FileMaker Pro 7 is now shipping. What does this mean for Pre1 customers?
Pre1 has a close relationship with FileMaker and we have been working with pre-release versions of FileMaker 7 over the past year. We are extremely excited about the new enhancements to FileMaker. This will allow SmartPublisher to make great strides in its future development.
Our current version, 2.5, and upcoming version, SmartPublisher 3.0, will continue to support FileMaker versions 5, 5.5 and 6 but will not support FileMaker Pro 7. SmartPublisher version 4, to be released in 2005, will be built on FileMaker 7.
There are a number of reasons to continue using FileMaker Pro 5/5.5/6 at this point:
* While FileMaker Pro 7 has been released, FileMaker Server 7 will not be released for a number of months. This makes the use of FileMaker Pro 7 unusable for any customer with a multi-user environment.
* FileMaker Pro 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 use the same file format, but FileMaker Pro 7 uses a new format. Once a file is converted to this new format, it can't be converted back. This means all workstations and the FileMaker server must be upgraded at the same time.
* SmartPublisher 3 is nearly feature-complete following nine months of develpment. If we were to hold off shipping this version in order to convert it to FileMaker 7, it would cause an unacceptable delay.
* FileMaker Pro 7 offers a host of new features that will allow SmartPublisher to streamline the interface, improve security, and performance. We plan on offering all these advantages to our users. This process will take time to develop and test.
* FileMaker Pro 7 will not run on Windows 98 or Macintosh "Classic" (8.5 through 9.2) operating systems, requiring software, memory and/or hardware upgrades for Pre1 customers.
SmartPublisher / FileMaker 7 FAQ:
1. Should I upgrade my current FileMaker licenses to version 7 right away?
No, for several reasons:
* The FileMaker Server software will not be available until summer of 2004.
* FileMaker 7 requires Mac OS X or Windows 2000 or XP.
* SmartPublisher 3 will not require (nor be compatible with) FileMaker 7.
That said, you can run FileMaker 6 and 7 on the same machine, and each version can access its own databases. This will allow you to use FileMaker Pro 7 for non-SmartPublisher purposes, if you choose, while still running SmartPublisher in your current version of FileMaker.
2. I need to buy more FileMaker licenses. What should I do?
You can purchase version 6 and then upgrade later, but it's also OK to buy version 7, because this includes a license for earlier versions of FileMaker. So you will be able to install FileMaker 6 until the time comes to convert to 7.
New licenses and/or upgrades may be licensed through Pre1 Software.
3. I'm planning to buy a new computer, what do I need?
Keep in mind that the computer must support the latest OS on Mac or Windows. You should look here for system requirements: http://www.filemaker.com/products/fm_requirements.html
* Note that FileMaker Server 7 can take much better advantage of server processing speed and RAM than version 6. IT Administrators should take a look at this tech brief: http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/techbrief_fm7_server_model.pdf
4. I don't need any new copies of FileMaker right now or a new computer. What should I do?
Nothing. Enjoy the benefits of SmartPublisher3, available summer of 2004.
Integrating and automating the publishing workflow has been the core mission of Pre1; Software since 1999. Pre1 Software products bring selling, ad scheduling, billing, print and web production together in one system.
Whether you need one workstation or 250, whether you use Macintosh or Windows computers, SmartPublisher offers powerful yet easy to use solutions to increase revenues while saving time and money.
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