So here's my dilemna/question...

I have a fairly large database-solution made up of about twenty different files. I am required to rename one of the files (a contact list from which a lot of the other files pull info off of) to something else... will this mess up all my relationships that i've defined in all my other files? I think the answer is yes. Is there any way that I can change the name of this file and have that change "recognized" in every other file in the database where this particular file is used? Some sort of utility that'll take care of everything for me, perhaps?

I'd appreciate some info on this subject. I really DON'T want to have to go into each, individual file and have to make sure the relationships and fields that are associated with that file are okay.

Regards,

AeroGuy

You need the Filemaker Developer Edition and its Developer Tool to change the name of files without

thanks a bunch, ma man.

~me

OK, it turns out I have a copy of developer, but I've never yet gone to work with the developer tool. Using FMPD (6.0), how do I tweak a file name and have the change "register" through all related files in the solution? (Apologies that I haven't done the RTFM thing; I've lost track of my FM )

The Developer Tool is not very complicated. You drag or otherwise add the files (all the related files, usually the whole solution) to its window (anywhere in its window, any files; it picks out only the .fp5 ones).

Then just double-click the file in the list. A little window pops up to rename it. Then, when you're done, click the Continue button (don't remember the exact name).

It creates a new folder, inside the current folder. Then it makes renamed copies of all the files into that folder. When it's done (and it's pretty fast), you can move the folder out anywhere (and rename it; but not the files).

The one drawback is that if you have a nested folders, with some files inside other specially named and placed folders, you have to recreate that structure and put the files back where they belong in it BEFORE opening them. In other words, it does not recreate all your folders for you; it just puts all the files in 1 folder, flattening your structure. At least that's my experience.

There's more to the Options (stripping out developer access), Kiosk mode, making a stand-alone application.

But renaming is simple, and the others are not much more complex.

Be wary on Mac OS X. I've heard that it works now under Panther (?), but earlier versions could crash and burn, especially if you used dragging.

Thanks, Fenton! I hadn't had time to try it until last night. With over a dozen interwoven files, anything but the Developer Tool's process would have been a nightmare.