How do I open FileMaker Pro 7 (fp7) files in a free Mac spreadsheet app after upgrading to MacOS Sonoma?

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Level 1

36 points

How do I open FileMaker Pro 7 (fp7) files in a free Mac spreadsheet app after upgrading to MacOS Sonoma?

Does anyone know of a FREE Mac spreadsheet app that will open FileMaker Pro 7 (fp7) files? I upgraded from Mac Mini 2009 to a Mini 2020 with MacOS Sonoma which requires an upgrade of FileMaker Pro to a version I cannot afford. Or can anyone suggest a different route to manipulate the fp7 files so I can get the data? I still have the Mac Mini 2009 with the fp7 app on it. I'll have to disconnect the Mini 2020 and reconnect the Mini 2009 but I'll be happy to do so if I can get the data from the fp7 file into a form/version that another spreadsheet app such as Excel or Numbers can open and manipulate.

Thank you.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac mini, macOS 14.6

Posted on Feb 5, 2025 1:37 PM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

68,702 points

Feb 7, 2025 9:02 AM in response to tcarder

You can use the old Mac to export the records into a spreadsheet format. This is not perfect depending on the database format & information held in it.

Even if you were to use the latest version of FMPro, you would most likely need to convert that older database into a newer version.

I don't know if there are any third party apps which are able to convert the .fp7 database format into anything other format.

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Answer 2

tcarder Author

Level 1

36 points

Feb 8, 2025 11:51 AM in response to HWTech

Thank you, HWTech. My ignorance is glaring! I did not think of saving the file as a spreadsheet instead of a dbase. I have a Seagate external HD and have placed the subject file on it (cannot get the new Mini to share with the old Mini) and tried to use Numbers and Excel to open the fp7 file, but it did not work. Saving the file as a spreadsheet should make the file readable by Numbers or Excel. I'll let ya know. My quite important file may be "openable" after all without having to spend hundreds on a FileMaker upgrade; hundreds of dollars I don't have. Thank you, again.

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