Mac Filemaker 3 print problems

[jfreestern]

I have a client that I am providing some basic computer technical assistance who is using filemaker 3.05 on an imac with os 8.6 and an HP printer. Since I do not really know FM, I thought I would pose these questions on this forum.

Everytime other time they print the program and/or system crashes. I have read here an elsewhere that there are incompatibilities between FM 3.0 and Os 8.6. Some solutions I have read about include trashing internet preferences, turning off desktop printing (print in background??) and changing laserwriter print driver to an older version than 8.4.1??

Is this the best approach (short of upgrading the program to a newer version)?

Also, when they quit the program and try to shut down, the imac hangs up on shut down (must manually reboot). After reboot shut down works fine. Is there a correlation between FM 3 and imac shutdown? (sort of seems that way).

One final question. They have a membership list that has a date paid field. New entries with dates of 2000 and 2001, with date format selected to be as 03/20/01, show up when printed as 03/20/2001, not 01 (and as a result do not fit in field and get cut off). Is there a way of fixing this or does this have to do with program being so lod that it does not recognize year 2000.

thanks anyone for the help

Jeff

[LiveOak]

I have seen some printing problems with FM 3.0 and Mac OS 8.6 and greater. Unfortunately the general reason customers don't want to upgrade is that they can't violate license on FM 4.0 and above (these version check valid licenses).

The solution I used on early iMacs (pre 266) was to run system 8.1. You can also run 8.5 (use 8.5.1) on all iMacs except the slot loading machines.

On the date question, go to layout mode, select the date field, and pull the format menu to date. Setup custom date formatting for 3/21/01.

-bd

[Vaughan]

The date issue could be related to Y2K. Only FMP 3.0v6 is Y2K compliant. Take a trip to http://www.filemaker.com and down the 3.0v6 patch. Who knows, it might even help with other problems.

[jfreestern]

Thanks for info, but the most current updater I see is 3.05 not 3.06 (for mac). Am I looking in the wrong place? (went to ftp site as well and still only FM 3.0v5)

[Vaughan]

There certainly is an update for FMP 3.0v6.

http://www.filemaker.com/support/updaters.html#FileMaker3.0

[jfreestern]

Thanks guys. I seem to have solved their print crashing problems with the update and by trashing internet preferences (which I think I saw posted here and elsewhere).

I do, however, only see a reference to version 3.05 under english Mac Os at the link you listed. The 3.06 seems to be only windows. Am I missing something here or is the download link mislabled?

Jeff

[Vaughan]

Jeff

My apologies. The latest for MacOS (in english language) is 3.0v5.