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FileMaker Archaeology

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  FileMaker Archaeology Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> - 2015-12-14 13:55 -0500
    Re: FileMaker Archaeology Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2015-12-14 19:28 +0000
    Re: FileMaker Archaeology Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2015-12-15 09:13 +1300
      Re: FileMaker Archaeology Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> - 2015-12-15 13:21 -0500
    Re: FileMaker Archaeology dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2015-12-15 10:38 +1300
      Re: FileMaker Archaeology Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> - 2015-12-15 13:20 -0500
    Re: FileMaker Archaeology Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2015-12-15 13:17 +1300

#2548 — FileMaker Archaeology

I have been using FieMaker since before Claris bought it.  I now find 
I'd like to go back and retrieve data stored in some of those older 
databases.  My current version (12) refuses to open the older 
databases, even, to my mind, some relatively recent ones (ca 2009).

Is anyone aware of a table showing which database versions can be 
opened by which FileMaker versions and which Mac OS's are required to 
run those versions?  I know I am probably going to have to go back to 
at least OS 8.5.

Better, is there some freeware somewhere which can open these things?

I have the same problem with Word and Excel documents, but that's 
another newsgroup :)

What good is digitizing all your data if the technology to read it 
disappears?  I should have used papyrus.

-- 
Nelson

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#2550

On Mon, 14 Dec 2015 13:55:01 -0500, Nelson wrote:
>  I have been using FieMaker since before Claris bought it.  I now find 
>  I'd like to go back and retrieve data stored in some of those older 
>  databases.  My current version (12) refuses to open the older 
>  databases, even, to my mind, some relatively recent ones (ca 2009).

What's there file type? .fmp? .fp3? .fp7?

>  Is anyone aware of a table showing which database versions can be 
>  opened by which FileMaker versions and which Mac OS's are required to 
>  run those versions?  I know I am probably going to have to go back to 
>  at least OS 8.5.
> 
>  Better, is there some freeware somewhere which can open these things?

Let someome open and convert it for you,
Martin

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#2551

In article <0001HW.D2947AB50002A203B01029BF@news.astraweb.com>, Nelson
<nelson@nowhere.com> wrote:
> 
> I have been using FieMaker since before Claris bought it.  I now find 
> I'd like to go back and retrieve data stored in some of those older 
> databases.  My current version (12) refuses to open the older 
> databases, even, to my mind, some relatively recent ones (ca 2009).
> 
> Is anyone aware of a table showing which database versions can be 
> opened by which FileMaker versions and which Mac OS's are required to 
> run those versions?  I know I am probably going to have to go back to 
> at least OS 8.5.
> 
> Better, is there some freeware somewhere which can open these things?

Nope. Only FileMaker and FileMaker Pro can open FileMaker data files.

You'll need to find he old versions to install - probably under
emulation for the really old ones. Or find someone that still has them
who can convert the data files for you. You don't need every version,
but there are a few jump points where older file format support was
dropped, which is why version 12 can't open version 2 data files.

For Mac versions, Macintosh Garden may be of some help.
http://macintoshgarden.org





> I have the same problem with Word and Excel documents, but that's 
> another newsgroup :)

I can't say I've ever come across issues with old Word / Excel
documents being unopenable in newer versions. The other way around can
be a pain in the backside thanks to Microsoft switching to .docx and
xlsx formats.

If Word / Excel can't open it, you could try something else like
AppleWorks or Pages / Numbers. Or again Macintosh Garden may be of some
help via emulation to install old applications.




> What good is digitizing all your data if the technology to read it 
> disappears?  I should have used papyrus.

You should have updated the data files as you upgraded the FileMaker /
Filemaker Pro application. It's possible that FileMaker Pro could be
complete discontinued at some stage, so it's also best to keep a copy
of the data in a more universal format (i.e. CSV or tab-delimited text
file for databases that don't have stored images / sounds / documents).

Same with word processor and spreadsheet document - keep copies in a
more transferrable format. Also print them out so at worst they could
be re-created.

As well as data file formats, you have to also keep updating the
storage media formats. Not only can old floppy disks (for example)
become corrupt, but Macs and many Windows PCs no longer ship with
built-in floppy drives. Even buying an external USB floppy drive may
not solve the problem - for example, nothing but an Amiga can read
Amiga formatted floppy disks (at least not without a lot of expense and
hassle) and old Mac formatted disks can be an issue too.


Helpful Harry   :o)

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#2555

On Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:13:13 -0500, Helpful Harry wrote
(in article <151220150913130414%HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com>):

[snip]

Thanks for the links, Harry.


