If there are databases in the host window, especially 1.Office Startup, then the network is properly configured and you have to reconfigure the network "pointer" inside the PracticeMaker Client file. Follow these instructions, which are also included inside the PracticeMaker Client file, to make the needed changes

• Go the the Edit (OS9 and Windows), or the FileMaker (OSX) menu, and select Preferences -- >Application. Make sure the network protocol selected is TCP/IP. If it was not you will need to make the change, quit and then re-open this file! If you had to change to TCP/IP simply try logging on again after re-opening this file! If this worked do not proceed.
• Quit PracticeMaker on the workstation by clicking the Quit button.
• Note-Read this before trying...Restart PracticeMaker® by double clicking on the PracticeMaker Client file but this time immediately hold down the option key on the Mac or the shift key on the PC. This brings forward the FileMaker Pro database password dialog as seen here.

• Enter in the highest level password given your office (usually given to the doctor).
• At this point we will need to reset the IP address that this file is looking for. You will be doing some basic FileMaker programming (don’t be scared)!
• Go to the Scripts menu and select Scriptmaker™
• Double click on b. OPEN office startup. More than likely FileMaker will now search your network and find the file it needs.
• If FileMaker did find the file it needs, you will not receive a dialog box. This is what you do next:
• Click once on the first occurrence of Perform Script [Sub-scripts, external: “1.Office Startup.fp5”]. Then in the Specify: section on the bottom click once on External Script... and you get the pop-up list below  left. Click on the highlighted External Script... again. At the next dialog below right simply click on OK!
• Next, click once on the 2nd occurrence of Perform Script [Sub-scripts, external: “1.Office Startup.fp5”]. Then in the Specify: section on the bottom click once on External Script... and you get the pop-up list above left. Click on External Script again. That the next dialog below right simply click on OK.
• Now click OK and then Done and have successfully reset the correct IP address for you log-on file. 
• This same file should now be copied to each workstation or you can do the same process on each machine.
  

Router Basics [ top ]
If you are connecting to the internet via a broadband connection, like DSL or cable, you will need to have a router to handle the signal. In this case a switch, as mentioned above, is not required because all good routers have built-in 4, 8 or 16 port switches and will take the place of an external 10/100 switch.

As mentioned above, you cannot use DHCP in your office because each workstation MUST have its own IP address. Therefore, you MUST make sure that the router is set NOT to enable DHCP. For our example, we are used a standard Linksys router to demonstrate these settings. To get to your router's setting you need to open your web browser and type in the IP address assigned to your router. Typically this is 192.168.1.1 but check your manual for the exact address. When you do connect you will be asked to login. For the Linksys you only need to enter the password of admin.



At this point you get the Setup screen below (some data has been blurred out on purpose). Here you see see your static IP address (fake one entered BTW), and your important Default Gateway (here filled with zeros but should contain numbers) and the DNS (Domain Name Server) numbers. The Gateway and DNS will be needed to setup your TCP/IP control panels as shown above. A static IP address is required if you want to be able to connect to your office or business from home using either Timbuktu Pro or pcAnywhere.


From the Setup screen switch to the DHCP screen as shown below and select Disable DHCP Server and click Apply.


If you intend to have us (or even you) connect to your computer using either Timbuktu Pro or pcAnywhere, you need to tell the router to point signals from one of these programs to the correct computer. This is why each computer MUST have its own IP address (its own phone number so to speak). Otherwise the "router" does not where to "route" the signals to (get it now?). To get to this screen you first click Advanced and then Forwarding. The screen below appears.


At first this screens looks very complicated, but it actually isn't. Each program using different "Ports" to transmit its signals. Timbuktu Pro and pcAnywhere use different ports and/or ranges of port. These are entered in the "Service Port Range" fields. For example, Timbuktu Pro uses 407 to 407 with TCP Protocol on one line and then 1417 to 1420 with TCP Protocol on the second line. The IP Address entered on BOTH lines is that of the computer you want the signals "routed" to.

pcAnywhere uses 5631 to 5631 with the TCP Protocol. Once again, you would need to put in the IP Address of the computer to receive these signals. One or the other of these progarms will be used.


Gotomypc
This is an excellent product which allows you to share your computer with anyone else in the world that is web connected. By using gotomypc's server, and their installed software, you can either invite someone to come onto your computer and either view or take control, and connect to it yourself from a remote location. To try this product, or to get more information, check out their website at www.gotomypc.com. The only problem is that the host computer, the one being connected to MUST be a Windows PC. A PC or a Mac can be the viewing or controlling computer. Once you establish an account you can tell us your email address and password and we can connect at any time. Of course, you are able to change the password whenever you wish.



LogMeIn.com
This a similar product to GoToMyPC but does not have a Macintosh connection yet. If you are an all Windows office this is an excellent, and less expensive means of allowing remote control. Just as with GoToMyPC, once you establish an account you can tell us your email address and password and we can connect at any time. Of course, you are able to change the password whenever you wish. Check out their website at www.LogMeIn.com.


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(updated 8/11/2004)