Help with Cross Platform Runtime Solution

[AAHH]

Hi all - I am an admitted amateur at this. I have been writing an FMP database in my "spare" time. I am now looking to make it a runtime application for both OSX and Windows.

Currently I am using FM Developer 5.5 (developing in "spare" time = LONG time!!) on a Mac using OS 10.3. I was under the impression that I could use FM Developer (OSX) to write and distribute to both platforms. Presto Magic-O!! But I am finding that it is not very magical for me.

Using the Developer Tool (and selecting "Change filenames for Windows Compatibility"), my runtime works fine on the Mac. But I cannot get it to run on a PC. When I try it on the PC, Windows does not know what to do and asks what application I want to run for the file. I have read and re-read the Developer's Guide and am getting nowhere fast!! I am lost and frustrated and would appreciate any guidance.

I read where I should bind it on a Mac and bind it on a PC. Does that mean I need to go out and buy the PC version of FM Developer?? Or are there additional files specific for the PC that I need to copy to the Solution folder? What exactly does binding mean? To me (the novice), binding means running my FMP database through the Developer Tool. Does the PC runtime solution need to be placed (copied) into a certain root directory if it is on a CD for it to run?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!! Best regards

[Oldfogey]

My copy of Developer V5.5 has both Mac and Windoze versions on the CD. So, no, you don't have to buy anything else.

[Mike D.]

In order for the runtime to run on a PC, you need to create the runtime solution on a PC. You would have to have FM Developer installed on the PC in order to create the runtime version of your solution.

As Oldfogey says, the Developer CD contains both the Mac and PC files you need to install Developer on the PC.

HTH, Mike

[Aragorn]

Can I do the reverse? Meaning if I have the PC version can I create runtimes for the Mac on a PC?

Thx

[jcd1]

I am a Mac person (19 yrs). That said, I use a windows machine and a mac to create runtime solutions. I network the two (and other machines) together so I can pass FM files. I then use a 2 port KVM switch (iogear) so I can use the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

I build in mac, move the database over to windows and go through every single item (fields, scripts, fonts, layouts, relationships etc.) one by one and re-build on the windows side. I originally started building in windows and moving to mac and while that was the best for conversion, working in windows is like riding a 10 year old donkey when you have a 2 year old throughbread chomping at the bit in the next stall.

Filemaker pro developer disk has both windows and mac versions on it. It has to be installed and run completely separately and you have to have 2 complete and separate versions available for your users.

That's some of my experiences.

[AAHH]

Thanks everyone.

[RDecker]

> Filemaker pro developer disk has both windows and mac versions on it

Just to be sure I understand this. If I were to buy the new FM Developer v. 7, I would get a CD with complete developer copies for both Windows and Mac?

I'm still using an older copy of FM, and am contemplating buying v. 7; if I can get both Windows and Mac with the Developer edition, I'll probably do that. I haven't done any outside development work in FM for quite some time, and don't anticipate a lot now (I'm a college prof, so these would be "in house" projects for private use by others in the department--the new Unicode capabilities are what's drawing me back in).

Thanks,

decker

[Mike D.]

You don't need FM Developer to get the Mac & PC versions on the same CD. The FileMaker CD contains both versions on it. If you put the CD in a Mac, you see the installation for a Mac. If you put it into a PC, you see the installation for a PC.

Mike