Using Merlin’s Web Module
John Kranz on 30. June 2009
In this how-to we will explore how to share your Merlin project file over the internet. We will detail how to setup your older router (no UPNP support) or modern routers (with UPNP support) so other users can easily access your shared Merlin file.
Requirements
To publish your projects over the Web you need Merlin (2.7.1 or newer). Although the Web Module add on is shipped with Merlin 2.7, it requires a separate license that you need to purchase. You can get your Merlin 2 Web Sharing add on license here. Otherwise, you can publish your project file over the internet for no longer than 15 minutes.
To interact with a published Merlin project over the internet, you need one of the following browsers:
- Safari 3 for Mac OS X or MS Windows
- Firefox 3 for Mac OS X or MS Windows
- Internet Explorer 7 for MS Windows
- Internet Explorer 8 for MS Windows (running in IE7 compatibility mode)
Publishing to the Internet
Before publishing your project, please ensure that you have saved it as Merlin will not publish unsaved files. Upon saving the file, please follow these steps:
1. Press the publish toolbar button
2. Select the Web Module
3. Drag & Drop the icon with the “@” logo onto your favourite instant messaging or e-mail client to send the link to your web shared file. If you wish to open the file with your browser, simply click on the “@” icon and it will open with your default browser.
The recipients of the published file address (URL) will also be able to access the file over the web by clicking on the link.
Troubleshooting
Q. Users over the internet can’t access my published file
A. If you own a modern router (purchased within the last 4 years), it could be that UPNP service is not enabled. Here are some links that might help you get started:
- Some D-Link Routers. Click here
- Some Linksys Routers. Click here
Q. I can’t find where I can enable my UPNP service on my router
A. If you can’t find where to enable the UPNP service on your router, it might be that your router doesn’t support UPNP. If that is the case, you need to add a port forwarding rule to your router setup.
Here are the links to the most popular routers around:
- Some D-link Routers. Click here
- Some Linksys routers. Click here
Q. I can’t tell if my router supports UPNP or not. Is there another way to find out if it does?
A. Merlin will tell you that via the colour of the “@” icon when publishing the file online.
Red means Merlin couldn’t detect a UPNP service on your router and the only link it could send it the local (LAN) one.
Blue means Merlin did detect a UPNP service on your router and did do the necessary port forwarding on your router so users on the internet can connect to your system.
Q. My Web sharing keeps timing out every 15 minutes.
You are running the Web Module add on in demo mode. If you haven’t purchase a license to activate the Web Module add on, the following warning will be displayed when you publish your project file.
Click on the “OK” button to purchase a license for the Web Module add on or click here.
Tags: Merlin 101, Merlin Web
8 Comments »
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Hey there,
I have just bought 3 licenses (single, web & Iphone) I am trying to publish my project over the internet, but I only get a message saying that safari could not open the page because de server does not respond.
Could you please advice me on how to proceed?
Many thanks
This is a question to be answered by the support team, but not typically on our website.
[...] such cases, simply drag the Proxy icon (an explanation for the colors can be found here) and place it in the body of a new e-mail which can then be received and read from your iPhone. [...]
@ Alfonso
Hi,
I had this same problem. I got the following reply from Merlin support (the solution worked for me, hope it helps) :
Yes, this can occur, when your router cant resolve the port-forwarding in the local LAN. So this means, you can’t access it when you click on the proxy icon, but others can access it from outside the internal LAN. If you wish to get the internal IP, please hold the shift-key and click on the proxy icon. Now it will use the internal IP for you and the issue should be solved.
I just installed and tested the Merlin web module. It works great but I am concerned that the person I was showing the project plan to was able to make a change to it via his web browser. Is there some way to limit who can make changes to the project?
thanks
Glenn
Yes, you can use the access rights for these resources and block the editing.
Hi Glenn, here you can see how you can restrict the privileges http://www.projectwizards.net/en/macpm/merlin/project-access-privileges-in-merlin
Best regards, Vicky
[...] supports UPnP, it will then automatically forward your requests to the publishing Mac. Please read here some troubleshooting info, incase you router does not support [...]