Upgrading & Migration

Hello. I try to update filemaker pro advanced from V9.01 to V9.03 but I get the message "The updater cannot find any qualifying product on the system" Any Ideas?

Hi, I'm currently experiencing issues performing a migration. Our client is currently running server 5.5 and we are looking to migrate them to version 9. The databases that our client is using were developed by a person who is no longer with the company and can't be contacted. I was able to convert the databases to the version 9 format, but we are experiencing problems when the users logon. It appears as though when some users logon they are loading under a different user profile. I've been in touch with tech support at FileMaker and they have advised to go under File --> Manage --> Accounts & Priveledges to strip passwords out. However, …

I have a relational database that is comprised of several legacy (i.e., created originally in FMPro 5.5) FMPro databases, and would like to consolidate some of the external databases into tables internal to the main database. What is the easiest way to get these external databases into an internal table without having to redefine a new table (some of these databases have dozens of fields) and then import the external data into them?

Can anyone refer me to some decent, easy to understand reference on best practices on how to upgrade your database. For now I've been working and testing on my actual database, which is a big no-no, I know, but I have no idea how else to go about it. I would like to find a system where I can test my database stand-alone and then "copy" the new database definition, modified and new layouts and scripts to the actual database, thus ensuring data integrity and avoiding double work. Any help or guidance is most welcome. I have just switched from FMP 8.5 Standard to FMP 9 Advanced in case this matters. Thanks in advance!

OK, so I'm not sure where exactly this topic fits in, but here goes. Since MS has decided to shoot XP in the legs, I was wondering whether all versions of FM work on Vista? Any experience with that out there? Since I'm still running v6 as well as 7 and 9, I was planning on getting new Vista machines, but I'm worried about compatibility. Any advice will be useful. Thanks. Mike

I've used FMP for years but in simple environments. I'm now in the learning curve of migrating from ver 5 to ver 9.0 I'm also new here. If there is a better place to post this question be sure to let me know. I have a db converted from 5 to 9. There is one table with about 300 fields. I want to create several tables and divide and move existing populated fields into the new tables and and then delete from original table. Help please.

Hi, I am new to FMProV8.5 (using trial version). I converted my 16 files and want to create one or a couple files instead. Is there a recommend way to go about doing this. Someone said to import tables but I dont know how... Thanks, -Andrew

Is there a way of capturing the current auto-enter incremental value from FM6 files? I am preparing to convert them to FM7 (for now) and rather than going through all 30+ files to find what fields are auto-enter and get the current values (especially when it will change by the time I get ready for final conversion) and was wondering if there is a script or external utility that could help? Thanks!!!

I wish to migrate a mineralogical database that I created using v5.5 for use with v9 Advanced, but a straight import loses all the special formatting for the chemical formulae. Is there a way to import the data while preserving the formatting so that I don't have to reformat 3000 formulae?

Well, Just made the jump from 8.5 to 9. Added new record that includes containers fields for media. The containers on one layout accept the media but it does not show up on other layouts. I went to the database to see what was happening at that level; the container fields are "grayed out" as seen in the relationship area (see attached picture). I don't know whether this is the source of my problem but it is a brand new FileMaker experience for me - since the upgrade. Any insight into what the heck is going on will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hope this is the right sub-forum. Due to a hardware error I had to reinstall FM, everything went OK to that point, but it refuses to activate saying I reached the maximum number of licenses. Any ideas? Thanks, Javier

My company is acquiring another company and they have 2 applications in Filemaker. Apparently it's in Filemaker 5.5 on the server and the clients are 5.5 or 6.0. We are going to need to purchase the products. 1) Is the newest versions of the product backwards compatible with their database? 2) If not, we have a company that has these old versions of the product. Can I use Server 5.0 Server with their database - this is available from a company with activation codes. 3) What would be the server configuration for Windows for a 5.0 server? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

We are a small but very successful architectural firm. We have filemaker 6, is it cost effective to upgrade to the latest version (we'd need a 10-15 user version) when we only really use it to manage mailing lists? We could just as easily do it in Excel with the version we have right now. I posted a question about selecting record to be printed and it's such an old version I fear no-one will know/bother to help. Thanks!!!!

