This runtime application file was saved in an older format that does not support conversion to a development application

This message appears when using application manager to restore runtime application from a .MER file v4.00 with FactoryTalkView ME 5.00.

Versions prior to v5.00 CANNOT be converted from MER (runtime) format to a development format using Application Manager.

Runtime files prior to v5 can be restored by following the instructions

How do I Recover a Project from the MER File?

Series/Revision: 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 2.10.00; 3.0; 3.1; 3.2; 4.0

NOTE: As of Revision 5.00 the ability was added to restore an MER file back to design time. If the Never allow conversion or Conversion protected by password options are selected when creating an MER file then the Graphic Display (GFX) files will unrecoverable even following the steps below. 

Details

When the development project files have been lost, some of the project information can be recovered from the MER (Machine Edition Runtime) file itself. However, the following cannot be recovered:

• Parameter files
• Alarm Setup
• Datalog files
• Macro files
• RSLE shortcut information 

Under some circumstances, the Tag Database cannot be recovered either (described below under Tag Database Recovery).

Recovering RSViewME 3.x or 4.0 Application Files

In order to recover the application files, it is assumed that you will be using a Win2K or WinXP machine that is already configured as a development station (for example, RSView Studio 3.x is installed).

This procedure involves accessing temporary files on the computer. Temporary files are normally hidden by Windows. To make hidden files visible open Control Panel ->Folder Options ->View and select "Show hidden files and  folders".

1. Run the program RSView ME Station from Start Menu>Programs>Rockwell Software>RSView Enterprise. If you do not see it there, open Widows Explorer and browse to C:\Program Files\Rockwell Software\RSView Enterprise\MERuntime.exe The application should look just as it does on an PanelView Plus.
2. Load the application MER file that you wish to recover from, but do not run the application, it may display an error but ignore it.
3. Start RSView Studio ME, and begin to create a new application. Type in a new name that is not already in use on your computer and click the Import button.
4. Select the MED file type to be imported.
5. Now you need to locate the temporary files created for your running application.  They should be located in the C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\~MER.00 directory on Windows XP and in theC:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\~MER.00 directory on Windows 7 
   • NOTES: username will be the user that is currently logged into the computer. The Local Settings and AppData folders are hidden, see note above. ~MER.00 may be named as ~MER.01, etc.
6. Once the ~MER.00 folder has been located, select the MED file to be imported and follow the remaing prompts.
7. After the import has completed and the application is finished loading into RSView Studio, close RSView Studio and RSView ME Station.

If you are using FactoryTalk View Studio 5.0, you may encounter an error if the MER file was originally created with revision 5.10 and saved as a version 3.x or 4.0 MER. In this case, please install the patch roll-up for FactoryTalk View Studio 5.0and repeat the above proceedure.

At this point, the Parameter, Alarm Setup, Datalog, and Macro files are not useable and will need to be removed (see Removing unrecoverable files below).

NOTE: While attempting to import the project an error may occur: Failed to import project, unable to rename file.
In order to work around this issue, perform the following:

1. Create a new project with the same name as the .med file of the ~mer.00 folder.
2. Right-click on the Displays in the Applications Explorer (of this new project) and choose Add component into application.... Add all the gfx files from the Gfx folder in the C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\~MER.00 directory.
3. Copy the rest of the folders from this directory to the new project directory: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\RSView Enterprise\ME\HMI projects\ProjectName

Removing Unrecoverable Files

While most of the application can be recovered from the MER file, the following files cannot be recovered:

• Parameter files
• Alarm Setup
• Datalog files
• Macro files

Although the files will be listed within the application, they are not recognizable by RSView Studio and must be removed.

1. Open Windows Explorer and locate the MachineAlarms.mal file in the recovered project folder M_Alarms (for example:
   Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\RSView Enterprise\ME\HMI Projects\MED_ProjectName\M_Alarms\MachineAlarms.mal
   
   Windows 7 - C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\RSView Enterprise\ME\MED_ProjectName\M_Alarms\MachineAlarms.mal).
2. Delete the MachineAlarms.mal file.
3. Start RSView Studio and open the recovered application.
4. Locate and delete all of the following files from the Application Explorer window:
   • All Parameter Files
   • All Datalog files
   • All Macro files

Recovering RSViewME 2.x and earlier project files

In order to recover the project files, it is assumed that you will be using a Win2K or WinXP machine that is already configured as a development station (for example, RSView Studio 2.x is installed). If the Tag Database is to be recovered, the same computer that opened the original MED (Machine Edition Development) file will be required (see below under Tag Database Recovery).

