polytrope CMAssistant/support: filemaker |
CMAssistant: General info about versions, updates and upgradesWhat version of the database are you using?To figure out what version of CMAssistant you are using now, pull down in the Assistant or CMAssistant menu to "About CMAssistant." A dialog will appear displaying several bits of information, including a version number (e.g. "3.5 r9") and a date. The date may look like a date or it may be formatted as a string of numbers ("200307101620" means "July 10, 2003, 4:20 PM"). CMAssistant goes through several growth spurts each year and it is almost always worth your while to have the latest version. For more information about the latest version, contact Polytrope Support. As of August 2008, the latest version number of CMAssistant is 6b. Terminological note: An "update" is a later version of the solution that contains relatively minor enhancements, bug-fixes, etc. An "upgrade" is a relatively major new version of the solution, containing significant new features such as new reports or the ability to track new types of data. "Update" (where the structure doesn't change)Our current database products (GOODBOOKS and CMAssistant) are designed to make updates quick and easy. Your database solution consists of two files. One contains your data, and the other contains all of the forms, programming, reports, etc., that we have programmed. We call these the back end and the front end files, or the data and application files. If you are already using the latest version of one of our database products, then, in most cases, you will be able to get the latest copy of the application (front end) file from us, take your files offline for a minute, plop the new application file into the database folder (overwriting the old file with the same name), and then put the solution back into use. Takes 5 minutes or less. You should always contact us to get the latest version of the application file. Occasionally, we have to make a significant change to the structure of the data file. At that point, the quick update process won't work and you'll have to arrange an overnight upgrade with us. "Upgrade" (for example, when the structure changes)Existing licensees of EXTRA! or CMAssistant versions 3 and 4 may upgrade to CMAssistant 6 provided their maintenance contracts are current. Moving your data from an earlier version of CMAssistant or EXTRA! is a big job and is done by appointment only. We will usually need to get your data for a couple of days. For more info, go here. We encourage all of our older licensees to upgrade to the latest version of CMAssistant. But you should be aware that there is more to the process than sending us your files for a couple of days. You will also need to upgrade your FileMaker software. The latest version of CMAssistant or GOODBOOKS usually requires the latest version of FileMaker Pro and. if you wish to share your files using FileMaker Server, you should upgrade to the latest version of FileMaker Server well. Upgrading your FileMaker software may, in turn, necessitate changes in your current hardware. Please check FileMaker Inc.'s Web site for details. Copyright © 2004, Polytrope Solutions, Dallas, Texas. All rights reserved. |