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I am trying to export my data to another company that we have gone with for our fundraising needs and I can't figure out how to export the data.
I sent the database file to the company but they say it is proprietery and they can't unlock it.
Any ideas on how to get my data to them in the correct format?
It sounds as if no one there has much training in Raiser's Edge so I would be very careful how you proceed.
Exporting is a basic principle but thought needs to be put into what fields are necessary not only for the vendor you are sending it to but also if you are receiving the information back - what fields do you need for import.
Learning the entire exporting and importing procedure and all possible fields you may need is likely way too big a chore for anyone to do for you through this forum.
I understand you may be on a time crunch but if you can take advantage of some training or hire a consultant you will likely get better results with fewer problems.
Thanks for your reply. I do have experience with exporting. I have been running Blackbaud for over 10 years.
I just needed to know if there was an easier way of getting the data into Access or Excel.
That was my stress was that I have to ake sure that all the fields that I would need in the new program are correctly exported.
It looks like I wil have to query records and then export them in segments right?
Sounds like I am in for an incredible project.
Sorry for misunderstanding - I didn't fully understand that you needed the entire database and were convering to a new database. I thought this new company was simply going to do your mailings or an analysis or the like.
Doesn't your new vendor have a database conversion consultant working with you? If not I would be concerned. I would make them tell you what they need and in what format and then, yes, it does sound like you will need to set up a series of exports for them. Conversions are never easy, need to be fully planned out, take months to plan and execute and... well, I do not envy you.
If you are on the MSDE (or SQL Express) version of RE, it's actually very easy to pull the tables into Access without doing a bunch of exports, although it might be easier to do the exports anyhow, if you don't have someone familiar with the RE back end.
You will need a SQL login. In Access, go to File > Get External Data > Import Data... and choose the RE7_1 ODBC connection and then select every table and view that you might want to use. You'll need to know how the data is related in order to pull it out and you'll also need to know what some of the hard-coded values (like gift type) translate to. If you don't feel comfortable with this, you might want to use the RE import.
Yes, it's counterintuitive, but you best way to export your data may be through the RE Import. One of the options is "Create Import File". If you choose this option, you'll have the option to "Include all fields" or something like that. This will ensure that you have all of the information that you need and that all of the links are correct.
Drew
__________________ J. Drew Allen
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Crystal Reports and SQL Server Consultant
It is better to live your destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection.
I run Blackbaud off my C drive, not through a server if that is what you mean. We have been stuck in Version 6 due to our Finance Committee not allowing me to advance due to maintenance fees.
I like the "real easy" statement you make but don't follow the SQL Express. I am not sure that version 6 includes this.
I am very familiar with running Blackbaud but do not recognize that terminology.
Using the ODBC connection takes LOTS of experience in the RE back end. It sounds like neither you nor your conversion consultant has that kind of experience. You'd spend more time becoming familiar enough with the back end to make this work than you would if you simply did the exports through the import module.
Drew
__________________ J. Drew Allen
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Crystal Reports and SQL Server Consultant
It is better to live your destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection.
RE version 6 used the Sybase ASA database. You need to find and hire a Raiser's Edge consultant who is familiar with RE6. It was discotinued in favor of version 7 in 2001.
Unfortunately I don't think we are going to be able to walk you through this.
__________________ Peter Gulka
Chief Bus Driver
Blackbaud User Society www.blackbus.org
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