NOT HAPPY

[printit]

Ok here is my position, I've been working on a data base program in FileMaker Pro 4 then upgraded to FM 5 Developer Edition so I could sell my solution to the screen printing and embroidery industry as a stand alone app.

My decision too upgraded to FM5 has placed me in a major disadvantage because my competitors offer a solution that was developed in FM3 that will run with runtime engin on a network.

Most of my potential customers want to be able to run the program on a network without the additional expense of buying FileMaker Pro 5 for each computer in the network just to run my program!!!

Because I have converted these files from FM4 to FM5 I can't even go back to verison 3 to make this solution work.

So what the hell do I do now? I have spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours developing this software.

Man if I knew this was going to be an issue I would ever would have spent the $$$ to upgrade, mater of fact if I knew FileMaker was going to pull this **** I would have

never even consider developing the solution

in FileMaker Pro I would have went with Access.

Has anyone ever thought about developing a plugin that will make runtime files run on a network?

Pissed off in Vermont!!

[This message has been edited by Ocean West (edited November 20, 2000).]

[jwallace]

You might try this: there is a file call FMP Reverter tha can be found at the following web address: http://www.ethicalpaul.com/

It claims to be able to revert FMP 5 files to FMP 4 files. It says the files are unstable, but you may be able to save a copy or a clone or something and get good files out of the thing.

Also, check out the review at

http://www.afilemakeraffliction.com/review/products/afa1152.html

I wish you luck here. I am very disapointed that my solutions must be run in Filemaker instead of a runtime in order to be networked. We had it good back at FMP 3!

[Kurt Knippel]

quote:

---

Originally posted by printit:

Ok here is my position, I've been working on a data base program in FileMaker Pro 4 then upgraded to FM 5 Developer Edition so I could sell my solution to the screen printing and embroidery industry as a stand alone app.

My decision too upgraded to FM5 has placed me in a major disadvantage because my competitors offer a solution that was developed in FM3 that will run with runtime engin on a network.

Most of my potential customers want to be able to run the program on a network without the additional expense of buying FileMaker Pro 5 for each computer in the network just to run my program!!!

---

Honestly, I never sell a "runtime" version of my stuff anymore. There are no advantages to the runtime engine. I always include a copy of FMP with everything sold. This eliminates all of these kinds of problems and I suggest you to think about this as well.

What is the price per seat of your solution? Often you can include the cost of the FMP Software into the per seat cost with little impact on the price.

Now as to reverting back to the v3/4 file format, why not just use a backup? I assume that you still have older files on backup somewhere?

As far as I know, the reverter is NOT intended to be used on living files and is only for getting data back out of accidentially upgraded files.

I would NOT trust the reverter with my files.

------------------

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Kurt Knippel

Consultant

Database Resources

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.database-resources.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

[peterlacenne]

I dont agree with you Captain..., the problem is not really the price of a full copy of FMP but the installation of fully operational database software on client computers because a lot of people are created their own database and it is a night mare for IS dept support.

For my point of view, you dont need a html editor software to access web page, so i dont think you need a full copy of FMP to access a FMP database....

[Kurt Knippel]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Maerix:

I dont agree with you Captain..., the problem is not really the price of a full copy of FMP but the installation of fully operational database software on client computers because a lot of people are created their own database and it is a night mare for IS dept support.

For my point of view, you dont need a html editor software to access web page, so i dont think you need a full copy of FMP to access a FMP database....

---

Not the same thing. The FMP Runtime is NOT simply a client, like a Browser, it is a stripped down version with just enough capabilities to open the databases.

You can easily make it so that the use of a full copy of Filemaker is transparent to the user. I used to simply include both the installer for my databases and the installer for Filemaker on the same disk set, then my installation program would simply perform both functions.

If you do not trot the functionality of Filemaker in front of the users, they will not know the difference.

------------------

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Kurt Knippel

Consultant

Database Resources

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.database-resources.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

[manitobaangler]

One underrated workaround for using FM 5 runtime apps in a networked environment is to use a batch inport/export function to a main central user. Set up import & export folders within your solution and create scripts to import and export set file names from set folders. Set your central user to export a full data set that your "clients" can import at automated times or have it as a user activated function.

Depending on how time sensitive your data is this may be a viable option. If this round about method has to be performed more than 2-3 times a day I wouldn't recommend it. But really, what other choice do you have if you want to continue using runtimes.

[pspafford]

Other than the ability to make run-times, what are the other "advantages" to FM Developer? I've been thinking about getting it.

Paul.

[LiveOak]

A BIG advantage of developer is a tool to rename and automatically relink files. -bd