FileMaker Pro is compatible with MySQL databases which makes it possible to merge the system with any other web platform based on PHP/SQL including Word Press?

As the matter of fact, there is a long-lasting partnership between FileMaker Pro and MySQL (Oracle). There are a few extensive tutorials related to this that come with the software, or could be found on: http://www.filemaker.com/support/product/documentation.html.

You can also listen to a very good webinar by Zack Urlocker, that is covering many issues that the readers of this article might be interested in.

However, there are a few things you might have to face that nobody is telling you about when it comes to a real-life situation, and connecting to the WordPress particularily. This article will describe my experience of connecting FileMaker Pro database to MySQL database driving a WordPress website via a MySQL ODBC driver. My goal was to automatically harvest and sort-order data from contact forms so it could be used inside the FileMaker Pro database instantly. I will also include a step by step instruction on how to connect successfully and further integrate it all into a workable system.

You have a 64 bit operating system, which usually comes with a more modern equipment, and specially a 64 bit server OS, which is most likely to be the case, and you need to install an ODBC driver that would work with a 32 bit application such as FileMaker Pro.
If you install a 64 bit ODBC driver, it will be listed and configurable in “ODBC Data Source Administrator” (Start\Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\Data Source (ODBC)), but it will not be able to work with FileMaker Pro (or any other 32 bit application).
On the other hand, if you try to install the 32 bit driver, the system will not recognise it, and it will not appear in your default Data Sources (ODBC) inside the control panel, so you will not be able to configure it and connect to MySQL.

THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM - In many places you will read that this is IMPOSSIBLE – WHICH IS NOT TRUE. What you need to do is the following:

• Download and install the 32 bit MySQL driver, regardless of the fact that you are using a 64 bit OS.It will install the files in the following place (path):C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\Connector ODBC 5.1
• Instead of following the usual path via the Control Panel (Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\Data Sources (ODBC) ) , where the 32 bit driver will not be recognised, YOU NEED TO FIND AND USE THE FOLLOWING PATH:
  C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe.

Database Source Admin tool path for configuring 32 bit drivers if installed on 64 bit Operating System

• Here you will be able to see your 32 bit ODBC driver and configure it to connect with the MySQL database, in the same way as you would do on a 32 bit system.

In this way, FileMaker Pro as a 32 bit application will be able to recognise and use the ODBC driver installed on a 64 bit Operating System. Please notice that 64 bit applications WILL NOT be able to use the 32 bit driver, so if you are connecting some other, 64 bit application, for example MS Access 2010, you will need to install a 64 bit driver as well, and configure it via the usual path: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\Data Sources (ODBC)
The two drivers will not be installed in the same directory so you could use automatic install feature for both of them. By defauld, the 32bit ODBC driver will be installed in: C:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\Connector ODBC 5.1, while the 64bit ODBC driver will install inside:C:\Program Files\MySQL\Connector ODBC 5.1, and you should be able to configure it using your Control Panel\Administrative Tools\Data Source (ODBC) path.

If you where reading about connecting FileMaker Pro to MySQL database with MySQL ODBC driver, you can now go back to the article and proceed with instructions.