FileMaker Pro on your client computer:
    • FMP 13-16:  The Welcome screen appears the first time FMP is opened on a client. Click on the X in upper right corner to see the Launch Center . Select the Host tab and FMP should locate your Host/Server computer . 
    • FMP 17-19: The CREATE screen opens initially. Click on the FAVORITES tab on the left. Click on ADD APP > From Hosts --   FMP should locate your Host/Server computer . 
  • Select the Host and then select your main Crate Pro program file (do not open the Resources or Data Shared file if shown) This creates a shortcut on the Launch Window
  • Double click on the new shortcut

If you don't see your  host or server computer ,  click on the + located at either the bottom or top of the window and enter the IP address of the host or server computer. If after entering the host/server IP you do not see your files, your network or host/server security setting or the firewall on the host./server are blocking the ability to see the files.
  • ports 5003 and 5353 must be open and forwarded to the host computer in the router
  • (see Port Forwarding below)
  • Some networks set firewalls so that only approved applications can exchange data from inside to outside the local network. If after configuring your ports you still don't see the hosted files from your client, check your firewall and security settings


Connecting from an External Client Connection or over an internet connection:

Connecting from outside is similar to connections inside your local network except you will need your companies external IP(public IP) to manually enter it the first time, and you may need to open some ports on your router.


 We recommend that you have a static IP address for your network to avoid IP address changes made by your ISP. They can change this address at any time without notification, which would require you to update the setting in your clients to point to the new external IP. While not difficult, it could be annoying.


Most external IP address's can be found by opening a browser window from inside your network and typing "what's my external IP"


  • Ensure Crate Pro is open and running, on your Host / Server computer for the clients to connect, whether internal or external connection. 
    • When using FileMaker Server, Crate Pro 6 runs using services so you will not see the program as you do in the clients. To confirm the files are 'Open' or hosted, open the FileMaker Admin Console and click on the Databases tab. All files will appear with the 'open' or 'hosted' information next to each file.
  • In your router: ports 5003 and 5353 must be open and forwarded to the host computers internal IP (see Port Forwarding below)
  • Some networks set firewalls so that only approved applications can exchange data from inside to outside the local network. If after configuring your ports you still don't see the hosted files from your client, check your firewall and security settings

  •  Open FileMaker Pro on your client. 

  • FMP 13-16:  The Welcome screen appears the first time FMP is opened on a client. Click on the X in upper right corner to see the Launch Center . Select the Host tab 
  • FMP 17-19: The CREATE screen opens initially. Click on the FAVORITES tab on the left. Click on ADD APP > From Hosts

Locate the click on the + located at either the bottom or top of the window (based on FileMaker version) and enter the external IP address of the host or server computer. You may also enter an optional name for that server. Save the settings.


Select the host/ server you entered from the list and allow a minute to locate the network > host > then the Crate Pro 6 files. 


Once you see the Crate Pro 6 file, you are connected and can open Crate Pro 6 normally.




If after entering the host/server IP you do not see your files, as long as the ports are open on the hosting network, most likely your network security setting or the firewall on the host./server are blocking the ability to see the files. Allow FileMaker or .fmp files access in your firewall.



Port Forwarding in your Router

In most cases you don't have to do anything within the router for your local clients to see your Crate Pro database files when you start FileMaker Pro. However, some companies lock or close ports as an additional security measure. 

A port is like a door which allows you to enter a specific store. If the door is 'locked' for the store you want to enter, you can't get in. FileMaker uses specific ports (doors) to allow your client computers to enter into the 'store' that has your Crate Pro 6 database. If you're going to connect to Crate Pro from outside your local network, you will have to ensure these ports are open and pointed to the host computer that has the Crate Pro 6 files.

Login to your router, locate the screen in your router that allows you to set up your ports. 

You may enter anything in the 'description' fields but set ports 5003 and 5353 to go to the IP address of the host/server of your Crate Pro database. 

Most routers will pre-enter the first three octaves of your networks internal IP so you only need to enter the last octave, check it as enables and save it.

If you installed FILEMAKER SERVER (this is an recommended but optional purchase), you will also set ports 16000 and 16001 so that you can access and administer the FileMaker Admin Control Panel from any web browser. The FileMaker Admin Control Panel will allow you to set automated backups and gives you many other benefits to ensure your Crate Pro runs fast and clean.