Upgrade Opinions Needed!

[clz]

We are currently using FileMaker to track our production information and time/materials. We are using Version 6 and hosting it in a workgroup type fashion. I have been proposing moving to version 7 and we were planning to do so in the next week or two. Then on Monday I hear that version 8 has been released. It looks like a great upgrade so we will be going from version 6 to version 8.

My proposal for moving to 7 included purchasing a copy of Developer, Advanced Server to move away from the workgroup type hosting and upgrades to 7 for all workstations. I am not sure how to proceed now since the Server edn. hasn't been released yet. Can I use FMP 8 and host it in a workgroup fashion again until the Server edn. is released? I really need to get the production database upgraded and running soon because of a big project coming through soon.

Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed? What problems could I expect?

Thanks!

Cindy

[stanley]

Cindy:

You are going to have to convert and test your system anyway, so there is no rush on getting FileMaker Server (are you sure you need FMSA?) - if I were in your shoes, I would get a single copy of FileMaker 8 Advanced to use as a development platform. Duplicate your entire system and then do a test conversion as a dry run. You may find a number of things which need to be dealt with, and you'll need to document all of this for your actual conversion.

If you are not going to use any of the advanced features of 8, you can host on Server 7, but I would suggest getting client versions of 8 anyway, to be one step ahead of the game, especially as it might make it cheaper next time you upgrade, to FM 9 or 10.

To answer you directly, you could indeed host in 8 the same way until Server 8 comes out.

-Stanley