[Macpartners] FileMaker Pro 8.5 Available from IS&T

[Jonathan Hunt]

Good afternoon,

Information Services and Technology's (IS&T) Volume & Site Licensed  
Software team is now accepting orders for and distributing FileMaker  
Pro 8.5 and FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced.  FileMaker, Inc has yet to  
release the Server and Mobile versions of FileMaker 8.5 so we are  
continuing to distribute version 8.0 for FileMaker Server, FileMaker  
Server Advanced (Web) and FileMaker Mobile. FileMaker Pro 8.5,  
FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, FileMaker Server 8.0v4 and FileMaker  
Server 8.0v4 Advanced now include Universal binaries and run on Intel- 
based Macs.

FileMaker, Inc.  has changed the way they distribute software for  
volume customers such as MIT.  They are moving away from physical  
media towards download solutions.  We are in the process of adapting  
our own distribution method to incorporate this change, but in the  
meantime have two media based options for FileMaker 8.5 available to  
the MIT community.

The first is a DVD containing the latest versions for Windows and  
Macintoshes:
- FileMaker Pro 8.5 (v1_R2)
- FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced (v1_R2)
- FileMaker Server 8.0 (v4_R2)
- FileMaker Server 8.0 Advanced (v4_R2)
- FileMaker Mobile 8.0 (v1)
- FileMaker Documentation

The second is a CD containing the latest versions for Windows and  
Macintoshes:
- FileMaker Pro 8.5 (v1_R2)
- FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced (v1_R2)
- FileMaker Documentation

We expect that these two options will meet the needs of the MIT  
Community until such time as we can implement a secured self service  
download site for FileMaker products.  Even after we have a self  
service download site, we will continue to provide media as needed  
for our customers.  If the above media solutions do not meet your  
needs, please let us know at vsls-help at mit.edu and we will work with  
you to understand your need and come up with a solution.

We have encountered one glitch with the new Windows installers from  
FileMaker, Inc. in that they cannot be installed directly from read- 
only media like DVDs and CDs.  In order to install FileMaker from the  
media mentioned above, you will need to copy the installer to a local  
hard drive before running the installation.  We are working with  
FileMaker, Inc. on ways to resolve this, but did not want to delay  
distribution since there is a reasonable work around.

If you have questions about FileMaker licensing, please contact the  
Volume & Site Licensed Software team at vsls-help at mit.edu.  For help  
installing or using basic FileMaker Pro features, please contact the  
Computing Help Desk at computing-help at mit.edu or (617) 253-1101.   
FileMaker version 8.5 is new to us as well.  While we are learning  
about version 8.5 ourselves, we will do our best to provide help and  
guidance, but expect that customers may have questions for which we  
will not have immediate answers.

Thanks,
Jon

___________________________________________________
Jonathan McIndoe Hunt     MIT EECS '97 617.253.0172
Manager Software Services
Client Support Services
Information Services & Technology, MIT
http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/software/