How do I transfer my FileMaker Pro data into Leverage?

There are at least three different ways:

1. You can export your FileMaker data to text and send this to Leverage using a communications program (e.g., ZTerm, MicroPhone, the communications part of ClarisWorks, or LevLink, which comes with Leverage).  This method will work with any version of FileMaker on any platform.  If you're using it on Windows the communications program will probably be Windows Terminal or HyperTerminal.  Specific instructions on using LevLink in this way can be found in the readme that accompanies it.  Using another communications program would be similar, although the details would be different.
   
   The next two methods eliminate the need to export the data to an intermediate text file, but they only work on Macs, and they require AppleScript (which comes with versions of the MacOS from 7.5 on) and FileMaker version 2.1v3 or later (this includes 3.0 and 4.0).
    
2. You can drag your database onto the FMToLev AppleScript droplet.  The droplet uses AppleScript to get the information from FileMaker and sends it to Leverage via LevLink.  It also uses ProgressBar to provide feedback on the progress of the transfer.  There are other scripts that can be used to transfer in the other direction or to synchronize.  The documentation for all of these scripts  is the connectivity addendum.
    
3. You can use LevConnect.  LevConnect also uses AppleScript to communicate with FileMaker, but sends the information to Leverage itself.  LevConnect is brand new.  In fact it is not in beta form yet (i.e., the feature set is not yet complete).  The current version is 1.0a2-1.  The purpose of LevConnect to be a simpler and more bullet proof transfer method than the drag and drop AppleScript method described in number 2.  It is manifestly simpler by virtue of having fewer parts (just LevConnect rather than a script, LevLink, and ProgressBar).  The procedures are also simpler in that, once a connection has been made the transfer is completely controlled on one machine (at the moment this is on the Mac).  LevConnect also provides greater flexibility.  The documentation for using LevConnect is in the form of AppleGuide and Balloon Help, so just start LevConnect and go to the Help menu (or ``?" menu if your  version of the MacOS is pre-8.0) for step-by-step instructions on using it. LevConnect works best with the latest version of Leverage, but you can also use it with the official 3.0 version.

Please note that one method we do not support is NCU, the Newton Connection Utilities.  You can use them to back-up your Leverage data (if you do a complete backup), but not to transfer databases from the desktop.

So which method do I use?

If you have a version of FileMaker Pro older than 2.1v3, you'll need to use method 1.  (You can also try updating your version of FileMaker with an updater from the FileMaker support site.)   Otherwise try method 3 unless you either have to transfer graphics (only method 2 supports this) or need to use an AppleTalk connection (method 3 only supports serial connections).