-- 
Nelson

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#2552

Nelson <nelson@nowhere.com> wrote:

> I have been using FieMaker since before Claris bought it.  I now find
> I'd like to go back and retrieve data stored in some of those older 
> databases.  My current version (12) refuses to open the older 
> databases, even, to my mind, some relatively recent ones (ca 2009).
> 
> Is anyone aware of a table showing which database versions can be 
> opened by which FileMaker versions and which Mac OS's are required to
> run those versions?  I know I am probably going to have to go back to
> at least OS 8.5.

Here is the main "conversion path" document, which covers FileMaker II
(first Claris version) and later:

http://help.filemaker.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/10687/~/filemaker-conversion-path-for-all-versions

It doesn't quite go into enough detail, but the main point is that you
need FileMaker Pro versions as follows.

1. If your old files are in FileMaker II, Pro 1.0 or Pro 2.0 format, you
need FileMaker Pro 3.0 through 6.0 to convert to a later format.

2. If your old files are in FileMaker Pro 3.0 through 4.1 format (.fp3
extension is standard), you need FileMaker Pro 5.0 through 11.0 to
convert to a later format.

3. If your old files are in FileMaker Pro 5.0 through 6.0 format (.fp5
extension is standard), you need FileMaker Pro 7.0 through 11.0 to
convert to a later format.

4. If your old files are in FileMaker Pro 7.0 through 11.0 format (.fp7
extension), they can be converted by FileMaker Pro 12.0 or later.

If you don't have the necessary old versions, trial versions of
FileMaker Pro 6 and FileMaker Pro 11 are available for download. There
is a link to the FileMaker Pro 6 trial in the above document, and to
FileMaker Pro 11 in this one:

http://help.filemaker.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5366/kw/old%20versions

FileMaker Pro 6 requires Mac OS 8.6 or later, and officially supports
Mac OS X 10.0 and 10.1. Unofficially, it seems to work fine up to Mac OS
X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), but can't run on later OS X versions because it
is a PowerPC-only application (I have it in a Snow Leopard VM, which
allows it to be used on later OS X versions).

FileMaker Pro 11 requires Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later (PowerPC or Intel),
and officially supports up to Mac OS X 10.8 (the 11.0v4 update is
required for Mac OS X 10.7 or 10.8). It still works for me with a few
niggles in Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan).


That leaves the pre-Claris versions: Forethought/Nashoba FileMaker 1.0
(not Pro), FileMaker Plus and FileMaker 4. I didn't start using
FileMaker until Pro 3.0, so have no experience with versions/files that
old. The oldest version I have handy is Pro 6 and it doesn't mention
them as an import option. 

FileMaker Pro 5.5 was the first version which ran natively on Mac OS X.
5.0 and earlier requires Mac OS 9 (or earlier), or the Classic
environment on a PowerPC Mac with Mac OS X 10.0 through 10.4.11.

I would have been using FileMaker Pro 3.0 somewhere around System 7.5.x
or Mac OS 7.6 (circa 1996 to 1997).

Wikipedia has a timeline which includes the early versions:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FileMaker

FileMaker II (first Claris version) was in 1988, which puts it around
Mac System 6.0. The original release of FileMaker 1.0 in 1985 predates
Mac System 1.0.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz

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#2554

On Mon, 14 Dec 2015 16:38:51 -0500, David Empson wrote
(in article <1mfgu2k.9ckmyw19fisisN%dempson@actrix.gen.nz>):


[snip]

Thanks Dave.  I appreciate the effort you put into your response and 
the helpful information it contained. 


-- 
Nelson

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#2553

In article <0001HW.D2947AB50002A203B01029BF@news.astraweb.com>, Nelson
<nelson@nowhere.com> wrote:
> 
> I have been using FieMaker since before Claris bought it.  I now find 
> I'd like to go back and retrieve data stored in some of those older 
> databases.  My current version (12) refuses to open the older 
> databases, even, to my mind, some relatively recent ones (ca 2009).
> 
> Is anyone aware of a table showing which database versions can be 
> opened by which FileMaker versions and which Mac OS's are required to 
> run those versions?  I know I am probably going to have to go back to 
> at least OS 8.5.
> 
> Better, is there some freeware somewhere which can open these things?
> 
> I have the same problem with Word and Excel documents, but that's 
> another newsgroup :)
> 
> What good is digitizing all your data if the technology to read it 
> disappears?  I should have used papyrus.

Papyrus is no good since it eventually deteriorates, plus people in the
future may not understand the language you wrote them in. Nothing lasts
forever. Even the stone pyramids are slowly wearing away.     ;o)


Helpful Harry  :o)

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