Category: FileMaker Resources

FileMaker 7 Migration Bootcamp Day 2

Post author By Janet Tokerud
Post date July 20, 2004

In keeping with the bootcamp theme, Danny and Todd showed little mercy today. We were subjected to hour after hour of all the things that can go wrong (Danny calls them challenges) when files are converted from 6 to 7. It wasn’t pretty.

Even though we were all near brain death by the end of the day, we staggered out knowing much more than we came in with. Finally, in the last 1/2 hour of the day, Danny spent some time talking about how we can deal with, ameliorate or prevent the kinds of things we spent all day with. Needless to say we were grateful.

As a sort of reward and encouragement, Danny gave us two key tools to help us when we get back to the *real world* and start the work of migration in earnest:

Example files for the entire day’s trainings, each illustrating a particular potential point of failure. Each of the examples includes an FM5 version and an FM7 version.
Migration Manager. A roadmap and resource cache – naturally occuring as an FM7 application devoted to helping us manage our migrations systematically and precisely.

After the class, I was so motivated that I spent about an hour and half this evening writing notes and planning the next steps for migrating my Studio Manager product to FileMaker 7. That really helped me feel ready for Day 3 of bootcamp. I’m still on my feet and ready to go. Day 3 should be the best day. Stay tuned!

FileMaker 7 Migration Bootcamp Day 1

Post author By Janet Tokerud
Post date July 19, 2004

I’m in sunny Santa Clara, CA staying overnight after spending my first day in FileMaker Bootcamp. This three-day course is fantastic if you are a serious FileMaker consultant/software developer and want to know how to get from 6 to 7 without tears.

You know the expression *there’s a pony in here somewhere*? Well, Danny Mack and Todd Geist of New Millenium Communications seem to have found a herd! As you know, I’m a fan of Danny’s company and tools MetaDataMagic and FMrobot. And I’m not the only one. At last year’s FileMaker Developer’s Conference in Phoenix, Danny received the FileMaker Excellence award “For Outstanding Innovation and Contribution to the FileMaker Platform”.

OK. Enough of the fluff. What did I learn today? This is a very strategic and hands on class and it’s getting late, so I’ll deliver the learnings as bottom lines:

There’s a terrific and sane way to get from FileMaker 6 to 7. New Millenium calls it Convert-Restore-Extend-Consolidate. I’m already convinced by NMCI’s thinking. It makes most sense with complex FileMaker databases to convert your files and just clean them up enough so they work under 7. Then add a new user interface table that points to your converted files and from there build new functionality in your UI file.

Eventually, you can move the old converted files from your 6 app inside your UI file if you like and replace the originals – without the huge effort you might have imagined. This brief description doesn’t do the approach justice. Read Adding a New Interface File to an Existing Solution, Later Consolidating Tables by Todd Geist in the free pdf Upgrading to FileMaker 7: Migration Foundations and Methodologies for the details.

FileMaker 7 is even more different than we’ve been thinking. That’s actually the problem – six thinking! There are so many new possibilities in 7 that confront with overwhelming options. One of the smart things to do, according to these guys, is to shut some of the doors that 7 has opened. I’ve been sensing the same thing. The outside validation I’m getting here is just the extra nudge I needed to follow my instincts and stay sane with this intoxicating product.

You don’t have to know all the answers with 7 to start using it. It is so flexible that you have lots of different ways to change course in midstream as you learn more. Because you can do things so many different ways and the power is virtually unlimited, you have options upon options even when you think you’ve backed yourself into a corner.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, but perhaps these thoughts will help you avoid a pitfall or open up a new way of thinking. I’m hoping to deliver another installment tomorrow night.

Books FileMaker Resources Web/Tech

First Available FileMaker 7 Book

Post author By Janet Tokerud
Post date June 9, 2004

OK. I ordered my first FileMaker 7 book tonight from Amazon: Sams Teach Yourself FIleMaker in 24 Hours by Jesse Feiler. They are saying it is available and in stock now! There’s one review at Amazon from an experienced FileMaker user and she is quite positive about the book. Kinda doesn’t matter to me. It’s a FileMaker 7 book. I want it. Damages only $16.99.

By the way, Feiler has written lots of Macintosh books and two FileMaker books including one on scripting and calculations. I take that to mean he’s a pretty good writer and knows enough FileMaker to provide value.

I plan to buy several FileMaker 7 books. And a bunch are in the works. I’ll be writing more about books soon.

FileMaker Resources

2 Free FileMaker 7 Videos

Post author By Janet Tokerud
Post date April 3, 2004

Over at the excellent FileMaker Magazine site run by one of my all time favorite FileMaker gurus, Matt Petrowsky, they’ve posted two great introductory videos about FileMaker 7.

An Introduction to FileMaker Pro 7

An Introduction to FileMaker Pro 7 – Part 2

If you are wanting to see what all the excitement is about in a live demo, you must see these two cool 40 and 50 minute videos. Matt provides running commentary while you watch him working with FileMaker Pro 7. Double-click if you need to pause and then double-click again to unpause. Matt does a great job – he’s taught standing room only sessions at the FileMaker Developer conference for years and is the author of Scriptology.