This guide explains details for setting up a server desktop to get the most value from aACE support. It is intended for system administrators.
To help aACE support you most efficiently, arrange your FileMaker server desktop with the following details:
Desktop
- Create a folder titled "aACE Maintenance" directly on the desktop.
- Inside this folder, create a sub-folder titled "Installers".
- Move any installers and installer folders from the Downloads folder to this new sub-folder.
- Inside the "aACE Maintenance" folder, create a second sub-folder titled "Certificates".
- Move your FileMaker license certificate and SSL certificate files to this sub-folder.
- Navigate to the FileMaker Server folder.
- Create aliases / shortcuts on the desktop for these files and folders:
- FileMaker Server
- FileMaker Server > Logs > Event
- FileMaker Server > Data > Backups
Note: If your FMS backups are stored on a separate drive, then create a shortcut to that Backups folder instead.
- Rename the aliases / shortcuts to remove the default label of “alias” or “shortcut”.
- Locate the .html file on the Desktop that was generated by the FileMaker Server installation process, then delete it.
Dock / Task Bar
- Add FileMaker Pro to the dock / task bar.
- Mac only:
- Add both the Activity Monitor and Terminal apps to the dock (found inside …/Applications/Utilities/).
- PC only:
- Un-pin Internet Explorer from the task bar and replace it with Firefox.
- Pin the Command Prompt to the task bar.
Browser Bookmark Bar
Open up the server’s default browser and add the following links to the Bookmark bar:
- FMS Admin Console
Note: This bookmark will be here already if you followed the instructions in Step 2. If it is not, launch the FileMaker Server Admin Console manually by navigating to: http://localhost:16001/ and add the bookmark. - From aACEsoft — Provided by aACE Software to allow you to download files from aACE.
- To aACEsoft — Provided by aACE Software to allow you to upload files to aACE.
Remove any other bookmarks from the Bookmark bar that you do not intend to use on the aACE server.
Screen Resolution
To ensure that your server displays information clearly when accessed remotely, set the display resolution to the highest option available:
- Mac — Navigate from System Preferences > Displays > Display, then click the “Scaled” radio button and select the resolution option at the top of the list.
- PC — Navigate from Start > Settings > System > Display, then select the highest option available from the “Resolution” drop-down.
Miscellaneous Settings for Mac
- Navigate to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts, then mark the flag to 'Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls'.
- Open a new Finder window to ensure the proper context, then open the View drop-down from the top bar and click Show Path Bar. Display the View menu again and click Show Status Bar.
- Click on the desktop to ensure the proper context, then open the View drop-down from the top bar, navigate to View > Show View Options, and select Sort By: Snap to Grid.
- Navigate from Finder > Preferences > General, then mark the flag for Hard disks, and select 'New Finder windows show: Downloads'.
- Navigate from Finder > Preferences > Advanced, then mark the flag to 'Show all filename extensions'.
- Open Safari and navigate from Safari > Preferences > General, then clear the flag to 'Open "safe" files after downloading'.