[Calendula-devel] data migration

[Thomas Panzarella]

Agreed.  The way that I think this is best attacked is to create a clear
specification on a data import file format or API.  Then have
individuals who have a personal stake in writing, for example, a
Raiser's Edge to Calendula data migration tool to build the driver that
will extract from RE into the Calendula's published import format and
then run the Calendula import tools against that file or set of files to
import the data.  Much easier on the Calendula side and promotes
community and could ultimately mean support for many more systems in the
end...

t.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Creede Lambard [mailto:creede@penguinsinthenight.com]
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2004 12:42 PM
> To: Darryl Caldwell
> Cc: calendula-devel@fudosys.com
> Subject: Re: [Calendula-devel] data migration
>=20
>=20
> The problem as I see it is that unless these databases are=20
> from programs with
> standardized formats, you are going to have a bunch of tables slapped
> together and won't know programmatically which field represents which
> information in Calendula's database. I guess you could=20
> migrate data to CSV
> files and then have a tool to import the CSV information by=20
> specifying which
> FM/Access field maps to which Calendula field, but I don't=20
> think even that is
> as straightforward as it sounds.
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> Not to say we shouldn't do it, of course. Just saying it's=20
> going to require
> some skullsweat before the code gets written.
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> On Fri, Mar 12, 2004 at 09:08:44AM -0800, Darryl Caldwell wrote:
> > Bill, Bill, Bill, where were you when I needed your=20
> expertise last year? ;-)
> >=20
> > Thanks for that great code snippet. I can see putting that=20
> to use REAL
> > SOON. The problem to be solved is to start planning for=20
> migration of data
> > in FM and Access databases over to Calendula. Thomas and others have
> > suggested that many small nonprofits use FM and Access to=20
> store their
> > donor data. Some type of migration tools should be present=20
> early on and I
> > want to make sure the path is mapped out.
> >=20
> > -D
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> --=20
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>                                * .~. (   : Creede Lambard         :
>  Never rush a miracle man.    . / V \  . :------------------------:
>  You get lousy miracles.       /(   )\   : creede at              :
> --------------------------------^^-^^----:     penguinsinthenight :=20=20
>  Linux. Reliable and free. Pick any two. :         dot com        :
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
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