This information is provided to the Dean's Office staff to answer some basic questions regarding the upgrade to FileMaker Pro 8.5. Please contact our Service Desk if you have any questions.
Why are we upgrading?
- There is no longer any support for versions of FileMaker Pro before 7.0.
- New server software allows for tighter security
- Nifty new features for the client software
When is this happening?
- Tentatively (based on your schedules)
- Weeks of 2/5/07 & 2/12/07 - push out new FileMaker Pro 8.0 to client machines
- Week of 2/19/07 - upgrade Server software and databases
- 3/1/07 - work with individuals to move files from the file server to the FileMaker server.
What do I need to know?
- Once you have upgraded a FileMaker Pro database to FileMaker Pro 8.5, that database will no longer be available to people running older FileMaker Pro client software (earlier than 7.0)! Be sure that you save a backup of your file when FileMaker prompts you.
- You can, for now, continue to run your old version of FileMaker Pro along side 8.5, so if you need to keep some databases in the old format, you can continue to work with them. We will work with individuals to remove the unsupported software when possible.
Is there training available to me?
- As always, please contact the ITG Service Desk with questions or problems.
- http://www.utexas.edu/computer/classes/topics/
- Be on the lookout for some training offerings from Cindy Brown.
- http://www.filemaker.com/ - for tutorials and podcasts on new features
Conversion Tips
- Passwords are case sensitive in FileMaker Pro 8
- Passwords will be converted to an Account in the FileMaker Pro 8 file. Account name and password will both be set to old password. You should change the account name and/or the password once conversion is done
- If your file had no password associated with it, then when you open the upgraded version, select "Guest Account" to open.
- Anyone use file references? - Use relative references, change all others, don't delete any unless you are sure you aren't using them.
- Anyone use relationships? Conversion should be seamless... future consolidation of tables would be eased by organization of tables.
- Calculations and Scripts? May be modified to preserve current behavior.