Hi all,

I have a large FM6 file I need to convert to version 7. The file is
~800MB as it contains alot of graphic images.

FM7 gets most of the way of converting the file then says it can't
finish because the file is corrupted. I've run Recover and Save a
smaller copy on the file, both seem to run ok (although trying to
compress it actually makes it a bit bigger).

Any ideas?

Thanks
Andy

In article <1124127731.651099.324870 (AT) o13g2000cwo (DOT) googlegroups.com>,
ajohnstone (AT) capcitypress (DOT) com says...

Try breaking the problem into smaller pieces, and do a binary search for
the problem.

0) Back up the FM6 file in a safe place.

1) Save an empty clone of the FM6 file, convert that to FM7. (Back it
up). Post back if it fails on the clone. Otherwise...

The normal way of dealing with this is to create a converted clone,
export the data to CSV, and then import it back into Filemaker. If its
primarily graphics, I'm not sure if there is a convenient import/export
format that will work. If there is you can try that... if not:

2) Copy the FM6 file and delete the 2nd half of the records from it. Try
converting it. If it succeeds try another copy and delete the 1st half.

3) If both succeed. Import one into the other to put all the records
back together.
4) If one conversion fails, subdivide into 2 and try again.

(PS If the big file is part of a "solution" of multiple related files,
in step one, rename the clone to the original and do the conversion as a
group.) The subsequent conversions on the various sub-datasets can be
done on just the one file - it'll break all the relationships etc, but
after a successful conversion you can just import them into the properly
converted clone.)

Good luck

Thanks 42, I'll give those options a shot.

I've already done a conversion on a clone of the file, and that goes
just fine. I was disapointed that I couldn't do a one time import from
an FM6 file (considering I have the option to open without converting..
).

I'll have to go with option 2 i think, as this database tracks artwork
graphics.

I'll post on how things go..

Hi all,

I've been giving 42's suggestion of splitting the file down.

It is most definatly a certain record that causes the Filemaker
conversion to fail. What exactly is wrong I don't know, since I can
browse all the records in 6 just fine.

Anyone have any ideas on how certain data could cause a conversion to
fail?

In article <1124475314.694819.71790 (AT) g44g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com>,
ajohnstone (AT) capcitypress (DOT) com says...
I'd bet its probably a damaged graphic.

Have you actually isolated the specific record yet? Does it display
correctly?

Andy wrote:
During conversion, FileMaker creates a log (text file) in the folder
where the FM7 file exists. Have you checked that log to see if it notes
where the problem is?

Not yet...I got it down to 500, and using my wheel mouse scrolled
through all the records.. nothing gave an error or looked damaged... so
i'm still cutting the files in half to locate the record..

Howard,

The log says:
8/24/2005 9:19:59 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, Conversion started.
8/24/2005 9:19:59 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, Version: Pro 5.0 - 6.0.
8/24/2005 9:19:59 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 3 file references were
converted.
8/24/2005 9:20 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 1 relationships were converted.
8/24/2005 9:20 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 4 calculations were converted.
8/24/2005 9:21:16 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 1356 container objects were
converted.
8/24/2005 9:21:16 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 0 layout images were
converted.
8/24/2005 9:21:41 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 19 fields were converted.
8/24/2005 9:21:41 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 1423 records were converted.
8/24/2005 9:21:42 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 15 indexes recreated.
8/24/2005 9:21:42 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 2 access privileges were
converted.
8/24/2005 9:21:42 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, 0, 8 value lists were
converted.
8/24/2005 9:21:51 AM, Ads_Naming 4.fp7, -1, Unknown Error: .



Andy

Hi all,

It does seem to be a corrupted Graphic file. We have 4 container
fields, and the second one doesn't display before FM 6 crashes when
viewing the record. Hopefully this is the only record like this..
otherwise i'll have to search again. (Basically a 'quick find'
algorithm...but its manual :-( ).

Thanks

After value lists, the conversion utility tries to convert layouts. Has
the conversion left you with any FM7 file to open? If so, you may want
to check to see what the last layout was and assume that either it or
the next layout from your FM5 file are corrupt (or have corrupt
object(s) on it.

Andy wrote:
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Howard Schlossberg (818) 883-2846
FM Pro Solutions Los Angeles, California

FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance