Before you begin
Welcome to Claris™ FileMaker Pro™, which helps you quickly create custom apps that work seamlessly across iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and the web.
How To: Use the FileMaker Pro 11 graphical user interface. By WonderHowTo; FileMaker Pro; Meet FileMaker Pro 11's user interface! Whether you're new to the FileMaker Pro database management program or just want to learn how to take advantage of FileMaker Pro 11's new features, you're sure to benefit from this free video tutorial from the folks at Lynda. FileMaker Pro is surprisingly easy to update for security and new functionality. When new versions become available (free to users with active maintenance agreements by the way), a notice will appear within the FileMaker Pro application and you can easily update everything with a few simple clicks.
For information about new and changed features in FileMaker Pro, see Help.
About this guide
This software updates FileMaker Pro 17 Advanced to version 17.0.5. If you are unable to successfully update to FileMaker Pro 17.0.5 Advanced, search the FileMaker Knowledge Base for installation information. Software details Japanese era name change. This software update supports the new Japanese era, Reiwa (令和), which begins on May 1, 2019. FileMaker Pro 5 lets you take any database and define relationships between it and any other database with a fair amount of ease. Another smart addition is ODBC support, a long-missing feature that makes FileMaker Pro that much more relevant to PC users (since FileMaker continues to be dominant on the Mac platform, where it was created). FileMaker Pro is an interesting application. It combines the power of database fine-tuning and management with that of app creation for use on different platforms. Each particular entry or app can.
This Installation Guide tells you how to install FileMaker Pro on your Windows or Mac computer. Unless noted otherwise, the information in this guide pertains to both platforms.
Where to find FileMaker documentation
For the most up-to-date version of this guide and other FileMaker® product documentation, see the Product Documentation Center.
For late-breaking information and release notes about FileMaker Pro, see the Knowledge Base.
Customer Support, Knowledge Base, and Community
- For help with installing, starting, or reinstalling FileMaker Pro (excluding data recovery), in FileMaker Pro, choose Help menu > Service and Support or visit Support.
- For tips, technical advice, and more information about FileMaker Pro, visit the Knowledge Base.
- To ask questions and get advice from other users, in FileMaker Pro, choose Help menu > FileMaker Community or visit the FileMaker Community.
Information in the Knowledge Base and the FileMaker Community may not be available in all languages.
Product notifications
FileMaker Pro automatically checks for software updates and upgrades to new software versions. You can update your software with minor changes when you receive the update notification, or by choosing Help menu > Check for Updates. (You cannot upgrade your software for new and changed features this way; see Upgrading FileMaker Pro from a previous version.)
You can turn off notifications by choosing Edit menu > Preferences (Windows) or FileMaker Pro menu > Preferences (macOS).
About the license certificate file or license key
Depending on how you purchased FileMaker Pro software, you received either a license certificate file or a license key.
License certificate (.fmcert) file: This file is available for you to download, depending on how you purchased the software.
- If you purchased FileMaker Pro as a download from the Claris Store website, you received an email with a link to your Electronic Software Download page. Your license certificate file is available from that page.
- If you signed up for a Claris FileMaker Cloud® subscription or free trial, this file is available from the Subscription page in Claris Customer Console.
- License key: If you purchased a boxed version of FileMaker Pro, your unique, 35-character license key is in the box.
You must have a valid license certificate file or license key to install the software. Otherwise, you can install the software only as a trial. Don't lose your license certificate file or license key; keep it in a safe place in case you need to reinstall the software.
Backing up your FileMaker Pro download
Make a backup copy of your FileMaker Pro software download in case you need to reinstall the software. See this article in the Knowledge Base.
Requirements for features
Some features of FileMaker Pro require additional software.
| Feature | Software requirement |
|---|---|
| Send Mail script step using an email application | A supported email application. See FileMaker Pro technical specifications. This requirement does not apply to SMTP mail. |
| Phone dialing (Windows only) | Phone dialer or other Telephony API (TAPI) compliant software. |
| ODBC and JDBC features | FileMaker ODBC and JDBC drivers, which are available in the xDBC folder in the installation disk image and at Downloads and Resources. macOS: ODBC Manager, a freeware product from Actual Technologies. See FileMaker ODBC and JDBC Guide and Help. |
Converting the trial version to the full version of FileMaker Pro
If you've installed the FileMaker Pro trial version on your computer, you can convert to the full version of FileMaker Pro by providing your license certificate file or license key without uninstalling the trial version first. See Help.
Upgrading FileMaker Pro from a previous version
If you are upgrading FileMaker Pro from a previous version of FileMaker Pro, upgrade to the new version before uninstalling the previous version.
- Install the upgrade using your license certificate file (or license key, if you purchased a boxed version). See About the license certificate file or license key.
- Move plug-ins, dictionary information, and your preferences to the new version of FileMaker Pro. See the Knowledge Base.
- If you plan to use only the latest version, uninstall the previous version.
If you purchased a boxed, upgrade version of FileMaker Pro and choose to uninstall the previous version before upgrading to the latest version, make sure you have the license key for the previous version. When you install FileMaker Pro with an upgrade license key, if a previous version isn't installed, you are asked to enter the license key for the previous version of the product.
Opening files from previous versions
Files created by any version of FileMaker Pro since version 12 are in the FileMaker Pro 12 file format (FMP12) and have the filename extension .fmp12. To use files created with versions earlier than 12, you’ll need to convert them to the FMP12 format. See Help.
Automating the installation process
If you’re installing FileMaker Pro on multiple computers (as allowed by your FileMaker Pro software license) or if you want to do a silent installation, you can automate the process. Use the file, Assisted Install.txt, to keep user interaction to a minimum. See FileMaker Pro Network Install Setup Guide. For information on licensing, visit our website.
Claris FileMaker Cloud
FileMaker Cloud is your total toolset to create custom apps and share them in the cloud with your teams. Choose between the Essentials or the Standard plan.
Plan details:
Essentials plan
Filemaker Pro For Mac
Hosting limit
Users
Storage
Compute
Standard plan
Users
Hosting limit
Storage
Compute
Both plans include
API usage
Support
Filemaker Pro Download
Filemaker Pro 7
Security
Filemaker Pro Jobs
Monitoring
- 3 app hosting limit
- 5-10 users only
- 2 GB of FileMaker Data Storage per user/per year. No upgrades available.
- Compute - medium only. No upgrades available.
Filemaker Pro 18
- 125 app hosting limit
- 5-99 users
- 6 GB of FileMaker Data Storage per user/per year. Upgrades available for purchase.
- Compute varies based on number of users. Upgrades available for purchase.