merging 2 donor manager databases

[kukafei]

Hi,

Is there a way to merge 2 donor manager databases into one? Using the export to Excel function only gives the partners' basic information and doesn't seem to have the giving history information.

Thanks!

[jmuehleisen]

You are correct about the problem if you use the Excel file to merge the files. The Excel file doesn't contain everything in the donor database ... you will definately lose data if you take that approach.

Now, there is no built in way to do this in the Donor Manager, but with a few simple FoxPro commands it can be done.

Let's assume that your main DM data is in c:\donor5\data and the file you wish to merge with this is in c:\otherdata. (you wll need to adjust the reference to the folder where the other data is. Try to have a folder with no "spaces" in the name.)

Here's how to merge these two files:

First of all, close the Donor Manager.

Next, start the "FoxPro command prompt" program at /Start /All Programs /Donor Manager /FoxPro command prompt.

Enter the following commands, pressing <Enter> at the end of each line:

Code: Select all

set path to data
use donor
append from c:\otherdata\donor
use gift
append from c:\otherdata\gift
use giftdetail
append from c:\otherdata\giftdetail
use touch
append from c:\otherdata\touch
use moreinfo
append from c:\otherdata\moreinfo
use event
append from c:\otherdata\event
quit

Basically, the "use" command says "open this particular data table." Then, the "append" command says "add to this file the data in this other data table."

That should combine the files for you.

This has to be repeated for all of the main data tables of the program:

donor = donor master file
gift = giving summary by year
giftdetail = giving details, gift by gift
event = events (like birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)
touch = the stuff on the "touches" tab of the donor master record
moreinfo = the stuff on the "more info" tab

Of course, be sure to do a backup of your data BEFORE you do this (the "Pack and Go" routine makes a great, quick backup tool for stuff like this) so you can go back to where you were before if it doesn't work out quite right.

I hope that helps. Let us know how it goes, and feel free to contact me directly (john@donormanager.com) if you need more specific help.