I have FM 4.1 and wish to have a DB accessed across a simple LAN using.

Up to 5 people access at the one time. I understand that an upgrade to FM 5.5 can come with a 5 access licenses. This sounds like the easiest way to go. Is this correct?

No.

First, check the Australia FMI site to see if they have the same special offer as North America. It was for Server and 10 seats of FMP 5.5 for $1999 US dollars. This is not an upgrade.

There may be other specials just for a specific country.

HTH

Old Advance Man

If you could get your hands on some copies of FMP 4.x you could achieve the same outcome, but of course FMP 4.x is no longer available.

Chaning over to FMP 5.5 will mean converting your databases: not a big or difficult task, but the conversion is a one-way process. There is no way to save a 5.5 database "down" to 4.x again.

To do the job right -- "right" as in avoid all the probelms before they occur -- you should have a computer dedicated solely as a FM Host machine. Ideally get FM Server running on it, the automated back-up features alone are worth the price PLUS it's much faster.

Whatever you do *don't* keep the databases on a file server and have people open them by double-clicking on the icons. It's a recipe for disaster, the worst possible way to set the system up. And I've seen it happen so many times...