Straddling Versions

[LaRetta]

We have FM7 and FM7 Server Advanced. Since we are moving to vs. 8, we purchased 3 additional clients in vs. 8 (because of hiring new people) and I didn't want to purchase 7 then have to upgrade them. We also use SecureFM with Menu Magic for lockdown and removal of menus, event triggers, etc. But SecureFM for 8 isn't out and I was told simply that it would be 'available soon.' And SecureFM for 7 doesn't run on 8! Yes, I should have tested it but I didn't think of it.

We are therefore short on licensed copies until SecureFM for 8 is available and we now have 3 new Sales Reps sitting with nothing to do! This is very, very bad. I thought planning ahead for our move to 8 by purchasing 8 clients was wise. I wish I could borrow 3 copies of vs. 7 from someone until SecureFM is available. I would loan them 8 in its place!!!

If I remove SecureFM from my solution, the whole darned thing will break (windowing, security, etc). Does anyone have ideas for me? Am I the only one that is (or has been) in this position? I planned to use the 8 clients without any 8 features (running our 7 solution) until fully converted. Now I'm straddling and have nowhere to go. Help!

LaRetta

[SteveB]

No, you're not the only one. I use Dacon's Menu Control, and it won't work in version 8 either. I wrote to them as well as New Millenium and neither one could tell me when a version 8 plugin would be available.

Steve

[LaRetta]

I didn't plan for this ...

Our solution uses many plug-ins and I realize now how extremely vulnerable we are. The word UPGRADE and planning ahead has taken on new meaning.

Well we didn't expect to grow 300% in one year, either.

Thanks, Steve.

L

[SteveB]

According to Dacons, the menu controls are perhaps the most difficult of all the plugins to write and get to run correctly. I've evem tried to get them to consider me as a better test site, but got no positive response. Hopefully they'll release a new version shortly.

Steve

[SteveB]

LaRetta:

From the New Millenium web site:

SecureFM with MenuMagic for FileMaker Pro 8 - Coming Soon!

SecureFM 7 is not compatible with FileMaker 8, but SecureFM for FileMaker 8 will be available soon. The initial release of SecureFM with MenuMagic 8 will be fully compatible with FM Pro 8, but only partially compatible with FMP Advanced 8 and FMP Runtime 8. A future free upgrade will provide full compatibility with FMPA and FMPR.

Steve

Edited September 24, 2005 by Guest

[LaRetta]

... but only partially compatible with FMP Advanced 8

Wonderful.

I'm not complaining, mind you ... I know what it's like to put a solution out before it's ready. But suddenly vs. 7 is in (my) high demand. Our timeline for moving to 8 is no longer in our control. What is the purpose of moving to 8 if I can't even use Advanced 8 (Developer)? Hopefully the plug-in manufacturers recognize our push. FM7 will only be available through FileMaker until December 30th! Something must pop somewhere ...

I wish we could be given something more specific than 'coming soon' or 'available soon.' Soon compared to what? It sounds like they're rushing to at least get us moved to 8 (by providing partial solution) but unless I can use Developer, it's moot. Our solution will be full of custom functions I won't even be able to change (as well as other issues)? Yikes!!

LaRetta

[SteveB]

My bet is that FMI intentionally kept the menu plugin developers in the dark because it was developing its own version. And what we don't know is how different the menu plugins will be versus the prior versions.

Steve

[LaRetta]

Many have complained that FMI should come out with plug-in features. And now in doing so, those using plug-ins are faced with additional problems, ie, how to mesh the two. Our solution REMOVES the menu bar and my screen/windowing sizes take advantage of that space. The ability to revert to FM native is out of the question without a total rewrite.

For goodness sakes, I couldn't even use HotKeys with full menu removal on SecureFM (on Windows). I spent days before finally figuring out (with New Millenium's help) that it just wouldn't work with 7. And now, attempting to move to 8 AND implementing SecureFM upgrade, what will arise?

I admit that the 'panic' part of me wants to rewrite the entire solution - only using FM native everything ... never taking advantage of 'undocumented features' and never using plug-ins ... nothing. Nada. Upgrading FM versions alone is enough to handle without scrambling plug-ins (and potential bugs between the two) into the mix.

I have great respect for New Millenium. I can only hope they (and other plug-in manufacturers) recognize the daunting task on our end and provide solutions very soon. Otherwise, I might be inclined to

L

[LaRetta]

My bet is that FMI intentionally kept the menu plugin developers in the dark because it was developing its own version.

Plug-in manufacturers may have been kept in the dark but New Millennium made up for it in record time! SecureFM w/Menu Magic for 8 is out and there is simply no comparison. Check out the chart - here .

I may feel uneasy when upgrades happen (concerned whether plug-in manufacturers will keep up and do it right), but New Millennium certainly has pulled it off beautifully. It's been a joy playing with it! I can finally move us to vs. 8 although I'll need to wait to implement the new 8 features until we're totally converted.

LaRetta

[SteveB]

I looked at Secure FM, and have had discussions with them about what the plugin does. I had v5 before they added Menus, and had always assumed that Dacons Menu Control was similar in terms of functionality. Well, they are 2 very different products. Dacons let me build entire menu bars and sub-menus with valuelists, while Secure FM only lets you modify FM's existing default menus. Not knowing the internals of either product, I would speculate that Dacons is more complex.

For my purposes, Dacons is the only way to go. I'm not limited by the number of menu categories, what's on them, which file they appear in, etc. If you need total flexibilty in menu design, Dacons wins.

Steve

Edited October 15, 2005 by Guest