Changing a database name

[longncsu]

I know this question has been answered before but how do you change a database name with multipule relationships and using FM Server 5.0?

[Kurt Knippel]

There are 2 ways.

You manually change the name of the file. Then go through all your other files and repoint all references to the old file name to the new file name.

Or

You buy the Developer Edition, which includes a function to rename a file, which will then repoint all occurances of that file in a given solution or set of files.

Neither solution involves FM Server.

[fbrindle]

When you say all references, do you mean scripts as well as relationships? - If yes, is there a script I could write to do this?

I can not afford developer.

Thanks :0)

[Anatoli]

I think FMI should sell this tool as separate product. Plenty of people don't need full developer and will happily pay 49 or even 99 bucks for it.

[kennedy]

Anatoli, I agree. Actually, that I think should be just built-in behavior.

Imagine if changing the name of a field didn't "redirect" all the references to it. I understand why FMI implemented the one but not the other... but I don't think that excuses it.

A cheap alternative is to pick up the excellent Analyzer tool, SoftDoc, that Bob Weaver posted to the Sample Files forum... it won't fix them all automatically, but it can help you find them all so that you don't miss any... which is really the hardest part of it all.

fbrindle, Perhaps with that as a foundation, you can throw together a script that will run through the SoftDoc results and help automate the change... though I think FMI didn't provide adequate API to completely automate it.

I was hoping to see a lot of the FM Forum community pick up Bob's tool and help continue its progression... its a great foundation... with a strong user community, I think it could become a great tool.

Brian

[Leb i Sol]

FM people are 'smart'= %$%^$@##@!

...why sell a cow at one time when u can be selling milk (plugins) for years to come.

[fbrindle]

Thank you all so much for your input. I work for a not for profit organisation, so any cheap alternatives are always appreciated.

I shall download the analyzer tool and see how I go. It seems a rather daunting task to manually change all the references, but so be it.

Thanks again :0)

Fi

[kenneth2k1]

Where are you in the world? I have developer. Maybe I can help.

Ken

[fbrindle]

Thanks, but I am in Melbourne, Australia

[andygaunt]

But this is the age of communication and technology.

If you have access to a fast internet connection, save a copy of your databases as clones (no records) so you do not send any of your data then it would not matter where in the world you are. You could then take up Ken or someone else on any offers they make to you.

Obviously you only want to do this if the databases are yours, and you can give him (or others) the master password to enable them to change the filenames for you.

If sent this way you could get your newly named files back in 10 minutes plus the trip from you to them.

Hey, a nice vacation for the files. How often DO they get out!! <wink>

[Anatoli]

Andy, I've taken my big PC to LA with all FM files

Those Fm files did deserve some break for the many years of trouble free service

[kenneth2k1]

Yeah, as Andy has said, I would have full access to your files and that might be a problem if this is proprietary or privledged. However I only offer my help as a good gesture to a fellow MFer (FMer in some cases ) and I am not concerned with stealing your file.

But ultimately the choice is yours. If you wanna, just get in contact with me via e-mail

Ken

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Last choice Ken...

Make a copy of developper, put it on a ftp and give me an adress and PW

[kenneth2k1]

Now, now Ugo.

You know I can't do that. Don't want to break any "laws."

Ken

PS: Email me

[fbrindle]

OK everyone, I shall think about it. I am looking at the db's this weekend to see how much work there is. Thanks for your offer Ken, I shall get back to you.

Cheers all

Fi

[fbrindle]

An old colleague of mine renamed them with FMP dev - one file didn't relate at first, but another rename fixed the problem. Nice program, I slapped .fp5 on as well for good measure....too easy

Thanks again

[Anatoli]

You should rename the whole solution, all files in single pass. Even you are renaming only single file.

Otherwise some files will not get updated.