Quick Start

Welcome to FileMaker Pro 5
Opening files from previous versions
FileMaker Pro 5 can open files created in FileMaker Pro 1.x or later.
Important There may be date considerations when converting a
database from an earlier version of FileMaker Pro. For more
information about how FileMaker Pro 5 handles Year 2000 issues,
see www.filemaker.com.
FileMaker Pro 4.x/3.x/2.x/1.x databases
When you convert a FileMaker Pro 4.x/3.x/2.x/1.x file,
FileMaker Pro 5 software saves your original FileMaker Pro 4.x/3.x/
2.x/1.x file and creates a copy that has been converted to the
FileMaker Pro 5 format. The original file is not modified and you can
open it in the previous version of FileMaker Pro. The converted file
can only be opened in FileMaker Pro 5.
To convert and open a FileMaker Pro 4.x/3.x/2.x/1.x file:
1. Start FileMaker Pro 5.
2. Choose File menu > Open and select the file to convert.
3. Click Open.
4. Click OK to append “Old” to the name of the original
FileMaker Pro 4.x/3.x/2.x/1.x file.
5. Click Save to start the conversion.
By default, this converted file will have the original file’s name.
Preserving this name is important if you have existing lookups or
scripts, which might not function correctly if it is changed.
FileMaker Pro converts the file and opens it.
Note FileMaker Pro 1.x databases cannot be converted directly on a
Windows-based system. To use a database created by FileMaker Pro
1.x, you must convert it on a Mac OS computer using FileMaker Pro
2.x or later. Then follow the instructions in this section to convert
your file to FileMaker Pro 5.
Cross-platform considerations
To convert a FileMaker Pro 4.x/3.x/2.x file created on another
platform, drag the older file on top of the FileMaker Pro 5
application icon.
Note If you add or remove the .FP5 filename extension, you must
re-specify file locations for related or external files when the
database is first opened.