Convert an Older FileMaker Pro database to version 4

Whenever "converting" files to a newer version of FileMaker Pro, these steps help to ensure that (a) you have a backup of the files in the original FMP version; and (b) by recovering and compressing your file you have "cleaned up" the files to be "clean" with regards to data integrity and "compact" with regards to file size. So that when you open it in the FileMaker version 4.x, the converted file will be in good shape.

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Prepare your Files for Converting

Before doing anything else, you should delete any empty or unnecessary records and save a backup copy of the file.

1. Open a FileMaker II, FileMaker Pro version 1 or FileMaker Pro version 2 file that you plan to convert. (You will need to do this on a Macintosh.)
2. Browse records. Delete any unnecessary records.
3. Delete blank records as well.
4. Close the file.
5. Switch back to the desktop. Create a copy of the file as a backup. You should move the copy to another folder to keep it separate from the process.

• If you are planning to convert multiple files, you should repeat Steps 1 - 5 with them before proceeding to the next stage.

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Recover the Files

You will now "Recover" the original files. This will create a clean copy of the file's data.

1. Open the original FileMaker application that the files were created in (still need to be on your Mac)
2. From the File Menu, choose Recover.
3. Locate and Select the file to be recovered.
4. Click the Recover button.
5. By default the new file is named "Recovered" filename.
6. Click New.
7. After the file is recovered, click OK.
8. Switch back to the desktop. Delete the original file.
9. Re-name the " "Recovered" file back to its original name.

• If recovering mutiple files, you could repeat Steps 1 - 9 with all files before proceeding to the next stage.

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Compress the "Recovered" Files

You will now save a compressed copy of the Recovered files.

1. Open the already "Recovered" file from the previous section.
2. From the File Menu, choose Save a Copy As...
3. Choose compressed copy (smaller) at bottom. Click and hold on the choices if needed.
4. Click Save. Wait for the compression to complete.
5. If recovering mutiple files, you could repeat Steps 1 - 4 with all files.
6. Switch back to the desktop. Delete the original "Recovered" file.
7. Re-name the "Compressed, Recovered" file back to the original filename.

• If compressing mutiple files, you could repeat Steps 1 - 7 with all files before proceeding to the next stage.
• These "recovered and compressed" files will be the ones to convert with FileMaker Pro 4.x.

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Convert the Files

You are now ready to convert the "recovered and compressed" files. You will also add the Windows file extension ".fp3" at the end of the filename. This will allow the file to be opened on Windows machines.

1. Open FileMaker Pro v4.x.
2. From the File Menu, choose Open.
3. Select the file you wish to convert and click Open.
4. In the Conversion of "filename" dialog box, click OK.
5. Add the extension ".fp3" to the end of the filename. Ex: Mailing List becomes Mailing List.fp3
6. Click Save to create the FM Pro v4.x file.
7. Conversion process will occur. Converted file will open in FileMaker Pro 4.x.

• Repeat Steps 1 - 7 to convert all files.
• After reviewing the new file, you can delete the original backup copy created in the first section.

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