Transferring files between Mac and Windows

[John Chamberlain]

I am building a data base for a local Hospice Services provider (as a volunteer). I have been able to design on my Mac, and transfer the files to my laptop PC without any problems. However, when I tried to load the files onto one of their office PCs, I found that some of the layouts had "rearranged" themselves.

Specifically, on a layout the graphic elements (a bunch of check boxes on a form), and all of the fields were offset about half an inch towards the top of the page. I also found that the colors of variousl elements were much darker than the ones on my Mac (or on my laptop). I know I could use merge fields to keep those in their places, but why do the graphics move?

Can anyone give me a clue here?

Thanks,

John

[falkaholic]

There moving around might be due to different fonts. If you used fonts that don't exsist on both platforms you can run into problems.

As for the colours, Windows and Mac use a different colour table. To aviod this, go into FM's Application Prefs and in the layout tab, choose the 88 colour subset. Those 88 colours on ones that both platforms have in common.

[Steve T.]

Hi, John! (Ooops! --didn't realize I am a month late w/this reply... I hope it helps someone else) I agree w/falkaholic and that it's probably your fonts. Even the same fonts are not always the same fonts when you switch platforms. Selected printer type can also affect the available area for your layouts.

I recently transferred a .fp5 file from Mac to Windows XP and had to do those same little refinements although my layout differences were less dramatic.

Macs and Windows use different GAMMA settings. Macs are lighter and Windows are darker. On your mac, you can save a re-calibrated setting to simulate a Windows screen. From OS9, CONTROL PANELS > MONTIORS > COLORS > CALIBRATE. From OS X, SYSTEM PREFERENCES > DISPLAYS > COLOR > CALIBRATE.

You'll get to play around and see the effects of different settings, including white points. It's cool (pun)!

You may want to create an in-between gamma selection if your solution will be used by both extensively. If you have a closed audience using 1 platform, you can be more specific if you want (just remember people switch platforms and add new machines all the time so it's better to be safe).

Hope this helps!

(hmm.. having trouble editing this... keeps adding extra CR's)