here is a situation. the office i got recently moved to has an old fms 5. i need to work on it. some programming and stuff. but there are a few problems. i dont have filemaker 6 on my macbook. and all the files are fm5. also all the files are locked somehow so that nobody that access them from a workstation on the same network can edit database relationships or define fields and such. i can not figure out why. also if i work on an older fm client - a windows xp machine with fm 6 on it - i can not save new files on the server. what needs to be changed in order for me to be able to work remotely and be able to edit database relationships, create new fields, …

Basically, I'm finally using 9.0 but still have some of my 6.0 files running. In any event, one of my applications has about 7 related files. I converted to 9.0 pretty successfully. However, as before, I'm still left with the 7 independant files. I know there are advantages to keeping the 7 files separate but I'd rather have one application with one file. First of all, is there an easy way to do it by myself, incorporating all the files with their data into one? If I cannot do it with fm9, is there a third party program that would do it that's not too expensive? We're a school and I still have a number of applicaitons to convert from fm6 and fm7. I have a number of FM9, h…

I am not sure if this is the right forum, if not could you direct me to the right one, if it is, I have 4 sperate databases that i would like to merge into one with all the layouts. Is there an easy way to do this? Marilee

I have been running fmp 5.5 and fmp 7 on an XP based computer with no problems. Recently I purchased a new computer with Vista and installed fmp 5.5 with no problems and the apps are running. However, I have not been able to install fmp 7 upgrade because the install keep saying it can't find a qualifying product intalled. I have pointed to the folder that has fmp 5.5 exe program, and has tried entering installation key for fmp 5.5 without any luck. Anyone have any idea how to resolve this problem? Thanks, Jware

Is it okay to upgrade from 8.02 to 8.5 directly and if so how much does it cost? I'm going to upgrade my iMac to Leopard in a few weeks and I want to make sure my FMP is going to run on it. I've noted a few glitches reported in FMP with Leopard but it seems there's a patch available. I realize I need to upgrade to 9 but it's a little too costly right now. I'm planning on doing that in the fall. Also, can I go ahead a upgrade my 8.02 to 8.5 and expect it to work in Tiger? Or should I wait until I make the Leopard upgrade? Any help is appreciated in advance.

I'm trying to install FM Pro Advanced 8.5 on a new laptop, my 8.5 advanced is a upgrade ver, so I installed 7.0 pro then upgraded to 7.3, now my problem is when I try to install 8.5 advanced it says: A qualifying product has not been found.... even when i put in my product key & where the folder is that has 7.3 , It still says A qualifying product has not been found. Can anyone help me?

Hi - Since upgrading my FM4 / OS 9.2.2 solutions to FM6 / Tiger, something has bugged me real bad : FileMaker no longer "remembers" my window sizes and positions. In OS 9 I could have two databases regularly open side by side, and next time I launched either or both databases, the window(s)would be the same place and size as before. Under OS X this is no longer the case and it is a major irritant to resize the ******* things each and every time. Is there any way to solve this? I have searched FM prefs to no avail and I suspect it must be an OS X thing. A Finder problem in other words, though it impacts on my use of FM. Any solutions or workarounds (even non…

I work for a company using a high-volume database, at the core of which are two main tables, Orders and Line Items. The system in its entirety is massively complex as well as old and creaky, so with their affirmative blessing I rebuilt from scratch. New system is being beta tested. The following may or may not be my idea; it may or may not be an idea proposed instead by someone else at my company.: I have asked this elsewhere on message boards where I am more active. I hope that simulposting it here is not considered bad form, but I'm trying to get a decently wide set of responses. What if, instead of siphoning off some workers' time & energy to put some…

Hi, I have been on Filemaker 4.1 for over a decade which has been fine for my sole-proprietor needs but must move forward from Mac OS 8.6 to a version that will run on OSX - at minimum, Panther, but will ultimately need compatibility for 10.4/Tiger. I have minimal needs beyond what 4.1 does - only need a version that runs on OSX. What is the most cost-efficient solution for an upgrade. Can I get an intermediate upgrade rather than latest version? If so, what would be the version to upgrade to in order to have OSX, Panther compatibility (with stability of course). Of course the other question is how easily I would be able to convert my existing FM4.1 dbase to a…

I have a number of apps in FM6, some in FM7, just got FM9. With FM9 I got the regular version, advanced and server! Here's my question. I know FM6 files must be converted to 9. If I have FM7 files can they be used in both 7 and 9 if I don't add additional functionality specific to 9? That would mean that 9 sees 7 files as if they're 9 files, right?

