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FileMaker Pro basics
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ILEMAKER PRO HELP 37
Note Snapshot links cannot be converted. You must convert the database from which the records
were found and then re-create the snapshot link.
Conversion overview
Before you convert any FileMaker Pro database, you should plan the conversion carefully. The
general steps for file conversion are:
1. Convert the database file.
2. Review the Conversion.log file.
3. Test your converted database.
4. Use the converted file.
FileMaker Pro 13 can only convert files created with versions 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, and 11.x. (To
convert files earlier than FileMaker
Pro 7, see Converting FileMaker Pro databases earlier than
version 7.x.)
When you convert files, FileMaker Pro 13 preserves the contents of your original files and creates
new, converted files in FileMaker
Pro 12 format. The content of the original files are not modified,
and you can open them in the previous version of FileMaker
Pro that created them. The converted
files can be opened only in FileMaker
Pro 12 and FileMaker Pro 13.
You can convert a single file or convert multiple files at once:
• Use the single-file conversion method for stand-alone database files that don’t display
related data from other files. See
Converting a single file.
• Use the multiple-file conversion method to convert all the files in a relational database. See
Converting multiple files at once.
Note Any FileMaker Pro application preferences remaining from prior installs of earlier versions of
FileMaker
Pro are ignored. The installer does no conversion work.
Converting a single file
To convert and open a single file:
1. If the file you want to convert is currently open in the previous version of FileMaker Pro,
close the file.
If you attempt to convert a file that is currently open, an alert message will appear indicating that
the file is already in use, and the file won’t convert.
2. Start FileMaker Pro 13.
3. Do one of the following:
• If you see the Open File dialog box, continue with step 4.
• If you see the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, click Browse.
• If you don’t see any dialog box, choose File menu > Open.
4. In the Open dialog box, select the file to convert, then click Open.
Note You can also begin conversion by dragging the file onto the FileMaker Pro 13 application
icon.
The Conversion dialog box appears, where you can choose to rename the existing file prior to
conversion. By default, FileMaker
Pro does not rename the file.
5. Do one of the following: