Converting files from FileMaker Pro 6 and earlier

Contents > FileMaker Pro basics > Converting files from FileMaker Pro 6 and earlier

Converting files from FileMaker Pro 6 and earlier

You must convert files created in FileMaker Pro 6 and earlier to the .fp7 file format.

The conversion process makes it possible for you to use files created with pre-7.0 versions of FileMaker Pro with FileMaker Pro 9, but it's important to note that:

Manual corrections may be necessary. You might need to correct items in the converted file that did not convert properly. In some cases, you may need to correct items in the original file and then convert the file again. After you convert any file, you should review the Conversion.log file for items that may need to be corrected.

You should test the converted file. The Conversion.log file may not indicate every item in the file that needs to be corrected. Before you begin using a converted database solution, you should test it thoroughly to make sure every aspect has converted successfully. For example, make sure every script works as you expect, and that accounts and privilege sets provide the required file security.

You may want to migrate files to FileMaker Pro 9. When you convert a multi-file relational database, the converted files aren't optimized for use with FileMaker Pro 9. The files are still related, but they are not combined into a single file with multiple, related tables, which may be desirable if you want to make better use of the new features in FileMaker Pro 9. You may want to go a step beyond conversion and migrate your files to FileMaker Pro 9, which you can do by either manually combining your files after conversion, or re-creating your database in FileMaker Pro 9 and then importing the data from the original files. After converting, you can import data from separate files into new tables in one file.

This section describes the basics of file conversion. It contains:

an overview of the conversion process

instructions on how to convert single files or multiple files at once

information on how to view the Conversion.log file after converting one or more files

a summary of the top conversion issues you may encounter

If you're converting complex or business-critical databases, refer to the FileMaker Knowledge Base available at www.filemaker.com.

If you have FileMaker Pro Advanced, after you have converted files you can consolidate tables from a multi-file solution into one file. See Copying or importing table schemas (FileMaker Pro Advanced).

More detail about converting FileMaker Pro files:

Conversion overview

Converting a single file

Converting multiple files at once

Reading the Conversion.log file

Solving basic conversion problems

Converting FileMaker Pro 1.x and 2.x databases

Converting passwords

Preserving user dictionary information

Print Setup script step stored setup options (Windows)

Switching windows in scripts

Boolean functions and find requests

Converting FileMaker Pro file references (data sources)

Contents > FileMaker Pro basics > Converting files from FileMaker Pro 6 and earlier