Proposing to Management

[RPCia]

My company is running FMP 6 with 5.5 server, I have been working on a proposal for a few months now to buy a new server and go to 7. Now that 8 came out I tried to tack on 8 to my proposal but management is saying they would rather work 1 version behind the latest.

The fear is that 8 will not be stable and require updates that could hinder productivity. I really feel if we are going to upgrade then 8 is our best option. It has many of the features built in that they have been asking me to include in the new/old system.

Can anyone help me make an argument?

I have already showed them how we would save money by doing it now, and how the new features are what they have been asking for and the transition from 6 to 8 would be easier than from 6 to 7 since FMI now allows the import of files to tables. Any more ideas?

[Per Lind]

One word is enough - Faster!

FM7 is so slow so you can take a cup of coffee between each move - FM 8 is fast. Its work even faster than FM5.

-Per

[comment]

The latest version of 7 is 7.0v3 - that is 3 minor bug fixes, and that's it. With version 8 out, I think it is safe to assume there will be no more fixes for 7. Version 8 IS the fixed version 7.

The issue may be moot, since by the time you make a decision, you may not be able to purchase version 7 (I am not sure you can even now).

[RPCia]

We have had 7 since it first came out, it is a small company (20 users) I have only been working here since December and they keep putting off the upgrade because they did not want to put the money into getting an upgraded server. They also did not feel comfortable with their old it person doing this big of a project.

I think the only thing I might not be able to purchase is 7 developer, which would be a shame.

[RPCia]

The latest version of 7 is 7.0v3 - that is 3 minor bug fixes, and that's it. With version 8 out, I think it is safe to assume there will be no more fixes for 7. Version 8 IS the fixed version 7.

The issue may be moot, since by the time you make a decision, you may not be able to purchase version 7 (I am not sure you can even now).

I tried to explain that to them as well but they had a bad experience with an older version I think it was 4 or 5, oh well I am still just happy to finally be moving to 7!

[CobaltSky]

All the indications are that 8 will prove to be more stable than 7. Certainly some idiosyncratic issues which arose in 7 would seem to have been addressed in 8. So perhaps the idea that staying one version behind will offer greater stability is in this instance not valid.

FM7 is so slow so you can take a cup of coffee between each move

I'm afraid I can't agree with that. With the exception of a couple of specific issues which must be worked around (eg the memory management issue associated with drop-down lists when multiple windows are open) I have found 7 to be quite fast - on average faster than 6. Granted, to take advantage of its speed, the solution must often be configured differently than for 6 - ie what worked 'well enough' in 6 does not always produce a satisfying result in 7.

However there is no argument that the engineers have managed to optimize 8 for improved performance. So yes, 8 is faster and even the interface is noticeably more responsive.

I will say, though, that the *most* significant improvements will come from exploiting some of the new features in 8 (eg variables) which are radically more efficient than their closest equivalents in earlier versions. :

[Bailey Kessing]

There are 2 major bugs in 7.v3 that are finally fixed in 8:

• Sort records, export from a related table, only the first record of related table exports…it broke in 7 FINALLY fixed in 8!!

• Disappearing windows in the “Windows” menu on (Windows OS only) in 7 fixed in 8

If it makes them feel better, tell them that 8 is really just 7.5. I have found NO bugs so far in 8…a big relief after the uncharacteristic screw ups in 7. Also, there are some great new features for users and developers in 8.

[RPCia]

Thanks everyone for your help, I will talk to them again and post an update, don't expect anything to soon though, making decsions takes time around here

[Lord HellFire]

One more feature, which may help convince them:

PDF generation is simple and easy.

I don't know if you need to generate PDF's from any of your databases, but that's a feature I've been missing since day one. FINALLY the 8 incorporates this.

I could make it print PDF's in v7, but I could not set any specific settings and had to supply filename myself for each record and click PRINT and stuff, since all I could do was call the PRINT dialog with the scripts.

Now all I have to do is click a button and it prints PDF's for all the paychecks of the employees. Simple and timesaving.

With a little more scripting, I could probably also make it email the paychecks aswell.

Also valuelists pop up instantly (annoyed me incessantly in 6 and 7 on the PC)and the calendar feature is very nice. The $ and $$variables, which enable scripts to return values is very nice.

I still have a shitload of nifty features I'd like to have included in the next release, but the 8 version certainly silenced many angry voices in me : (still some left, but many cried out in happiness and were then silent)

It'd be a waste of good money to upgrade to 7 and then later upgrade to 8, when 8 has 90% of the features you need and 7 only has 50%... why not just wait for version 15 then?

- Lord HellFire

Edited September 14, 2005 by Guest

[RPCia]

See there in lies the problem, convincing them its good for the company is where I am having the most problems, the majority of my arguments show how it will be better for me as a developer, keep in mind they don't see any reason to by fmp developer edition (the question I get is what benefit will we get out of it?)

I can generate pdf's in 6 by the method lord Hellfire describes and the other new user features that 8 offers autofill, tabs are things that would be nice but since they have never experienced an interface with these features its like ehh well get by with out them.

It sounds like it will be about a year until we move to 8, in which case 9 may be out!

[xochi]

I've just about completed transition of a major FM5/6 database to FM7. FM7 is so superior to FM6 that I can't imagine wanting to stay in FM5/6 for any reason.

As an example, in FM6 there were operations (large monthly reports) that were so slow running via FM Server that I had to shut down the server and run them on the file locally. In FM7 I can now run these reports from the server while other people are using the database.

If you value your sanity, switch to FM7 Developer or FM8 Advanced.

[RPCia]

my sanity has nothing to do with it :

The company simply has never had a real IT staff they either hired a college student or tried to do the work themselves, now I am spending all my time redoing/fixing desing flaws in the current files. I have been telling them since I started last December that I feel my time would be better spent migrating to 7. But the powers that be disagree so I get to spend my hours fixing and tweaking the curren system. Now that I finally got them to purchase a new server to host 7, 8 comes along and I am trying to convince them to purchase 8 now.

Because it will make the developemt easier and provide more features.

[xochi]

I can see the reluctance to go to FM8 right now, largely untested by the general public and could contain bugs. However, I think that in a few weeks this will no longer be the case -- people will have a good feel for whether FM8 is more or less stable than FM7.

However, the question of FM7 vs. FM5/6 is settled. FM7 is simply better, and if you can spare the development time to upgrade, it will save money in the long run. If your management is penny-wise pound foolish, they may not agree. You then have to decide whether you wish to suffer with those limitations. It's not fun working for or with people who don't understand basic time/money tradeoffs...