Reasons to upgrade?

[Laser Saver]

Hi all. First post here.

Have been an avid FM (and Mac) user since around 1990. We currently have our company running on a very simple 3 file system (invoices, customers, parts catalog) using FM3 or FM4. We have about 10 computers networked using these files. Most computers are G3's or G4's running OS9. Accounting is handled with MYOB and Inventory is (sometimes) handled in Excel with no direct link to FM.

As we upgrade computers (and OS's), the question of upgrading FM comes to the forefront. I'm fighting the "upgraditis" which usually plagues me since I see no need to upgrade.

I understand, just barely, the relational aspect of the new versions. I'd love to have an integrated inventory system but after trying a couple things myself, I find it too slow to deal with the amount of p/n's and invoices we have. We don't really have a need for a web integrated system. But as with all things, it's a case of I don't know what I don't know.

I wondered for the ones who have upgraded to newer versions from FM3 or FM4, what did you find were the benefits.

Thanks in advance and happy holidays.

Mike

[Himitsu]

I started designing my application from FMP4 but I upgraded to 5.5 then 6. My app worked fine. Then I went to 7, since FMP7 is a complete rebuild in many areas, it took some time to get some of the kinks worked out. But FMP7 does convert the old scripts to an almost equal and all of mine where still working. There is a big difference from pre-FMP7 to FMP7! FMP7 is a lot faster. Runs smoother and performs great over networks. So if your company is running it over a LAN, with one being the host, you will see a great improvement in speed and adding records. When I did it, it was when we were moving our system to a server (located 5,000 miles away) and I ran Server5 and it was a nightmare. Then I got 7! Just give the 30 trial a shot. Download it, copy your files and make a test dir. The files will have to be converted but FMP7 will do it. You will have to open each file. I am pretty sure you will like the results. I used to hate upgrades, first because of cost. I ran a ton of programs in my company, from Illustrator, photoshop, to DVD software and then FM. So you can just imagine how much we spend on upgrades every year. But, overall, when our staff works better, we become more productive. Most of the new upgrades include benifits that help. Give it a try!

[transpower]

FileMaker is now vastly more powerful than it was in version 3. There are many more script steps and functions and there is a whole new relationship model. Developer has the capability to create custom functions. Etc., etc.

[johnkettle]

FM7 has may improvements over previous versions but speed is not one of them, at least on a mac. For instance page up or page down on a 1.25 ghz Imac takes over two seconds compared to very snappy on a 2 ghz windows machine. Some scripts are over 50 times faster on a windows machine.

It is a shame since there are not many reasonable choices for dbase software on a mac. O well, one more nail in the coffin.