FileMaker Pro 11 Conflict with OS Lion

Question

I installed FMP 11 my iMac (2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) when I had OS Snow Leopard.  I created a FMP 11 database file that was totally functional.  I have since installed Lion.  Now, I am unable to open the file.  The file now requires an account name and password.  I do not recall ever requiring a password or limiting access priviledges when I created the file.  I have entered my account name (as it appears on the credits while opening FMP) and just about every password I've ever used.  Same message:  "The account and password you entered cannot be used to access this file.  Please try again."  I tried resetting access on the Get Info page.  Doesn't work.  I have gone to the FMP Forums and tried the solutions suggested there, including the "tried and tested" best solution offered, i.e. enter the username "Admin" and no password.   Nothing works.  FileMaker Support will charge me $45 an hour to troubleshoot, one hour minimum :-(.  I see there are a few Mac FMP masters out there so if anyone see this, please help.  This is a very critical financial database.  I have speen hours trying to open it and retrieve the data.  Any suggestions?  Should I just reinstall the software and start over?  Would this make it more or less likely I can access the file in question?  It's very frustrating so any help would be very much appreciated.  Thank you.  Rod

Answer 1

I apologize I didn't list ALL of the MANY fixes I've attempted, including the most likely, i.e. Admin, no pswd, assigning a new account, etc.  NONE of them worked.  I took the file to a Snow Leopard computer and installed FMP 11 there because all of this nonsense started AFTER I upgraded to Lion.  Even that didn't work.  I finally called FMP Support and convinced them this was an installation problem that should be covered free of charge (they wanted $45).  They finally agreed and although I was treated professionally, I was essentially told 1) We've never heard of this problem and 2) It's an Apple problem, not FileMaker.  I advised them to check the FMP forums and they would become enlightened about the problems this is causing.  I agreed, Apple/Lion is certainly at fault as well, but Apple says it is a software problem with FMP . . . so lots of finger pointing.  I am waiting for a FMP developer to call back . . . bottom line, there is nothing FMP can do once a password is lost.  You can buy software to figure out a lost password (very expensive I might add).  My diagnosis:  Lion is the culprit and assigned a userame and password to the file through the keychain process.  I DID FIND A FIX:  Using TimeMachine on my Mac, I went back on the external backup drive to the day before I installed Lion and restored the file . . . it worked and I can open and use it now on Lion.  So my diagnosis is correct . . . Lion corrupted the file by assigning a password I could not recover, although I exhausted every password I've ever used on this computer that could possibly be in the keychain.  Cost?  3 days of pain and suffering.  Do you think I should sue?  :-)  Good luck all.  Rod