When was the .fp5 format support terminated by FMI?

[agutleben]

I'm trying to gather a little information surrounding when FileMaker dropped support for .fp5 files. If memory serves, it's been about 3 years but I thought I'd check if anyone knows more accurately.

Also, is there a chart anywhere (or any information for that matter) that shows the most recent OS that FileMaker Server 5.5 and FileMaker 6 can safely run on ( for both Windows and Mac platforms).

I'm prepping for a call with a client who is resisting any conversion to a current version of FM, but is also insisting that they want to upgrade their OS. I can easily point out reasons why this is not a good approach, but I'd like to back up my position with some facts that I am missing.

TIA,

Aaron

[David McQueen]

I have reproduced part of an article from the FMI Knowledgebase. Go to filemaker.com-> knowledgebase and search for minimum system requirements.

As for FMP .fp5 files, the last version using them was FileMaker Pro 6. If my memory is correct, FMP 7 came out in late summer to mid fall of 2004. I was doing a project in FMP 5-6 and actually it was complete. The client tested out FMP 7 over a WAN and I started all over again for final deployment the next spring.

FMP 5.5 and FMP 6 have been stalwart versions of this program, far more durable than FMP 7-10 which have had to change as we went through Vista, Leopard, Snow Leapard and Windows 7. I still have a nutrient database done in it to give wonderful platform coverage. However, there are starting to be glitches. Printing is one right off the bat on Snow Lepard.This family is now well beyond its "Best Before Date".

Things to be aware of in the differences between families:

1. Data capability

.fp5 - 2 Gig per file

.fp7 - 8 Terabytes per file

Not a recent issue with current capability, but if you go beyond the limit - the files self destruct. Searching can cause index formation temporarily ballooning the file and crossing the threashold.Note this is not just a filemaker thing. This also happens to Entourage.

2. Structure

.fp5 - 1 table per file

.fp7 - multi table

3. Relationships

There is no relationship graph in the .fp5 family. Table occurances do not exist.There is Left Side and Right Side. Left side may be a global field, but Right side must be indexed.

There is no passthrough to third fourth and fifth tier of relationships. If you want to look through to a third table,you have to boostrap your way through embedding keys and calculated fields to hold the third table values in the second table.

There are a pile of other things, but if you end up working in this environment and you have not before, these are the prime "Gotchas".

Excerpt from Article:

...............................

All Versions of FileMaker Pro System Requirements and Compatibility

FileMaker Pro 11 Macintosh (3/10) - Mac OS X 10.6,or Mac OS X 10.5.7*

FileMaker Pro 11 Windows (3/10) - Windows 7 Ultimate, Professional, Home Premium*

FileMaker Pro 11 Windows (3/10) - Windows Vista Ultimate, Business, Home Premium (SP 2)

FileMaker Pro 11 Windows (3/10) - Windows XP Professional, Home Edition (Service Pack 3)*,

* Version stated is the minimum requirement. The software may also work with later versions certified by FileMaker, Inc

FileMaker Pro 10 Macintosh (1/09) - Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.5 or Mac OS X 10.4.11*

FileMaker Pro 10 Windows (1/09) - Windows Vista Ultimate, Business, Home (Service Pack 1), Windows XP Professional, Home Edition (Service Pack 3)*, or Windows 7.

* Version stated is the minimum requirement. The software may also work with later versions certified by FileMaker, Inc

FileMaker Pro 9 Macintosh (7/07) - Mac OS X 10.4.8*

FileMaker Pro 9 Windows (7/07) - Windows XP Professional, Home Edition (Service Pack 2)*, Windows Vista Ultimate, Business, Home*

* Version stated is the minimum requirement. The software may also work with later versions certified by FileMaker, Inc

FileMaker Pro 8.5v2 Windows (3/07) - Windows Vista, Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Professional Edition (Service Pack 2)

FileMaker Pro 8.5 Macintosh (7/06) - PowerPC processor requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 (Panther) or 10.4.5 (Tiger), Intel processor requires Mac OS X 10.4.5

FileMaker Pro 8.5 Windows (7/06) - Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Professional Edition (Service Pack 2)

FileMaker Pro 8.0v3 Macintosh (4/06) - Mac OS X 10.3.9 or Mac OS X 10.4

FileMaker Pro 8.0v3 Windows (4/06) - Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP (Service Pack 2)

