• The first folder contains an installer for the FileMaker Pro User application, a runtime version of Claris Corp.’s FileMaker pro database manager. Open this folder and launch the Installer application to place the FileMaker Pro User software and its supporting files on your Macintosh hard disk.
If you only have one hard disk and the Installer refuses to install the FileMaker Pro User software on this hard disk, you may need to copy the contents of the “Disk 1” and “Disk 2” folders onto floppy disks to carry out the installation.
• The second folder contains the Macintosh Catalog Database and its accompanying documentation.
The copy of FileMaker Pro User that will be installed on your hard disk is hardwired to open only the Mac Catalog Database. When you first launch the FileMaker Pro User application, it will ask you to locate the Macintosh Catalog Database. Once you’ve shown it where the database is kept, FileMaker Pro User will automatically open it on launch thereafter.
• If you can’t get the installer to run, no matter what you try, you can install some files manually.
First, move the “FileMaker Pro User” application out of the “Disk 2” folder and put it someplace convenient. At this point, you can simply launch this application to open the Mac Catalog Database.
As for the files in the “Disk 1” folder, here’s where they’re supposed to go. These files aren’t necessary to open the database, but they may come in handy at some point.
First, create a folder called “Claris” in your System folder. Then move the folder called “Claris Translators” and the files named “Claris XTND System,” “FileMaker User Balloon Help,” “US English - Spelling” and “User Dictionary” into this new folder. This should give the FileMaker Pro User application rudimentary help, import/export and spell-checking capabilities.
The rest of the files in the “Disk 1” folder are networking files, which I don’t believe can be installed manually. But unless you want to share your database over a network, you should be able to get by without these.
Care and Feeding
FileMaker Pro User is a functional version of the FileMaker Pro application. Its chief limitation is that it will open only the Macintosh Catalog Database. Once the database is open, you can browse records, search, sort, edit, add and delete records without restriction.
There are a few things you should know about this package:
• This copy of FileMaker Pro User will only work with the current version of the Macintosh Catalog Database.
When I release an updated version of the database, you will probably have to download the whole package over again (though I'll be investigating workarounds in the meantime). At about 1 MB, it's a pretty big package, but then again it's no bigger than the now-discontinued QuickTime movie version was.
• The database also shouldn’t be renamed; the runtime application then won’t be able to recognize it. The name of the database file must be “Mac Catalog Database”.
• The database is provided as a locked file. This will prevent you from modifying, adding or deleting records. If you want to modify the database, select it in the Finder, choose Get Info and uncheck the Locked checkbox.
I do ask that you not distribute modified copies of the database.
For more information about the database itself, see the “Mac Catalog Database—Read Me” file.
Contact Info
If you have problems using the database or the FileMaker Pro User application, find any errors or have any suggestions on how to improve the Macintosh Catalog, let me know. Claris Corp. is not responsible for providing technical support for the FileMaker Pro User software; if you’re having difficulties with it, contact me.
Mark Simmons
ZiffNet/Mac
301 Howard St., 15th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
USA
CompuServe or ZiffNet/Mac: 72511,256 (This is my preferred email address)
All company names and products referenced in the Macintosh Catalog are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
You may NOT upload this software to any other online service, network, or bulletin board, and you may NOT make copies for any commercial purpose. This software is NOT public domain or shareware. Distribution is limited to Ziff Communications online services and electronic publishing projects.
To clarify the above statement: you may give copies of this database to individual friends, co-workers, and customers. If you do so, please provide an unmodified original copy of the database and include this documentation file.
We do ask that you refrain from any kind of mass distribution. For example, posting it on a networked file server so that anyone can get a copy is really not kosher. When in doubt, drop me a line at one of the above addresses.
