We have been having frequent crashes using FileMaker 4.0. I have had to recover data about 5 times this week. I need to track down the problems and I'm not sure how.

We have 5 computers connected on a network all sharing the same files from the server.

The data is contained in 7 databases. (One is just and employee timecard screen-not connected to anything else.) The bulk of data is contained within 3 databases with records numbering 19434, 62588, and 586. I think most of the errors are within one particular database. We have lost data in records, and I have been unable to recover the databases a couple of times. I had to revert to a backup.

I need to fix these problems right away! I am not a programer and have had to redue this database on my own. I may have done something wrong. It was working ok last week though.

Please give me some hints. Do you need more info?

Thanks,

Mindy

The most comprehensive way to handle this is to:

1) Find the oldest backup that has the same structure as your current files.

2) Create clones of (empty files, Save As "Clone") these "good" files

3) Export the data from your current files in text format. You may have to recover your current files to make them functional.

4) Import the data from the text files into the clones.

This gives you your best shot at not moving the corruption from your current files to the new one you've created. Also, do a COMPLETE diagnostic on your server to determine is all is ok with it. Is "the server" running FM 3.0 Server version? If not, this will be much more robust than using a client version of FM 4.0 as a server.

-bd

I don't know when the last backup was a "good" one. When I started this job in July 01 they were having multiple crashes a day and thought nothing of it. I have been reworking it since then. It got much better about a month ago but I'm not sure it was ever truely fixed. We do not use FileMaker Server 3.0. There are 5 computers and the boss does not even want to spend the money on FileMaker Pro 5.5 for each station.

I have a related post under Left Brain.

Any other suggestions?

Mindy