Opening a Filemaker file from mobile device

[marcofioreItaly]

Hello.

I have a Filemaker file in Dropbox folder that I can open from desktop computer. However using mobile version like Filemaker Go 16 or 17 from iPad or iPhone I cannot. I can see the file opening Dropbox mobile, but I cannott access from FM Go.

Any solution?

[Lusil]

Hi there, @marcofioreItaly. 

Could you please provide a bit more info on this? Are you running the latest version of the mobile app and the third party app in question? What are the steps you are taking to do this? 

Also, are you getting any errors? If you do, a screenshot of it or screenshot illustrating the behavior you’re experiencing (excluding any personal info) would be very helpful so as to have a better understanding of what you’re seeing. 

Thanks in advance!   

[marcofioreItaly]

Hi,

both iPad and iPhone have the last iOs. I tried with both Filemaker Go 16 and 17.

The screenshot from iPhone when I access the file using Dropbox app is showed in attachment. No error messages, simply I cannot open the file. I can download the file, but nothing else.

[Lusil]

Thanks for the screenshot, @marcofioreItaly, definitely provides a better understanding of your concern. 

I can see that the file type in question is unsupported and cannot be previewed through the mobile app. You can find more info here. 

However, if you have a third-party app that supports this file, have you tried exporting/saving it locally and opening it with the app(s) in question, or directly opening it from there, instead? Maybe that might do the trick.

Let me know of any updates!

[marcofioreItaly]

thank you,

yes I can download locally and open it, but it is not the right choice. The file is a database which is continuosly updated.

However in the past I was able to open it in remote using mobile app, as I do using a desktop. I didn't tried for several months and now suddendly I can't.

That's why I ask.

By the way I tried to ask Dropbox staff if there is something to do.

Thank you again!

[Lusil · Accepted solution]

Hey again, @marcofioreItaly. 

Currently, I'm afraid there isn't an option to access the file directly from the mobile app, as it's not a supported file type. You can find more info about viewable file types on the mobile app here. 

To access the file and edit it with the third-party app, I'd recommend downloading it locally and opening it, as you mention is what worked for you. In the meantime, I'd be more than happy to pass your comments along to the dev team for future consideration. 

If you have any other questions, let us know!

[BJ1701]

On my iphone, I get a screen just like that, except your screen shot shows 3 dots where mine shows a square with an up arrow coming up from the cneter of the square.  When I click on this icon, it pulls up a list that shows a variety of apps that I can choose from to open the app.  I choose my filemaker pro app from that list and it opens.  Unfortunately, I do not think it changes the file in dropbox, so you have to resend the database back to dropbox to save changes in the dropbox file.  Just wondering if you have that option under the three dots in the upper right hand corner of your screenshot.