Installation and New Features Guide
Table Of Contents
- Chapter 1 Before you begin
- About this guide
- Where to find FileMaker documentation
- Customer support, Knowledge Base, and Community
- Product notifications
- About the license key
- Backing up your FileMaker Pro download
- Requirements for features
- Converting the trial version to the full version of FileMaker Pro
- Upgrading FileMaker Pro from a previous version
- Opening files from previous versions
- Automating the installation process
- Chapter 2 Installing FileMaker Pro in Windows
- Chapter 3 Installing FileMaker Pro in macOS
- Chapter 4 New features
- Chapter 5 Where to go from here
Chapter 1 | Before you begin 5
Product notifications
FileMaker Pro automatically checks for software updates (which include minor software changes)
and for new software versions (which include new and changed product features). You can update
your software when you receive the update notification or by choosing Help menu > Check for
Updates.
You can turn off notifications at any time by choosing Edit menu > Preferences (Windows) or
FileMaker Pro menu > Preferences (macOS).
About the license key
FileMaker Pro software comes with a unique, 35-character license key. If you purchased
FileMaker Pro as a download from the FileMaker Store website, you received an email message
with a link to your Electronic Software Download page. Your license key is on that page. If you
purchased a boxed version of FileMaker Pro, your license key is in the box.
Do not lose your license key. You must have a valid license key to install the software. Keep the
license key in a safe place in case the software ever needs to be reinstalled.
For more information, refer to the FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Pro Advanced Software License
located in the application folder where you installed your software.
Backing up your FileMaker Pro download
We recommend that you make a backup copy of your FileMaker Pro software download in case
you need to reinstall the software. See this
article in the FileMaker Knowledge Base.
Requirements for features
Some features of FileMaker Pro require additional software.
Converting the trial version to the full version of FileMaker Pro
If you have installed the FileMaker Pro 16 trial version on your computer, you can convert to the
full version of FileMaker Pro 16 by entering your license key without uninstalling the trial version
first. You can also convert your trial copy by entering an upgrade license key and the license key
from an eligible earlier version. See Help
.
Feature Software requirement
Send Mail script step using an
email application
A supported email application. See FileMaker Pro technical specifications
.
This requirement does not apply to SMTP mail.
Phone dialing (Windows only) Phone dialer or other Telephony API (TAPI) compliant software.
ODBC and JDBC features FileMaker ODBC and JDBC drivers, which are available in the xDBC folder in the
installation disk image and at FileMaker
Downloads and Resources.
macOS: ODBC Manager
, a freeware product from Actual Technologies.
See FileMaker ODBC and JDBC Guide and Help.