I spent some big bucks on FMP5 Developer. Now I've got two of my own PCs that I use networked and I wanted to share a database for my own personal use. When I installed FMP5 on each machine and then tried to open the second machines software while the first was runnign it gives me an error message that I can't do that with the licenses!

Is there a way around this. I am the one user that is licensed and I am the only one using it. I thought most licenses you could put the software on more than one machine as long as you were the only user. Is it tue that in the case of FMP5 they are more like "machine" licenses instead of user licenses?

Is there any way around this. I'd go back to FMP4 if it didn't mean building the exisiting solution from the ground up since it's not backwards compatible.

I'm really bummed. Thanks in advacne for any sugestions.

With FM versions greater than FM 3 (it doesn't check), you must have one licensed copy of FM per machine. FM checks this across the network and won't let the second copy open without a valid unique license or a site license. FM Developer in and of itself is not a site license, just a developer tool. Runtime solutions created with FM Developer are not networkable.

Most software licenses that allow two copies to be installed don't permit simultaneous use of the two copies. FM will also allow multiple installations, but not simultaneous networked use. If you get the error message, you are trying to use two copies of one license, which is not permitted by the license agreement.

I don't know of a workaround beyond obtaining a second license or disconnecting the network.

-bd

I appreciate that. I just bought a couple more licenses on ebay...

Geez I started to add it up and I've bought FileMaker five times now not including the two more i just bought on ebay

I bought 2 copies of v3 (I thought I had to have a separate one for Mac and Win - daaah), and one version v4, and then ran out and bought version 5 the day it came out, then I bought the developer version just recently... and then the two more on ebay today. Hey, that's 7!! When do I start to get stock options?

I had previously used v4 on multiple networked machines without a problem. I do believe that the v4 was the first one to actually require the install code though.

If you have older versions, you should be able to purchase upgrades instead of full versions. It usually saves about half the cost over retail purchase. -bd

Thanks, I found some on Ebay for $140, they are full educational versions which is legit becasue I work at a teaching hospital.

I hope i didn't get ripped off and coudl have gotten the upgrade for less... My second bussiness is starting to cost me a fortune!

I did, that gave me two. I needed just one more though (one in my bussiness office, another in my therapy office - I'm a shrink- and a third connected at my home. I considered doing the web publishing but by the time I would learn that, I'd be retired or they'd have come out with version 12.

Here is a secret. FileMaker checks for duplicate installer codes at launch. Launch all of your registered copies. On the computer with the duplicate installer code, disconnect from the network, launch FileMaker, then reconnect to the network.

I do not advocate this. Honor the license agreements and pay your bucks and don't complain about it. Pirating software is stealing.

You should have also received a full version of 5 with your Developer Edition.

Interesting...... pretty sneaky, but it would be a good way to test things before dropping the cash. This was for my own personal office use too... no witnesses!

My FM sales rep has profitted dearly form my bigger clients in the past. My convicing several larger companies HealthMidwest, Menninger, Texaco) to implement my FM solutions has sold over 600 licenses that I've facilitated the purchase of (just not copies for me!) You'd think I'd get some token of thanks or maybe a few licenses for my own use... well I guess dad was right about the no free lunch thing.

If you are an FSA member, you can buy one copy (besides the disks you receive with membership) of each FM application at a reduced rate. -bd