I have 3 related fmp6 files that I would love to see as separate tables within one file (using fmp9). Help says that I need to convert them and then migrate them, and then never actually states how to migrate them. Surely this is easy but I'm not finding it.

Hi All, I'm new to this Forum and a beginner using FM. I created a database for organizing plasmids (the kind of DNA that can be transfected into bacterial or human cells) a while ago. Now, I'm creating a new all-in-one database for organizing everything for my work such as antibodies, cells, primers etc. I wanted to integrate the old plasmid database into my new all-in-one database. However, after I imported the old file into this new database (by importing a table), the original layout of the old file is lost although all fields are imported. How can I import the whole format of the old file? Thank you very much!! Black

Hi, I've converted my 5.5 solution that I've used for years, first to version 8 (never finished converting in 8), then to version 9. Works fast and well, except that when I shut it down and bring it back up, none of the links between my 4 files work. I can go back to the field name dialog and choose the field from a different file that's supposed to appear in that place, but the links break again when I shut down. Is this common? Any idea what might be the cause? Also, it's my understanding that it would run better if I could combine the 4 files into one file with 4 tables, if that makes sense. Is there an easy way to accomplish this without recreating the so…

Hello, can anyone help, Here at work I've just got a faster Mac, i transferred my user account from the old machine with Migration Assistant. If i open a local file everything is fine, but if i open a remote file from our FMP server it starts to load then crashes FMP If i log-on with the original account everything is fine, i deleted all the FMP prefs, keychains and re-installed FMP9, still crashes!!! I also called FMP but they don't know Anyone got any ideas? Thanks Ian

Hi there When converting my pro 6 databases, a message popped up indicating that the Customer file cannot be found. I browsed to the Customer file to re-establish the relationship or whatever was missing. I launched the app and the same message popped up when opening the Invoicing file. I checked the links and every thing checks ok but the warning message keeps popping up for the Customer file. I deleted the relationship and started from scratch. During the process, I noticed that several references exist for the Customer file. I can see Customer, Customer 2, Customer 4 and 5. I am still experiencing the warning message. Any tips to help me out on this.

Hi - I just upgraded to FMP Advanced 9. I have a solution that was set to login automatically to a default user, set in File Options. This has worked fine for some time. Since using FM9, however, it seems to ignore the Login Using setting, and insists on popping up a Login dialog, with my WIndows user name suggested. This will cause confusion for my users who should not be aware of any login at all. Does any one know why this changed and how I can restore the old behavior? Thanks, Michael

I have two Databases and I would like to make them one but retain all the layouts and scripts etc form both databases. Is there any way to do this easily. John

Hello, I have a MS server running FileMaker Server 8v4 with the clients using FM Pro 8. One of our db administrators wants FM Pro 9 on his PC. Will this cause any issues? I understand that if he modifies any existing FM8 db file with FileMaker 9 features there will be problems. What if he makes simple changes (i.e. add a new field to a table) will this create problems when the clients, using fm8, open the fm file? I think he should just use 8.5 until we migrate to v.9 What is the general consensus? Thank you in advance.

Hello everyone, I still have some fm6 databases around and I want to convert some to version 9. I was told that I need to have fm7 to translate them to version 8.5 or 9. Is that true? I haven't tried it yet. I wanted to ask here first before I do anything.

I have a file that was developed in 5.0 and only had a password. When converting to 8.0 the file asks for a User Name and Password. How do you find out the User Name. I can access it in the old 5.0 but can't find the user name.

I have recently upgraded from FM5.5 to FM9, so the multiple tables concept is new to me. I have several small databases that are used on our website. Is there a benefit to putting all of the databases into one file as separate, non-related tables? Thanks, Nick

Where I work, a particular person has had FMP thrown at them without any training and expected to make a working database that deals with patient care info. This person is a *nurse,* completely untrained in computers. As a result of certain parties believing that she must have a telepathic link to FMP instructors because hey she's a nurse, the entire database is flat. Instead of having separate tables for patient info and records, everything is just heaped together as a listing of patient care incidents. This has been going on for about 5 years. Now, I'm supposed to jump in and separate patient info from patient records. We have 9500+ records. As it stands, I get t…