I wasn't sure where to post this, so I apologise if it is in the wrong forum, and if so, could a moderator please move it to the correct place.

I have a very old database in Filemaker 1. I cannot find my copy of Filemaker 1. I now own a newer version of FileMaker, but cannot open the .fm files which were created with FileMaker 1. Does anyone know a way I can convert these files to a newer version? Is there a free solution to this problem?

As far as I know it is only FileMaker 1 and 2 which will read Filemaker 1 files and convert them. I now only have the newer version of Filemaker, so I am stuck in converting the files. Is there any free conversion software available? Where can I get it?

FileMaker 1? Wow!

I don't know, import into your new database, maybe?

Is it written on a stone tablet or a punchcard or something???

Well, usually with conversions you can open the old version, in the new program. For example FM3 can open filemaker 2 files. I think that is the way it has always been done, going back one version, but I can't seem to get anything to open Filemaker 1 files.

"Is it written on a stone tablet or a punchcard or something???"

Pretty much Its old, but it works..well..worked. So really what I was looking at doing is converting the database to a new one in the new FileMaker, but I can't do that until I convert the filemaker one file .fm to filemaker pro 3 format, or later preferably.

I couldn't find anything on the filemaker conversions on the FileMaker site, so I'm kinda stuck.

You will have to do the conversion in at least 2 steps. Find a copy of FM 2 to open and convert the file to version 2 format, and then use FM 3 to convert that, and then FM 5.x or 6 to bring it up to the latest version. I have all the old versions going back to Filemaker IV, so I could convert it for you if you want.

Hi Bob,

Have you tried opening FM II lately? The last time I tried to open FM II on my Mac using OS 9.x it crashed.

Let me know how it works out

Lee

Lee, I still have an old Powerbook 165c OS7 which will probably open FM IV. I don't know if I have anything older than FM IV. I know that I can run FM pro 1.0 and 2.0 on my older PowerMac running OS8.6. They aren't super-stable but will run well enough to convert older files.

Hi Bob,

I forgot about my Duo 230. I'll have to try that one next time. I believe it's frozen in time with 7.6 on if I remember correctly.

Lee

Haha. Frozen in time like Han Solo.

Hopefully it won't burn up when you try to start it.

Ken

I have a Macintosh II 8/40 at home that still works. It's amazing how capable it is, just a lot, lot slower.

BTW I believe Lex was refering to "FileMaker 1" not "FileMaker Pro 1" which I believe was quite a few generations later. You might need a Mac Plus running System 6 for FileMaker.

I believe that "FileMaker II" and the other programs with "II" designation were all updates to cope with the (then) newfangled 68020 processor of the Mac II. A *lot* of software broke from the new cpu cache, larger screen and colour capability. That was circa 1987. That means my old Mac II can legally get a drivers license now!

That is a trip down memory lane. I remember FileMaker IV. In fact the solution that we ran our diecutting firms for 15 years on started out with FM IV. Now in a much more robust nature the solution is still going strong, that app turned me on to computers.

Vaughan, I don't ever remember a FileMaker I (that's roman numeral one). I think the first commercial release was FileMaker II.

Bob -- I'll take your word for it! My first experience was FMP 2.0 whick makes me a young-un.

And the fact that they used Roman numerals should be an indication of just how old this software is.

I have MacOS 7.6.1 running in emulation on my PC. I bet it will outrun any Macintosh II 8/40 or Duo

Maybe somewhere on some very old CD I will find the FM 1 and FM2. Shall I start digging really deep?

Hi Lex,

I have a copy of FMv2.1 which still runs fine on current operating systems (it's even rock solid in 10.2.8 classic on our G5 development machine!).

If you'd like to email the file to me, I'll see if v2.1 will open and convert it for you.

Thanks for all the replies. I should've been more sepcific. It was made in Filemaker Pro I on a mac. The file extension is still .fm for filemaker Pro 1, rather than the more recent trend to go for .fpx

I took the disks, as the mac broke, and converted the disks to pc format so that I could read them. I tried to open in Filemaker Pro 3 on my PC, but it told me to get lost. One would assume the reason for this is that Filemaker Pro 3 for PC was released 95/96 I believe, whereas Filemaker Pro 1 for Mac was released a long time before this. I did actually solve this problem though .One of my friends has a mac, with the MAC version of FMP 3 on. The Mac version of FMP3 which was released before the PC version converts FMP1 files to FMP3 files. SO I converted them striaght to FMP3, and then put them back to PC, and converted the FP3's to work in my current FileMaker Pro 5.5

Also, a nice piece of ancient history, I found Filemaker Pro 1 disks for the Mac.

Thanks very much for all your replies. Shame it was made harder by lack of pre-version conversion for newer releases, but eventually, I got it all working. Thanks

Hi,

That explains a lot. Version 1 was not cross-platform, so the file format required some radical re-engineering in the move to v2.0 (the first x-plat version of FM). That is why conversion of pre v2 files can only take place on a Mac - and is also why pre v2 files must first be converted to v2 or v3 before they can be migrated down the line to later versions.

Anyway , glad to hear you got your problem solved!

So who needs us?

HPO Soft has published the FileMaker version history (with more details)

HPO Soft FileMaker History

Apr 1985------- FileMaker, v1.0 ------------------Forethought Inc.

Oct 1986 -------FileMaker Plus, v2.1 -------------Nashoba Systems

Jun 1988 -------FileMaker 4, v 4 -----------------Nashoba Systems

Aug 1988 -------FileMaker II, v 1.0 --------------Claris Corporation

Oct 1990 -------FileMaker Pro 1.0v1---------------Claris Corporation

Sep 1992 -------FileMaker Pro 2.0v1---------------Claris Corporation

Dec 1995 -------FileMaker Pro 3.0v1---------------Claris Corporation

Sep 1997 -------FileMaker Pro 4.0v1---------------Claris Corporation

Sep 1999 -------FileMaker Pro 5.0v1---------------FileMaker, Inc.

200? -------FileMaker Pro 6.0v1---------------FileMaker, Inc.

2004 -------FileMaker Pro 7.0v1---------------FileMaker, Inc.

So I am with this FM stuff 13 long years Wow.