Can I install multiple versions of FME on a single machine
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Q) Can I install multiple versions of FME on a single machine?
A) Yes, provided you install each of them to a separate folder.
Notes
There are a number of need-to-know bits of information when you install FME this way...
Data Viewing
The FME Universal Viewer may not properly display data if you are using an older version than you are Workbench - for example if an FME 2007 Workbench sends data to an FME 2006 Viewer then some components (such as rich geometry) might not properly be displayed.
Command Line Usage
Calling FME from the command line can be dangerous when there are multiple versions installed, because you are less certain of which version of FME will be executed. Keep firm control over the path environment variable and specifiy the full FME executable path where possible. If there are multiple FME paths in the environment variable, the first one will be used.
FME_HOME Setting
Unexpected results and crashes may occur if you run version X of FME whilst the FME_HOME variable is pointing to the home directory of version Y. This FAQ illustrates one such problem.
Order of installation
The Windows explorer context menu will refer to the last installed FME version. So if you install FME 2007 and then FME 2006, right-clicking on a supported file in the Windows Explorer and choosing "Open in FME Viewer" will start the FME 2006 Viewer.
Custom Formats / Custom Transformers
Both versions will look in the My Documents\FME directory for Custom Formats and Transformers. However, this may cause problems if there are FME transformers used that have changed between the two installed versions (or are not available in the older one). You can circumvent this by setting up 2 separate directories and use the Shared Resources Directories setting in Tools - Options. Point each FME version to another directory and you'll be able to control which custom formats or transformers show up where.
Real Life Example
I have installed FME 2006GB (the latest official release at the time of writing this) in C:\Program Files\FME_release, followed by a FME 2007 beta version in C:\Program Files\FME. I have created 2 separate program groups in the Start menu, so I can select which to start. As expected (see above), the Windows context menu refers to FME 2007. Using a Visualiser in FME 2006GB starts the FME 2006GB Viewer. Using a Visualiser in FME 2007 starts the FME 2007 Viewer.
