FileMaker Upgrade and Migration Services

A FileMaker upgrade moves your system from an old version of FileMaker to a current, supported one, with the data intact and the scripts tested. Keene Systems has worked with FileMaker since version 5, so we can bring even very old files up to date.

Why old FileMaker versions become a problem

FileMaker systems are famously durable. Many run for ten or fifteen years on the version they were built in. The trouble arrives from outside. A new version of macOS or Windows will not run the old FileMaker. A replacement computer cannot install it. A security review asks whether the software is still supported, and the answer is no.

At that point the upgrade is no longer optional, and it is being done in a hurry. It is far better to plan it.

Signs it is time to upgrade FileMaker

• You keep an old computer running because it is the only one the system works on.
• A macOS or Windows update is being postponed because of FileMaker.
• New staff cannot be given the software because that version is no longer available.
• A plug-in the system relies on has been discontinued.
• An insurer, auditor or customer has asked whether your software is supported.

What an upgrade involves

How much work an upgrade takes depends on how far back the system starts.

• From FileMaker 12 or later. The file format, .fmp12, is the same one used today. The work is testing, updating plug-ins and taking advantage of newer features.
• From FileMaker 7 to 11. These use the older .fp7 format. The files are converted to .fmp12, then every script and layout is checked, because conversion changes some behavior.
• From FileMaker 6 or earlier. These .fp5 files are converted in two stages. Systems this old were often built as many separate files, and an upgrade is a good moment to tidy that structure.

In every case the server matters as much as the file. We install a current FileMaker Server, set up scheduled backups and encrypted connections, and move your users across.

What changes for your staff

Done properly, very little. The screens look familiar and the data is all there. What changes is what sits underneath: a supported version, a server that is backed up, and access to features the old version never had, including connections to websites and other systems, better mobile use through FileMaker Go, and the AI features in recent releases.

Augustus Funeral Home in Bermuda is a recent example. Its FileMaker system was upgraded and rehosted by our team after we took it on.

Upgrade or replace?

An upgrade is nearly always less disruptive than a replacement, and for a system that fits the business it is the right choice. If the system no longer fits, an upgrade is still worth considering as the first step, because it makes the data easier to work with whatever comes next. A FileMaker consulting review will tell you which situation you are in.

How we upgrade a FileMaker system

1. We assess the starting point. Version, file format, plug-ins, server and anything unusual in how the system was built.
2. We convert a copy. The live system keeps running while a copy is converted and examined.
3. We test and repair. Scripts, calculations, layouts and printing are checked, and whatever conversion changed is put right.
4. We set up the new server. Current FileMaker Server, scheduled backups and encrypted connections.
5. We switch over. A final copy of the data is brought across and your users move to the new version, usually over a weekend.

The next step is a short, no-pressure conversation. Schedule a FileMaker exploration call or use the form on this page.