Converting Earlier FileMaker Data

Versions 7 and 8 of FileMaker both use the .fp7 format, so there's no need to convert FileMaker 7 files before working on them within FileMaker 8. Any files created with earlier versions of FileMaker, however, first need to be converted to the .fp7 format.

To convert files from FileMaker versions 36

1.	While running FileMaker 8, choose File > Open ( in Windows/ on the Mac) and navigate to the file created using an earlier version of FileMaker. Once you find it, click Open (Figure 14.17). Figure 14.17. Navigate to the file created using an earlier version of FileMaker and click Open.
2.	A dialog box appears, alerting you that the older original file will be converted and automatically renamed by adding Old to its name (Figure 14.18). Unless you want to type in another name, click OK. Figure 14.18. Before converting a previous-version file, FileMaker automatically renames it by adding Old to the name.
3.	The Name converted file dialog box appears and by default applies the original file's name to the .fp7 version (Figure 14.19). Rename it if you like, then click Save to close the dialog box. Figure 14.19. By default FileMaker applies the original file's name to the .fp7 version. Rename it if you like, then click Save.
4.	A progress bar appears briefly as FileMaker converts the old database. The new version of the file then appears in Browse mode, ready for use in FileMaker 8.