Knowledgebase

ODBC and JDBC access (called "XDBC" in FileMaker Server) lets external tools — Excel, business intelligence platforms, reporting software, and custom applications — query your FileMaker data using standard SQL statements.

Step 1: Request XDBC to be enabled

XDBC is disabled by default on all servers. Open a support ticket requesting ODBC/JDBC access and we will enable it for you — this typically takes less than an hour.

Step 2: Confirm it is on in the Admin Console

1. Log in to the FileMaker Server Admin Console
2. Go to Database Server > ODBC/JDBC
3. Confirm the toggle is set to On

Step 3: Enable the privilege in your database

In FileMaker Pro, open your database and:

1. Go to File > Manage > Security
2. Edit the privilege set used by the account that will connect via ODBC/JDBC
3. Under Extended Privileges, enable Access via ODBC/JDBC (fmxdbc)

Step 4: Install the FileMaker XDBC drivers

On the machine running your ODBC/JDBC client, install the FileMaker XDBC listener and drivers. These are available from Claris and must match your FileMaker Server version.

Example connection string

Driver={FileMaker ODBC};Server=your-hostname.fmphost.com;Database=YourDatabase;UID=username;PWD=password

If you hit any snags during setup, open a support ticket and describe what you are trying to connect — we are happy to help troubleshoot.