1. Locate the program MERuntime.exe in the Rockwell Software\RSViewME directory (default is C:\Program Files\Rockwell Software\RSViewME).
2. Run the MERuntime.exe program and open the project MER file that you wish to recover from.
3. Press the Run button. Once the project is running, leave it running.
4. Then locate the temporary files created for your running project. They should be located in the C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp\~MER.00 directory.
   
   NOTE: username will be the user that is currently logged into the computer. Also, ~MER.00 may be named as ~MER.01, and so on.
5. Once the ~MER.00 folder has been located, open it and copy all of the folders and files into a new directory (for example,C:\Temp\MED_ProjectName)
6. You should now have a directory (for example, C:\Temp\MED_ProjectName) that contains the:
7. • MED file for your project
   • Project folders Accounts, ActivityLog,…Startup, and Tag.
8. Once the files have been copied over to the new directory, you can now close the running project.

At this point, there is no current Tag Database for the newly recovered project. Also, the Parameter, Alarm Setup, Datalog, and Macro files are not useable and will need to be removed (see Removing Unrecoverable Files in a section above).

Recovering the Tag Database for an RSViewME 2.x project

The recovered project files so far do not include a Tag Database with them. It is necessary to add a Tag Database back into the project before you can open the project in RSView Studio.

It is only possible to recover the original Tag Database if you are using the same Windows2000 workstation that opened the original MED file. The Tag Database cannot be recovered from the MER file itself. However, an ODBC data source should exist on the machine that previously opened the MED project. The Tag Database can be recovered using this data source.

If you are not using the same Windows2000 workstation that opened the original MED file, then skip Part A and proceed to Part B.

Part A

1. Open up Administrative Tools from Start Menu\Settings\Control Panel.
2. Open up Data Sources (ODBC).
3. Under the User DSN tab, look at the list of names for the User Data Sources. Verify that the name of your recovered MED file is listed under the Name heading (for example, MED_ProjectName).
   • If it is there, you should be able to recover the Tag Database for your project. Proceed on to step 4.
   • If it is not there, the Tag Database cannot be recovered. Proceed on to Part B.
4. Open up the Database Import & Export Wizard for RSView Studio. It should be located in the Programs directory of the Start Menu under Rockwell Software\RSView Studio Tools\ Database Import & Export Wizard.
5. Export the Tag database of the recovered MED to a CSV file.
6. Open the newly created CSV file in Microsoft Excel and verify that the Tag Database is listed there correctly.
7. Go back to Data Sources (ODBC).
8. Under the User DSN tab, look at the list of names for the User Data Sources. Locate and select the name of your recoveredMED file under the Name heading (for example, MED_ProjectName). Press the Properties button.
9. In the Data Source Name text box, append _bak to the name (for example, MED_ProjectName_bak). Press OK, and thenOK again.

Part B

1. Start up RSView Studio, and create a blank project with the exact same name as the MED file you are currently recovering. You will need to do this in a separate directory than the recovered project (for example, C:\Projects\MED_ProjectName).
2. After the project has been created, close the project and shutdown RSView Studio.
3. In Windows Explorer, locate the recovered project files folder (for example, C:\Temp\MED_ProjectName) and copy all of the files in it.
4. Paste the copied files into the project folder of Step 1 (for example, C:\Projects\MED_ProjectName).
5. You will be asked if you wish to overwrite files. Click yes to all.
6. Start up RSView Studio and open the recovered MED file from your new project folder. (for example,C:\Projects\MED_ProjectName\MED_ProjectName.med)
   
   NOTE: If you performed Part A successfully, then proceed on to Step 8. If you did not perform Part A, then proceed toRemoving unrecoverable files.
7. Open up the Database Import & Export Wizard for RSView Studio and import the CSV Tag Database from Step 4 into your recovered project (for example, C:\Projects\MED_ProjectName\ MED_ProjectName-Tags.CSV)
8. Verify that the Tag Database is correct by looking at the Tag Database Editor in RSView Studio.

Additional Information

If you had Macro, Parameter, or Datalog files added to your project, you will encounter error messages when you run it. This is because there are references to files that no longer exist. You will need to create these files again and re-assign them (for example, Re-assign the startup macro for a Display).

Also, objects with tag assignments may not work as they are right now. You may need to open the display, delete the tag assignment and then reassign the tag. Save the display. In most cases, you need only do this for one object per screen

source : http://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8913