User manual

Converting FileMaker databases from previous versions 93
In most cases, FileMaker Pro converts the file and opens it. If
conversion doesn’t work or error messages appear, see
“Solving
basic conversion problems” on page 95.
8. Using a text editor such as Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit
(Mac OS), open the Conversion.log file located in the folder that
contains your converted database.
The Conversion.log file contains a journal of the conversion process
that you just completed. Much of it contains status messages that
indicate the different file components that were converted. But it also
may contain error messages that indicate areas where you may need
to make manual corrections to the converted file before testing it
further. For more information about the Conversion.log file, see
“Reading the Conversion.log file” on page 95.
Converting multiple files at once
FileMaker Pro 7 can convert multiple files at the same time. You
should use the multi-file conversion method when you need to
convert a database composed of multiple related files, or you simply
have many FileMaker
Pro files that you want to quickly convert
without being prompted to individually rename each file.
When you convert multiple files at the same time, FileMaker Pro
prompts you to specify a folder where you want the converted files
to be saved, leaving your original files unchanged. FileMaker
Pro
automatically names each converted file without prompting you.
FileMaker
Pro won’t overwrite any existing files in the folder.
Instead, it adds a number to the end of the filename, and increments
that number if necessary until a unique name is found.
There are several ways that you can select the files that you want to
convert; you can drag and drop the files (or a folder containing the
files) onto the FileMaker
Pro 7 application icon, or you can select
multiple files in the FileMaker
Pro Open dialog box.
To convert multiple files at once:
1. If the files you want to convert are currently open in the previous
version of FileMaker Pro, close the files.
If you attempt to convert files that are currently open, an alert
message will appear indicating that the files are already in use, and
they won’t convert.
2. In Windows Explorer or in a Finder window (Mac OS) create a
new, empty folder for the converted files.
3. Do one of the following to select and open the files you want to
convert:
1 Files method: In Windows Explorer or in a Finder window
(Mac
OS) select the files you want to convert, and then drag them
onto the FileMaker
Pro 7 application icon.
1 Folder method: If a folder contains all of the files you want to
convert, drag the folder onto the FileMaker
Pro 7 application icon.
If you are converting a multi-file relational database in which files
are organized in subfolders, you need to convert each folder
separately. First create new folders in the same structure for the
converted files. Then convert files in subfolders at the lowest level
first by dragging the subfolder onto the FileMaker
Pro 7
application icon, indicating the correct new destination folder
when prompted. When all related files in subfolders have been
converted, use the “Files method” described above to convert files
located in the original parent folder.