Moving to FileMaker 8

Conversion, Migration or Re-write?

Having converted, migrated and finally re-written a complex multi-file (over 50 files) FileMaker solution into a single file I feel that I know quite a bit about this sometimes prickly topic.   In summary:  straight conversion is easy but confers few benefits while re-writing into a single file can be difficult and laborious but gives great benefits and can be hugely worthwhile. Migration fits somewhere between the two and is often used as a catch-all phrase.  Benefits are variable, but usually fairly muted.

That, of course, is just my opinion (although it is pretty close to mainstream received opinion on this).  What I would like to explain in the page(s) below is why I arrive at that conclusion.  And in doing so help anyone else who is wondering which way to advance their FileMaker solution(s).

I must point out that there are a number of documents, mainly provided by FileMaker, which you need to master before doing a proper migration to FileMaker 7 or 8.  But they don't, imho, tell the whole story.  And for good reasons.  Click here for list of links

But first:  What's the difference between Conversion and Migration and which route should you choose?  And should you choose to convert or migrate at all?