[WinPartners] FileMaker Pro 8.5 Release Effort Underway

[Cecilia Marra]

Good afternoon to the MIT Community:

FileMaker v8.5-Release Effort 
----------------------------- 
IS&T is pleased to announce a release effort for FileMaker Pro 8.5 is currently underway.  FileMaker
Pro has been available commercially since August 2006. Though distribution has already begun, the
FileMaker Release Team anticipates a December formal release for version 8.5 at MIT. 

Supported vs. Recommended Upgrade 
--------------------------------- 
Version 8.5 is similar to version 8.0, but with a few valuable new features and functionalities.
One critical factor in your decision to upgrade is that FileMaker Pro 8.5 is compatible with
Intel-based Macs.  Other new features include the Web Viewer, a new layout object that incorporates
a client's web browser window within your database.

Due to the overall similarity between versions 8.0 and 8.5, the team will not be testing or
documenting versions 7.0 and 8.0.  Current users of versions 7.0 or earlier are strongly urged to
move directly to version 8.5.   Current users of version 8.0 should also move to version 8.5 to take
advantage of the new features and Universal Binary compatibility.

With the advent of FileMaker versions 7 and higher, significant improvements in the area of security
have been made to the FileMaker product line.  For this reason, IS&T anticipates the discontinuation
of support for FileMaker 6.0 by 6/30/07.  It is strongly recommended that users of FileMaker 6.0 or
earlier upgrade to 8.5 well before that date. The Departmental Consulting and Application
Development (DCAD) team can facilitate your migration from 6.0 to 8.5; for more information, please
contact db-consult at mit.edu. 

Testing Effort 
--------------
At this time, normal testing efforts will be limited to testing FileMaker Pro 8.5 as single user
applications on the various supported operating systems. The team anticipates a second phase of
testing on FileMaker Server 8.0v4 (the latest version of the Server product), so that the community
may have full access to the security features now available in the FileMaker product line.  We
expect to provide support for FileMaker Pro 8.5 by late December.  In winter 2007, we'll commence
testing and support for FileMaker Server 8.0v4 to allow for secure workgroup and departmental
solutions.
   
If you are interested in participating in the test efforts, please contact
filemaker-release at mit.edu.   

MIT Support for FileMaker v8.5 will include: 
-------------------------------------------- 
* Updated online documentation regarding installation, upgrade considerations, licensing and system
requirements     
* Help Desk support of all currently supported features     
* Updated Stock Answers pages 
* Training at MIT will be done on version 8.0/8.5 for the foreseeable future. 

Compatibility Issues
-------------------- 
The FileMaker 8.5 file format is compatible with the 7.x and 8.x family. However, mixing client
versions in a shared environment is not advised, as there are feature differences that could cause
problems for users of older versions.   If you are using FileMaker Server, your clients and server
version should match, with the latest patches for both clients and server applied.  The only
exception to this rule is that 8.5 clients should connect to Server 8.0v4, as there is no Server
v8.5.  

The FileMaker 5.x/6.0 file format is *not* compatible with any later version.  You may run 6.0 and
later clients on the same machine if you need to access different version databases, but they are
essentially completely separate applications.  Again, we urge that users of version 5.x/6.0 migrate
to version 8.5. 

Distribution of Volume License Copies of v8.5 at MIT 
---------------------------------------------------- 
MIT FileMaker product license holders who wish to upgrade to v8.5 may order media now by using an
online request form. Media will not be distributed without a proactive request from license holders.
For licensing information at MIT see: http://web.mit.edu/is/products/vsls/mitfmpro/index.html 

FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Advanced (formerly Developer), FileMaker Server and Server Advanced, and
FileMaker Mobile are currently available for use by MIT faculty, staff, and students free of charge
under the terms of an IS&T-brokered volume license agreement with FileMaker, Inc.  

NOTE:  Support for FileMaker Server is anticipated in spring 2007.  We have no plans to support
FileMaker Advanced (formerly Developer), FileMaker Server Advanced, and FileMaker Mobile.   

You are invited to follow the progress of this effort via the Project Notebook at
http://web.mit.edu/swrt/releases/filemaker/.  And remember, volunteer testers are welcome!  

Please contact filemaker-release at mit.edu with questions or comments.   

Thanks for your attention!
Cecilia Marra 
FileMaker Release Coordinator