Moving Attributes

Maya Thomas · February 2016

Hi,

My colleagues and I have been discussing the best way to store information via attributes. Historically all school interests, events, gift reference, wealth screening rates, offering careers advice and other school information. Have been stored for our alum's and other associates of the school.

Over the next couple of months we hope to tidy up spme of these attributes, and import them to more relevant sections of Raisers Edge. For example storing school interest in their Education record (attributes tab) etc.

Has anyone else undertaken this task? Any help or advice would be very grateful

Gina Gerhard · February 2016

Maya -

Just something to consider is to put some sample data in to where you are planning to move this attribute data, and then make sure in query, exports and reports you can get the data out that you need. Sometimes the filters available may not allow you to 'slice/dice' in the way you had hoped.

So to be safe, I'd explore that and make sure it will perform in the way you need before you go through moving the data.

Maya Thomas · February 2016

Hi Gina,

That is a really good tip! I did not think about having importing some sample data to where we plan to move the information

Thank you!!

Gina Gerhard · February 2016

Maya -

Or just manually enter some data to where you think you want it to go, and then see if you can use this data in queries, exports and reports to make sure it's going to work for you.

Jen Claudy · February 2016

You may also want to Export your Attribute data (with ConstID and ImportIDs) to Excel and just keep that file as a backup. Then, if you discover that you need to change something, or even restore an Attribute, you can easily go back and use this file to Import back into RE.

I second (and third and fourth) Gina's suggestion. I keep 4 dummy records in my db (ConstID 4567890 org, 4567891 ind & linked to spouse, 4567892 ind & linked to spouse, 4567893 ind...and Const Code "Dummy Record") to test with. This way, I can add/edit/delete data to these 4 records for testing reasons and not screw up any actual records. Unlike the Sample Database, I also have access to all of my settings, attributes, queries, etc. And you don't have to sign in & out all the time.

After you know where you want to move the data, then you'll want to look at the Import options/requirements for the Fields you'll be importing to...and then you may want to also test by Importing to the dummy records. Once you've got everything in place, and depending on how many records you're dealing with, I'd also do the first Import (of each type/area, because it sounds like you'll be doing a series of these to different areas of RE) with a small set of records that you can review before Importing the entire list.

Christine Cooke 2 · February 2016

I have done this sort of housekeeping before, a couple of times. If you would like to talk in detail please contact me directly. It's just too much to post here I feel.

Christine

ccooke@charlesarmstrong.org

Moving Attributes

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