git:20261022.dbbe817 to git:20261022.3e54726

---

name: migrate-filemaker

description: Turn a FileMaker Database Design Report (DDR XML) into a complete migration plan - schema, business logic, authorization, API, UI, data migration and cutover. Use when given FileMaker DDR XML, or asked to analyze, document, or plan the rebuild of a FileMaker solution.

---

# FileMaker Migration Planner

Take the DDR apart into every object, read every object, and write the migration plan from what the objects say.

## Rules

1. Record what the FileMaker solution does, as written, with the object file as evidence. Do not judge whether its logic is correct. That is not the job.

2. Label each statement in an artifact as fact (from an object file), inference, product decision, or unavailable. Never invent behavior the DDR does not show.

3. Raw DDR XML is client data. Keep it out of version control. Never copy credentials into any artifact; the tools redact the ones they find.

## Paths

```bash

SKILL_DIR="/path/to/migrate-filemaker"

RAW_DIR="/path/to/ddr-export" # the DDR XML files, plus Summary.xml when present

OUT_DIR="/path/to/migration" # everything this skill writes

```

## Step 1: Extract everything

```bash

python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/explode_ddr.py" "$RAW_DIR" "$OUT_DIR/objects"

```

- `objects/<file>/<kind>/<id>-<name>.txt` is one text file per object: scripts as numbered steps, tables with every field option, layouts as their object tree (labels, tooltips, triggers, buttons, hide rules, conditional formats, portal filters), table occurrences with their relationships, value lists, custom functions, custom menus, accounts, privilege sets, data sources, file options.

- Every calculation shows its text and a `refs:` line with the fields (`TO::field#id`) and custom functions it uses.

- `objects/index.tsv` lists every object: file, kind, id, name, folder, path, hash, lines.

The object files are the reading surface. Find usage with `grep -rl 'Invoices::total#' "$OUT_DIR/objects"`, then read the hits in full.

## Step 2: Inventory

Write `00_app_summary.md` from [templates/00_app_summary.md](templates/00_app_summary.md). Count every kind in `objects/index.tsv`. List the files and how they reference each other (their `data-sources` objects).

## Step 3: Read every object

Every row of `objects/index.tsv` is read in full and gets one CSV row. Each explorer snapshots its kinds with `scripts/catalog_contract.py`, and `verify` proves that every object has exactly one row (see [reference/explorer-contract.md](reference/explorer-contract.md)).

- Scripts: [workflows/fm-script-explorer.md](workflows/fm-script-explorer.md)

- Custom functions: [workflows/fm-func-explorer.md](workflows/fm-func-explorer.md)

- Tables, with calculated fields, auto-enter and validation: [workflows/fm-table-explorer.md](workflows/fm-table-explorer.md)

- Layouts, with hide rules, conditional formats, triggers, buttons, tooltips and portal filters: [workflows/fm-layout-explorer.md](workflows/fm-layout-explorer.md)

- Table occurrences and relationships: [workflows/fm-graph-explorer.md](workflows/fm-graph-explorer.md)

- Privilege sets, accounts and extended privileges: [workflows/fm-security-explorer.md](workflows/fm-security-explorer.md)

- Value lists: [workflows/fm-value-list-explorer.md](workflows/fm-value-list-explorer.md)

- Custom menus and menu sets: [workflows/fm-menu-explorer.md](workflows/fm-menu-explorer.md)

- File options, data sources, and every other kind: [workflows/fm-file-explorer.md](workflows/fm-file-explorer.md)

Large solutions have thousands of objects. The catalog splits each kind into batches of 50 (one CSV each). Give each agent whole batches and run them in parallel.

## Step 4: Discovery questions

Write `01_discovery_answers.md` from [templates/01_discovery_answers.md](templates/01_discovery_answers.md). Ask only what the objects cannot tell: goals, scope, users, identity provider, data volume, integrations, and which behaviors to keep, change, or drop. With no one to answer, list the questions and continue.

## Step 5: Write the migration plan

Write each artifact from its template, citing object files as evidence:

| Artifact | Template | Reference |

|---|---|---|

| `02_recommendations.md` | [templates/02_recommendations.md](templates/02_recommendations.md) | [reference/tech-stack-decision-matrix.md](reference/tech-stack-decision-matrix.md) |

| `03_migration_plan.md` | [templates/03_migration_plan.md](templates/03_migration_plan.md) | |

| `04_database_schema.sql` | [templates/04_database_schema.sql](templates/04_database_schema.sql) | [reference/schema-translation-guide.md](reference/schema-translation-guide.md) |

| `05_api_design.md` | [templates/05_api_design.md](templates/05_api_design.md) | |

| `06_ui_spec.md` | [templates/06_ui_spec.md](templates/06_ui_spec.md) | |

| `07_business_logic.md` | [templates/07_business_logic.md](templates/07_business_logic.md) | [reference/script-translation-patterns.md](reference/script-translation-patterns.md), [reference/business-logic-detection.md](reference/business-logic-detection.md) |

| `08_auth_roles.md` | [templates/08_auth_roles.md](templates/08_auth_roles.md) | |

Without discovery answers or a chosen stack, write the artifacts anyway and mark each product decision open.

For FileMaker behavior, see [reference/filemaker-concepts.md](reference/filemaker-concepts.md). For the DDR format, see [reference/ddr-xml-reference.md](reference/ddr-xml-reference.md).

## Done when

- Every kind in `objects/index.tsv` is in one explorer's catalog, and `catalog_contract.py verify` passes for every explorer.

- Every artifact in Step 5 exists, cites object files, and lists its open decisions.

- No artifact contains a credential.