# Convert a runtime application to a development application

Starting from the release of FactoryTalk View Machine Edition 5.00, users can use a runtime file (*.mer) to generate a corresponding development file (*.med).

Tip: | MER to MED functionality requires DataStore Plus ActiveX version 6.0.16.0 to be used. Only .mer files created with FactoryTalk View Machine Edition 5.00 and later can be converted into .med files. Runtime files from earlier versions of Machine Edition cannot be converted. When the conversion process is complete, a Shortcut Validation report is generated and stored in the same location as the project file. Use this report to as a tool to help you confirm all of your shortcuts and offline tag file assignments. Runtime conversion restores the application shortcuts and the original runtime platform communications configuration only. It does not restore the communications topology of the original design workstation. Version 6.0 or earlier .mer files created on a 64-bit operating system are not allowed to be converted to .med files. So if you are creating a version 6.0 or earlier .mer file on a 64-bit operating system, never allow a conversion that is the default and only choice under the Conversion to development application frame.

Possible reasons for creating a development file from a runtime file might be:

- The original .med file has been lost
- Only an .mer has been provided, but changes need to be made to the application
- Changes such as adding passwords or saving recipes have been made to the .mer during run time; other changes that cannot be made at run time need to be made to the application without losing the runtime changes
- Information saved during the running of the .mer (such as updated RecipePlus files) needs to be extracted

Other users may want to ensure that the runtime file can never be used to generate a development file, or can only be used by someone authorized to do so. For these cases, the .mer file can be locked so that it can never be converted, or a password can be required before conversion can begin.

## See also

Create a runtime application

Keywords: convert, runtime application