In recent years, many companies have worked exclusively with Windows and often with databases under Microsoft AccessVisual FoxPro or on SQL-basis. Not only the significantly increased flexibility of FileMaker, but also the constantly growing interest in the Apple platform ensure that FileMaker is increasingly becoming the focus of companies in Germany. But how can a solution be migrated to FileMaker that was previously developed under Microsoft Access, Visual FoxPro or on an SQL basis? A purely manual migration - i.e. new development - is of course always possible, but it is also particularly time-consuming. FmPro Migrator is a tool available for this purpose, with which the migration from Microsoft Access, Visual FoxPro, Firebird and SQL-Server (and vice versa) is greatly facilitated.
FileMaker migration tool for all cases
FmPro Migrator from .com Solutions Inc. allows a wide range of database conversion options - in detail, these are as follows:
- Microsoft Access databases to FileMaker Pro (incl. forms and reports)
- Microsoft Visual FoxPro databases to FileMaker Pro
- Firebird and SQL Server to FileMaker Pro (data tables)
- FileMaker Pro 2-11 to SQL-Database (e.g. MySQL, Oracle, Access, MS SQL Server, etc.)
- Repeating fields from FileMaker to SQL database
- Export of images from FileMaker container fields
- Export of FileMaker Pro layouts to HTML, XML, Access forms/reports, Visual Studio 2010, .Net 4 projects and Servoy projects
- Converts FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Access and Visual FoxPro projects into full-featured LiveCode applications
- Automates FileMaker with regard to the creation of relationships, TOs and layouts
FmPro Migrator is a standalone application for Mac OS X or Windows that quickly and reliably converts FileMaker Pro databases to MySQL, Oracle, Access, SQL Server, Sybase, DB2, OpenBase, PostgreSQL, FrontBase, SQLite and Valentina. The entire database structure from FileMaker is automatically converted into the corresponding data tables of the target database. Large text fields as well as repeating or container fields are taken into account.
Migrate FileMaker to FileMaker
With the "Table Consolidation" feature, tables, TOs, relationships, data, scripts and layouts can be copied between any FileMaker databases (versions 8-11). This feature is particularly useful if, for example, a solution with several files is to be converted into a single file solution. With this function, developers benefit from the higher performance and the new security model implemented in FileMaker from version 7. For this reason, this function is particularly suitable for converting solutions from older FileMaker versions (up to version 6.0) into the newer FP7 format to convert. FmPro Migrator Developer Edition uses batch tools, QuickKeys under Mac OS X and WinAutomation under Windows for the conversion. In this way, tables and fields, TOs, relationships, value lists, custom functions, layouts and scripts can be automatically transferred to the converted solution. During the migration process, TOs and file references are automatically transferred to the new database structure and assigned to each layout.
Convert from Microsoft Access to FileMaker
FmPro Migrator can be purchased in two different editions. The Platinum Edition includes all the functions of the Developer Edition, but also includes the conversion of solutions under Microsoft Access to FileMaker and vice versa, the conversion of MS Access and FileMaker solutions into fully functional and network-compatible LiveCode applications. These functions can also be licensed separately with the Developer Edition of FmPro Migrator.
Functions of the conversion from Access to FileMaker
- Automatic conversion of forms, reports and subforms into FileMaker layouts and portals. Forms and reports are converted into FileMaker layouts within a few seconds.
- Conversion of Visual Basic functions into commented FileMaker scripts
- Conversion of grouped radio buttons and checkboxes into fields on layouts with stored value lists
- Conversion of the Access relationship graph to the FileMaker relationship graph
- Conversion of Access value lists to FileMaker value lists
- Migration of embedded images and graphic elements on Access forms to FileMaker layout objects
- Conversion of Access SQL queries into FileMaker TOs and scripts
- Replacing Windows-only fonts in platform-independent fonts with the Search & Replace Editor
Unsupported Access objects during conversion
- Embedded Page#, Date, Record objects (only the text of the object is inserted in the layout here)
- Chart (not possible, as FileMaker only supports full chart support via third-party plugins)
- acCustomControl (ActiveX controls are not compatible)
- TAB order on layout objects
- z-order stacking of layout objects
- Layout Part Objects
The Platinum Edition of the FmPro Migrator thus offers the extensive and automatic conversion of Access databases (.mdb/.accdb files) into FileMaker databases at a fixed price. In contrast to Microsoft Access, which allows a maximum of 2 GB per file and 255 fields, FileMaker offers completely new possibilities for the developer with a maximum of 8 TB and any number of fields as well as platform independence. Detailed information on converting Access databases to FileMaker databases can be found on the Website of the manufacturer.
Licensing and prices
FmPro Migrator Developer Edition can be purchased from the manufacturer at a price of 200 US dollars for Mac OS X and Windows as a single-user license. The Platinum Edition, which also supports conversion from Access to FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Pro to Access (unlimited) and database to LiveCode application, costs 600 US dollars as a single user license. FmPro Migrator can be downloaded from this Website can be ordered directly from .com Solutions Inc. and paid for by credit card.
Markus Schall has been developing individual databases, interfaces and business applications based on Claris FileMaker since 1994. He is a Claris partner, FMM Award winner 2011 and developer of the ERP software gFM-Business. He is also a book author and founder of the M. Schall Publishers.
