Upgrade to FMSP 6 or not?

[José Noulez de Miguel]

I am running Filemaker Pro 16 and I use FMSP 4.6.6b1

Should I upgrade to Filemaker 17?

And, is it easy to import all of my data (records) from FMSP 4.6.6b1 into FMSP 6?

For the time being everything is working fine on FMSP 4.6.6b1. I also had some changes made for me on FMSP 4.6.6b1

[Jonathan Hogle]

Hi José,

 

I understand that you have interest in importing to a new FM Starting Point.  There are a couple things to consider.  There is NO easy upgrade process for a FileMaker database.  An easy upgrade capability doesn’t yet exist as a feature of the FileMaker platform.  

 

FileMaker Inc. is aware of this issue and would like to address it in future releases (not sure when though).  

 

***As a totally separate issue ***

 

The FileMaker Program on your computer is easy to upgrade, for example from FileMaker 16 to 18.  However, the FileMaker databases themselves take some work.

 

We have a video that covers a conversation on this topic 

 

Should I upgrade my copy of FM Starting Point: 

 

If upgrading is something you want to do you can do it yourself or hire someone to help you. 

If you want to do it yourself, you have a couple of options.

 

If you are using FileMaker 17 or newer, you can use the Data Migration Tool. Through the Data Migration Tool, you will be able to copy table data as well as user accounts, custom value lists, and serial numbers. The Data Migration Tool maps all of this automatically.

What it does not do is migrate any layouts, scripts, fields, or tables. So keep in mind that you will need to recreate any custom layouts, scripts, fields, or tables in your new copy of FMSP.

 

We have a series of videos (#0265, #2405, and #2406) that cover how to use the Data Migration Tool in our FileMaker Pro 18 Video Course.

There is also an option available to you that is built into FMSP.

 

We have an instructional video that covers it. (Video #0713) That video is part of our FileMaker Pro Video course, available here.

https://fmtraining.tv/fmpro18.php

 

This video discusses the use of a built in script within FMSP, that helps facilitate the upgrade. This script will ONLY move the data from one version of FMSP to another. If you have made layout or script design changes to your original copy of FM Starting Point then there is no upgrade process that will bring over these changes that you have previously made. 

 

To be clear, the automated upgrade script will only take your data from an old version of FM Starting Point and import into a new version of FMSP, it will not move any design changes within the database. 

 

If you have made no customizations to the database, in terms of adding new field definitions, customizing the look and feel of a layout, editing or adding scripts, then this will not be problem for you. 

 

You can access the upgrade script in the preference screen under the 'Import' tab. Please follow the import steps provided next to the import button. 

 

Thanks,

Jonathan Hogle