I usually work at client sites. This year from my own office I have been building for one client that still uses fm3 so I haven't upgraded. I now need to do some development from my office for a fm5 client and was about to upgrade. Question: If I upgrade to fm5, will I be able to "save down" to fm3 for the client that still uses the old version?

Hi,

No way, you can't. Not even export to fm3

Erwin.

Thanks Erwin.

Does anyone have more than 1 version installed on the same stand-alone computer? Do they function ok? I am thinking now then of installing 5 on my own machine but leaving 3 so I can continue to develop for this one weirdo client in my own office.

quote:

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Originally posted by kattatonic:

Thanks Erwin.

Does anyone have more than 1 version installed on the same stand-alone computer? Do they function ok? I am thinking now then of installing 5 on my own machine but leaving 3 so I can continue to develop for this one weirdo client in my own office.

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Just a quick post here. If I have databases in fm5 and I want to "downgrade" them to fm4, then I can't do it? That is not too good, especially seeing if you have a solution in fm4 and try to open it in fm5 it prompts you to convert it. Suppose it's converted and the originals are gone. There is no way to convert it back?

FMP 5.x does not actually convert the FM4 files. It renames them, and creates new files. So your old files are still there unless you do something with them.

quote:

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Originally posted by kattatonic:

Thanks Erwin.

Does anyone have more than 1 version installed on the same stand-alone computer? Do they function ok? I am thinking now then of installing 5 on my own machine but leaving 3 so I can continue to develop for this one weirdo client in my own office.

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I have FMP 4, 5 and 5.5 all on my laptop and have no problems running any version. One thing to keep in mind is that once you add 5.5 along with 5, double clicking a file always launches 5.5. This can be a problem if you launch a solution that uses a plugin that does not run under 5.5, or a file not yet supporting 5.5 such as Analyzer Pro.

[ July 31, 2001: Message edited by: Moon Mullins ]

I have some clients with 2.1 solutions, so I have that version along with 3,4 and 5 running.

The only weird thing is, when you used to develop in a higher version, some of the topics don't work in a 'lower' version.

But clients help me to finance my private live....

So I have a whole FM family in a quit co-existency on my network. No problem so far.

John

Any version before FMP 3.0v6 is NOT Y2K cimpliant... I am amazed to still be writing this in August 2001!

For crying out loud, upgrade the stragglers to FMP4 or FMP5! It's false ecomnomy to be developing in old versions, sooner or later the old version will break in newer OS forcing the change anyway.

Yes Vaughan, I know.

I never could convince the 2 clients to move to a newer version or to buy new computers, because 'they will stop business next year' - but this is 3 years ago !.

And they still help me to finance my private live ...

So now I moved all the old files to an old PC with Win 3.11.

With some tricks and 'plumbing' I managed to keep the thing running.

Wonder when and how it will blow-up ??!!

I totally agree with you, Vaughn.

In my fantasy life, clients invest tens of thousands of dollars replacing computers and upgrading software to support small, low-priority databases because the old stuff inconveniences me. Right after they spring for the better brand of coffee.

Kay

Thanks to all for support and advice!

[ August 29, 2001: Message edited by: kattatonic ]

Somebody posted a few months ago that Filemaker Inc was offering free upgrades to FMP 3.0v6 for older versions of FMPro. Check it out.