Lost images on FM 8 import from FM 6 Database

[sbarich]

Hello,

I am glad I found this forum and I hope a FM genius can help me solve this problem:

I recently upgraded from FM 6 to FM 8. I had to upgrade numurous databases as expected, but unfortunately, in the update from FM6 to FM8, one database that had images in a custom field lost almost have of the images! The oddest part is that some images can through, and some not. Now, as far as I can tell, this issue is because the images were either embedded or linked, and in the update/conversion, the linking or embedded-ness of the images did not transfer. However, I cannot tell whether an image is linked or embedded to beging with! Although I updated the databases, I did not relocate the database (it is still in the same place as the folder containging the images in question, and has the same name, albeit with a new ".fp7" extension added).

Am I on the right track here? Does anyone have any suggestions for either re-importing the database or how to solve the missing images? Obviously, I could spent about a week re-adding the images were necessary, but that kinda stinks. And, if I am left to have to manually solve the missing images by re-adding them, should I be linking them or embedding them in the future?

Thank you in advance,

S.Barich

[Fenton]

I just tried this, converting from 6 to 8.5, and the images all came through, whether they were embedded or referenced (the file was, as yours, in the same relative location). So I'm a bit puzzled. Anyway, you can at least see if they are embedded. Try a calculation field, number result, Length ( container field ). Referenced images have no length. Also try, text result, GetAsText ( container field ). This will show either the file name, if embedded, or several lines if referenced, image dimensions, full path, relative path. If the path is still correct, I would think that the image would show. As I said, it's puzzling. Did you actually "convert" the file(s), or did you do some export/import via a text file?

[sbarich]

Hello,

I converted the file (actually, after installing FM8 and copying the data files from an OS 9 machine to a OS X installation of FM8, I just double clicked on the file, and FM8 requested to convert the file, which I did).

Could it be that I need to "prepare" the original database first?

I will try and research whether the missing images are either of the embedded or linked type...that will at least narrow down the problem.

Best,

Steve

[sbarich]

Hello,

I couldn't try the two tasks you mentioned because I couldn't figure it out (I truthfully don't know much about Filemaker and database management...I'm a nuts and bolts IT guy...but I probably should).

However, I tried opening the FM 6.0v4 database on the original Mac OS 9 database and all the images loaded fine, then opened that same database (both by copying the database directly and by accessing the database on the OS 9 machine directly over the intranet) on a Mac with OS X and FM 6.0v4 for OS X and the images didn't all load!! So, if I am not mistaken, there must be a problem with using the OS 9 based database on OS 10, or it is a problem with OS X having more intense user permissions than OS 9.

Could it be just a pathway/linking issue, or has anyone ever experienced issues from upgrading OS 9 to OS X databases?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[Wasatch2]

Could the problem be related to one I posted a week ago, and for which no-one has yet suggested a solution?

Images in a FM6 Developer database were all located by relative file paths built in on an older machine. They all viewed correctly on the original machine and on an iMac with Power PC processor. They would NOT show on a new Mac with an Intel processor. All machines were running OSX 10.4 Tiger. Everything was in exactly the same relative arrangement of folders (the same CD was used to load them). Everything else in the database ran normally.

Does the Intel processor need to have absolute file paths?