Author Topic: Filemaker Pro 2.1 opening newer files  (Read 1812 times)

Offline chrisharjo

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Filemaker Pro 2.1 opening newer files
« on: July 12, 2003, 06:53:56 AM »
wacko.gif Hello,
I have a copy of Filemaker Pro 2.1 I got from a Goodwill auction with a bunch of other stuff. I like the format and used it to read a manual for the Lemmings game that was in the batch too(with no manual) I got from Goodwill that was made in that filemaker version. I am learning to use it now but I got a catalog of Mac model numbers that is said to be made with Filemaker. here is the web site:
http://www.finallyretired.com/web2010/conn.../compstore.html
 wallbash.gif My version will not see the file, is there any way to get the file viewed with my version or any other program. I like the way this program makes databases and it is fun trying to make some to store some of my junk in addition to my Palm pilot. Any info would be welcomed. thanx.gif

Offline chrisharjo

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Filemaker Pro 2.1 opening newer files
« Reply #1 on: July 12, 2003, 07:00:13 AM »
oops.gif I said it was made with filemaker 4.0 but the site did not say what version, just it was made with Claris Filemaker. whistling.gif sorry got in a hurry.

Offline RHPConsult

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Filemaker Pro 2.1 opening newer files
« Reply #2 on: July 12, 2003, 09:18:46 AM »
Chrisharjo:

I can't say I know for sure that FileMaker versions from the "early days" were/are always backwards compatible. I think I bought my first copy of 1.0 in about 1986, after it had been released to the world by its young accountant-authors.

Claris bought FM from those authors. Then, as I recall, Claris went from being simply an Apple brand, to a division of the corporation, to a separate company to bye-bye baby. I believe that the FileMaker "company" is the sole surviving descendant of Claris, as ClarisWorks became AppleWorks and Claris passed into history. AppleWorks has not been completely backwards compatible.

FileMaker has been a gem of a program since its very inception. Elegant hardly is adequate as a description. It was a source of amazement that, as I began to exploit its characteristics, every time I thought I'd like to do something new in constructing a database from scratch, there was the "ability" of FM to do it, buried inside the program by its astonishingly creative authors.

The file in question opened seamlessly in my copy of FM Pro 3.0. As I look at it (and its March, 1996 date) I am struck by the fact that Apple, itself, has somewhere in its reference sites a present day roster of the same historical roster. - - Kelly knows better than most (all) humans how to unearth same.

If I can figure out how my Acrobat Writer might make a copy of the data from “your” file, I’ll do so and e-mail it to you. I’ve not previously done so with an FM file. I’ll fool around a bit and see what might be done.

Which methods have you used in your attempts to open the file? Through the app, or merely clicking on the file's icon itself? Have you received any alert messages from the failed attempts? I seem to recall that a later edition of FM will "announce" that it is creating a new copy of an early file and that the old one will be saved but with a changed name.

Setting aside any debate about how long the "original" license of the app is presumed to last   wink.gif   you might try a long shot, by checking the web to see if there's an archive of Claris updaters maintained by someone/anyone? There is an AppleWorks Forum. A query to it/them might also produce something.

Offline RHPConsult

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Filemaker Pro 2.1 opening newer files
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2003, 10:14:13 AM »
Added note

Well, I just tried to make a Postscript file of the FM file, in anticipation of "distilling" it into a pdf, but what came out was only 150+ pages of gibberish, enough to only make a cyptographer smile!

Offline chrisharjo

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Filemaker Pro 2.1 opening newer files
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2003, 02:51:19 PM »
thanx.gif Thanks for the try. I will look into the Apple Works fourm. If I find out anything I will post. I tried to double click it but is says file creater not present. I opened my filemaker but it would not even see the file in the open file dialog window. I like the program very much, it was in a pile of disks that came with a bunch of computers and parts. I even got a copy of the FWB cdrom driver. All these old programs come in handy when building up old machines, I usually give them out as gifts to family and friends who don't have computers. I have got a ton of computers, kinda like a old lady with a bunch of cats, but I am just a old man. laugh.gif

Offline RHPConsult

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Filemaker Pro 2.1 opening newer files
« Reply #5 on: July 12, 2003, 03:06:12 PM »
My FileMarker Pro 3.0v1 opened it in a flash, after it was DL-ed and unstuffed.

!0+MB, 150+ pages. Hefty file.

If someone out there (hey, Sandbox, are you listenin'?) can tell me how to use Acrobat Distiller on such a beast, then maybe I could do something for you.

We "olde" men gotta stick together  clap.gif

The formatting was a dead duck when I opened the initial results of "printing" a Postscript file . . . the first step in using Distiller.

Congratulations on your recycling effort(s) . . . 'round these parts it used to be called Grandpa's TrickleDown System of Computer Distribution.

Offline RHPConsult

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« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2003, 03:27:10 PM »
PLAN B just occurred to me . . . but it didn't work, either.

I attempted to open your file via FM Pro 5.5, which is OSX compatible. Worked like a charm. Now I have a copy that opens in FM 3x and FMPro 5.5.

Then, since Jaguar lets one choose either PRINT or SAVE AS PDF, I did the latter.

Ended up getting a neat file of an abundance of pages . . . but only the sortof frontspieces of all the interactive subsections of the file. Accordingly, PDFs won't cut it, I now see.

Oh well. It seemed like such a good idea at the time . . . . (a legend some friends have often suggested be put on my tombstone!)

  doh.gif