Claris FileMaker II

[steveM]

Hi,

I have a client who is still using an SE 30 and Filemaker II to manage his small business ( unbelieveable! but true! ) He is thinking about moving up to a couple new Macs and updating FM II to FMP 5.5.

I tried to convert one of his files using 5.0 but to no avail. I suppose I could export all his data as tab delimited text then import that into fmp5 but I would still have to rewrite all the scripts and that would be time consumming.

Does anyone know what version of FMP can convert Filemaker II files and subsequently be converted itself to fmp5?

Thanks

Steve

[LiveOak]

The "scripting" in FM II isn't that capable. I can't imagine it would the THAT hard to redevelop a solution written in FM II in FM 5 and import the data.

I do think I have a copy of FM 1.0 around, I know I have 2.1. I could try converting it for you.

-bd

[Vaughan]

Seriously, if it's not broken don't fix it. I'd even look for a second SE 30 as backup machine.

My local library recently "upgraded" their green-screen DOS terminal catalogue machines (which looked crappy but always worked) to new PCs, Windows 98 and a web browser interface. Now they look crappy but hardly ever work. Musta cost them a bundle, too.

[steveM]

Building my client a new database in 5.0 isn't the issue really. This is a small businessman who doesn't have the $ to afford me developing a new product. He has a solution in place that works well for him. I'm just exploring some possiblities to see if there is a cost effective way to convert his current system to a more contemporary version of FMP that will run in the 9.0x environment.

Thanks for your repsponses in any case.

Steve

[LiveOak]

The only problem you may encounter is that if you wait TOO long, there may not be any working machines around that will run the version of (FM 1.0?, 2.1) that you need as an intermediate step to perform the upgrade.

Vaughan's point is well taken. I was just complaining yesterday that the new Seiko label printers won't work with the Mac and on the PC will no longer print from FM, but only their proprietary application. It looks like Dymo will take over Seiko's business in this area.

-bd

[steveM]

So the upgrade path is through FileMaker I or 2.1 then on to 5.0. This what I wanted to know. Finding an older mac to run this on is not my problem. As I said earlier this fellow is currently upgrading from an SE 30 to a IIci. Now it is just a matter of finding a copy of 2.1. I have friends locally that might be able to help in that regard. These inquiries are in preparation for his next upgrade which will most likely be to a more recent series of Macs.

Thanks for the help guys.

Steve

[BobWeaver]

I know that FM pro 1.0 will run on a Power PC. I haven't tried it on a G3 or G4 though. But, you shouldn't have a problem getting things converted.

[Vaughan]

Note that FMP 2.1 is *NOT* Y2K compatible... you'll have to go up to FMP 3.0v6 to get that.

[LiveOak]

On the Mac, FM2.1 will behave relative to Y2K issues if you set the Time & Date control panel to "Show Century".

-bd

[Vaughan]

So you are saying FMP 2.1 can be OK? I was under the impression that it ignored the century and assumed 19xx regardless.

[BobWeaver]

Just tried Fm Pro v1.0 on my G4. It seems to work OK. Plus, FM 5.0 can convert a 1.0 database. So, if you can get the file into version 1.0 or later format, it can be converted to v5 in just one more step.

[steveM]

Thanks for all your help.

Steve