FileMaker Pro 12.0v4 and FileMaker Pro 12.0v4 Advanced Updater FileMaker Pro 12.0v3 and FileMaker Pro 12.0v3 Advanced Updater FileMaker 12.3.103a xDBC update for FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Server.
Welcome to FileMaker® Pro Advanced, which helps you quickly create custom apps that work seamlessly across iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and the web.
For information about new and changed features in FileMaker Pro 18 Advanced, see Help.
This Installation Guide tells you how to install FileMaker Pro 18 Advanced on your Windows or Mac computer. Unless noted otherwise, the information in this guide pertains to both platforms.
To send your feedback on this guide, visit the FileMaker website.
For the most up-to-date version of this guide and other FileMaker documentation, see the Product Documentation Center.
For late-breaking information and release notes about FileMaker Pro Advanced, see the FileMaker Knowledge Base.
FileMaker Pro Advanced automatically checks for software updates (which include minor software changes) and for upgrades to new software versions (which include new and changed product features). 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 Advanced from a previous version.)
You can turn off notifications by choosing Edit menu > Preferences (Windows) or FileMaker Pro Advanced menu > Preferences (macOS).
Depending on how you purchased FileMaker Pro Advanced software, you received either a license certificate file or a license key.
License certificate (.fmcert) file: This file is available for you to download, along with the FileMaker Pro Advanced installer, depending on how you purchased the software.
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.
Make a backup copy of your FileMaker Pro Advanced software download in case you need to reinstall the software. See this article in the FileMaker Knowledge Base.
Some features of FileMaker Pro Advanced require additional software.
Feature | Software requirement |
---|---|
Send Mail script step using an email application | A supported email application. See FileMaker Pro Advanced 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 FileMaker Downloads and Resources. macOS: ODBC Manager, a freeware product from Actual Technologies. See FileMaker ODBC and JDBC Guide and Help. |
If you've installed the FileMaker Pro 18 Advanced trial version on your computer, you can convert to the full version of FileMaker Pro 18 Advanced by providing your license certificate file or license key without uninstalling the trial version first. See Help.
If you are upgrading FileMaker Pro Advanced from a previous version of FileMaker Pro Advanced or FileMaker Pro, upgrade to the new version before uninstalling the previous version.
If you purchased a boxed, upgrade version of FileMaker Pro Advanced 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 Advanced 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.
Files created by any version of FileMaker Pro Advanced or 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.
If you’re installing FileMaker Pro Advanced on multiple computers (as allowed by your FileMaker software license) or if you want to do a silent installation, you can automate the process. Use the file, Assisted Install.txt, with the installer to bypass the usual installation dialog boxes. See FileMaker Pro Advanced Network Install Setup Guide. For information on licensing, visit the FileMaker website.
For late-breaking information and release notes about FileMaker Pro Advanced, see the FileMaker Knowledge Base.
If you are using a supported 32-bit version of Windows, you can install only the 32-bit version of FileMaker Pro Advanced.
On supported 64-bit versions of Windows, you can install either the 32- or 64-bit version of FileMaker Pro Advanced. You must install the 64-bit version of FileMaker Pro Advanced if you plan to use FileMaker Pro Advanced with a 64-bit version of any of the following software:
Otherwise, you can install the 32-bit version of FileMaker Pro Advanced.
By default, FileMaker Pro 18 Advanced is installed in one of the following folders.
C:Program FilesFileMakerFileMaker Pro 18 Advanced
C:Program Files (x86)FileMakerFileMaker Pro 18 Advanced
C:Program FilesFileMakerFileMaker Pro 18 Advanced
During the installation you can choose a different drive or folder.
You must use the installation program to install FileMaker Pro Advanced—you can’t install FileMaker Pro Advanced by dragging files to your hard disk.
See Before you install.
If you have problems installing or starting FileMaker Pro Advanced, visit Support.
The Bonjour service enables automatic discovery of computers, devices, and services on your local network.
If Bonjour is not installed or the service is not running, FileMaker Pro Advanced can’t discover remote hosts on your local network. Without Bonjour, you must manually enter the host names or IP addresses for remote hosts on your local network.
If the installer doesn't detect a supported version of Bonjour, it prompts you to install Bonjour.
If you need to install Bonjour manually:
You can use Settings or Control Panel in Windows to uninstall FileMaker Pro Advanced, replace missing or corrupt files, or change which features are installed. When you repair FileMaker Pro Advanced, you may be prompted to provide your license certificate file or license key.
For late-breaking information and release notes about FileMaker Pro Advanced, see the FileMaker Knowledge Base.
By default, FileMaker Pro 18 Advanced is installed in the following folder:
[drive]/Applications/FileMaker Pro 18 Advanced
During the installation you can choose a different drive or folder.
You must use the installation program to install FileMaker Pro Advanced—you can’t install FileMaker Pro Advanced by dragging files to your hard disk.
See Before you install.
If you have problems installing or starting FileMaker Pro Advanced, visit Support.
Drag the FileMaker Pro Advanced preferences file to the Trash:
<home>/Library/Preferences/com.filemaker.client.pro12.plist
After you've installed FileMaker Pro Advanced, you can immediately begin working with the application. Here are some suggestions on how to get started.