System Requirements

Briefcase is built on the highly acclaimed platform of FileMaker. FileMaker is the world’s leading database software. Millions of people around the world rely on FileMaker everyday to manage and share their information. Below are the recommended system requirements for users running Briefcase® and Briefcase Pro®.

Operating System Recommended
Mac OS X 10.6 Intel-based Mac, 1GB of RAM
Mac OS X 10.5.7 PowerPC G4, G5 or Intel-based Mac
256 MB of RAM
Windows 7 1 GHz or faster
1 GB RAM
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
1024 x 768 or higher-resolution video adapter and display
Windows Vista Ultimate, Business, Home (Service Pack 1) 800 MHz or faster
512 MB of RAM
SVGA (1024x768) or higher resolution video adapter and display
Windows XP Professional, Home Edition (Service Pack 3) Pentium III 700MHz or faster
256MB of RAM
SVGA (1024 x 768) or higher resolution video adapter and display


FileMaker Server

FileMaker Server 10 is the fast, reliable, easy-to-manage database server software for groups of FileMaker users that lets you securely share your databases over a network or on the web.

Simply install FileMaker Server on a dedicated computer and upload Briefcase Pro to the server. Installation and configuration takes just 20 minutes or less. You'll be able to securely manage your data from anywhere, schedule live backups and get 24/7 availability.

Choose FileMaker Server Advanced if you need to share FileMaker data with other applications via ODBC/JDBC, or you need to connect to larger groups of Briefcase Pro users

These are the system requirements for both FileMaker Server and FileMaker Server Advanced.

Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition SP2
Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition SP1
Windows Vista Business SP1
CPU: Dual CPU/Core Duo
RAM: 2 GB
Hard drive: 80+ GB
CPU: Pentium 3.4 GHz
RAM: 1 GB
Hard drive: 80+ GB
Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server version 10.6 (Intel-based Mac) CPU: Dual core
RAM: 2 GB
Hard drive: 80+ GB
CPU: 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo
RAM: 1 GB
Hard drive: 80+ GB
Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server version 10.5.8 (Intel-based Mac) CPU: Dual core
RAM: 2 GB
Hard drive: 80+ GB
CPU: 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo
RAM: 1 GB
Hard drive: 80+ GB

FileMaker Server installs what you need to use PHP including the PHP engine, the FileMaker API for PHP,
sample code, and documentation. If you already have PHP 5.0 or higher, you can choose to keep your
existing installation.

Capacities

The table below lists the tested and theoretical maximum simultaneous connection limits for FileMaker Server and FileMaker Server Advanced. Tested maximums reflect the test configuration and do not represent a guarantee of performance.

Type of clients Tested Theoretical Tested Theoretical
FileMaker Pro 250 250 250 999
Custom Web Publishing (CWP)* 100 100 100 100
IWP N/A N/A 100 100
ODBC/JDBC N/A N/A 50 50

* Multiple users can share a single CWP connection. CWP Connections are based on simultaneous request events,
rather than persistent connections.

Additional Requirements

The Admin Console, PHP Site Assistant, and XSLT Site Assistant work on machines that have network access to FileMaker Server. The supported operating systems for these applications are:

  • Mac OS X
  • Mac OS X 10.4.11 (Intel and PowerPC)
  • Mac OS X Server 10.4.11 (Intel and PowerPC)
  • Mac OS X 10.5.4 (Intel and PowerPC)
  • Mac OS X Server 10.5.4 (Intel and PowerPC)
  • Windows
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition SP2
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition SP1
  • Windows Vista Business SP1
  • Windows XP SP3
  • Networking:
  • TCP/IP; FileMaker Server is limited to 250 simultaneous FileMaker client connections and FileMaker Server Advanced is limited to 999 simultaneous FileMaker client connections; each FileMaker client requires a licensed copy of FileMaker.
  • Web browser requirements:
  • To use a database shared with Instant Web Publishing, Windows web users need Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.x or Firefox 3.0. Mac users need Safari 3.1.2 or Firefox 3.0. On both platforms, some earlier versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer and Safari are blocked. Other Mozilla family browsers are not blocked, but are unsupported and users will receive a dialog encouraging them to upgrade to a supported browser. JavaScript must be enabled in the web browser.

Briefcase is developed by Tahn Software Pty. Ltd. a proud FBA (FileMaker Business Alliance) associate. FileMaker Inc. individually approves each membership based on experience, workmanship and client references. Briefcase is compatible with both mac and windows environments, single and multiuser networks. Briefcase and the Briefcase logo are registered trademarks licensed to Tahn Software Pty. Ltd.