FileMaker Pro 8.0v2 Macintosh (12/05) - Mac OS X 10.3.9 or Mac OS X 10.4

FileMaker Pro 8.0v2 Windows (12/05) FileMaker Pro 8.0v1 Macintosh (8/05) - Mac OS X 10.3.9 or Mac OS X 10.4

FileMaker Pro 8.0v1 Windows (8/05) - Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP (Service Pack 2)

FileMaker Pro 7.0v1 Macintosh (3/04) - Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later

FileMaker Pro 7.0v1 Windows (3/04) - Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4) and Windows XP (Service Pack 1)

FileMaker Pro 6.0v1 Macintosh - Mac OS version 8.6 through 9.2.2

FileMaker Pro 6.0v1 Macintosh - Mac OS 10.1*Toolbars are currently not supported under Mac OS X

FileMaker Pro 6.0v1 Windows - Windows 98, Me, NT 4.0 (Service Pack 3), or Windows 2000

FileMaker Pro 5.5v1 Macintosh (4/01) - Mac OS 8.6 through Mac OS 9.2

FileMaker Pro 5.5v1 Macintosh (4/01) - Mac OS X

FileMaker Pro 5.5v1 Windows (4/01) - Windows 98, Me, NT 4.0 (Service Pack 3), Windows 2000, *Windows XP ready

FileMaker Pro 5.0v1 Macintosh (9/99) - System 7.6

FileMaker Pro 5.0v1 Windows (9/99) - Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0

FileMaker Pro 4.0v1 Macintosh (4/97) - System 7.1 or later

FileMaker Pro 4.0v1 Windows (4/97) - Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups

FileMaker Pro 3.0v1 Macintosh - System 7.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 3.0v1 Windows - Windows 95, Windows NT

FileMaker Pro 2.1v3 Macintosh (7/94) - System 6.0.5 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.1v3 Windows (7/94) - MS-DOS or PC DOS 3.3 or higher, Windows 3.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.1v2 Macintosh (2/94) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.1v2 Windows (1/94) - MS-DOS or PC DOS 3.3 or higher, Windows 3.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.1v1 Windows (10/93) - MS-DOS or PC DOS 3.3 or higher, Windows 3.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.1v1 Macintosh (8/93) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.0v4 Macintosh (4/93) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.0v3 Macintosh (3/93) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.0v2 Windows (3/93) - MS-DOS or PC DOS 3.3 or higher, Windows 3.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.0v2 Macintosh (92) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.0v1 Windows (11/92) - MS-DOS or PC DOS 3.3 or higher, Windows 3.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 2.0v1 Mac (10/92) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 1.0v3 (4/92) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 1.0v2 (3/91) - System 6.0 or later

FileMaker Pro 1.0v1 (10/90) - System 6.0 to 6.07

FileMaker II 1.1v2 (7/89) - same as FileMaker 4

FileMaker II 1.0 (8/88) - same as FileMaker 4

FileMaker 4 (6/88) - System 4.2 to 6.07, Finder 6.0 to 6.07

FileMaker Plus (10/86) - same as FileMaker 1.0

FileMaker 1.0 (4/85) - compatible with System 3.2 to 4.2, Finder 5.3 to 6.0

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[IdealData]

http://www.filemaker.com/support/product/documentation_archive.html

[agutleben]

Hi David! I'm actually looking for the dates that FMI terminated support. I am quite familiar with the differences between file formats. I'm really looking to be able to state something to the effect of:

"FMI terminated support for .fp5 files back in September of 2007..."

AND

"FileMAker Server 5.5 should run fine on Mac OS Tiger, but may encounter issues if installed on Leopard or greater..."

In the end, the biggest argument is that FMI no longer supports these products and the client is really operating "at their own risk" should they continue to update the OS beyond the specs defined for the products they are using.

Thanks...

Aaron

[David McQueen]

Hi Aaron,

1. I think there are articles in the Knowledgebase regarding support termination. I am sure that I saw a termination for FMP 8.0 support article.

2. In the material on minimum systems, look at the change in minimum system requirements between versions. Typically the minimum system in say 8.5 is a result of difficulties in using that OS in 8.0. If you can't get the specific things you were asking for, that gives an indirect guide line.

HTH

Dave