Importing Accounts and Contacts

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DNew

Please...can someone help!!
We have just purchased Outlook 2007 with BCM for our 2 PC's. We have 1
server running MS SBS Premium 2003 with Exchange and XP Pro OP system, 2 pc's
- XP Pro Op Syst, and 1 laptop with Business Vista.
We are moving from an existing CRM called "TERRASOFT". This is an SQL
database that sits on the server that our 2 pc's access. Terrasoft imports
contacts, calender and tasks from Outlook, however only exports calender and
tasks. You can export the accounts and contacts via a csv file.
Our database consists of over 3000 accounts and over 6000 contacts.
PROBLEM -
Before I perform the initial import, I want to make sure i can "auto link"
the contacts to the relevant account. I have tried a dummy run and when I map
the field I cannot seem to get the contact to link to the account. Can this
be done? Or do I have to link them one by one???? I hope not!!!! If anyone
can shed some light on this for me that would be fantastic as I don't know
what else to do?
Thanks!
 
Please...can someone help!!
We have just purchased Outlook 2007 with BCM for our 2 PC's.  We have 1
server running MS SBS Premium 2003 with Exchange and XP Pro OP system, 2 pc's
- XP Pro Op Syst, and 1 laptop with Business Vista.
We are moving from an existing CRM called "TERRASOFT". This is an SQL
database that sits on the server that our 2 pc's access. Terrasoft imports
contacts, calender and tasks from Outlook, however only exports calender and
tasks.  You can export the accounts and contacts via a csv file.
Our database consists of over 3000 accounts and over 6000 contacts.
PROBLEM -
Before I perform the initial import, I want to make sure i can "auto link"
the contacts to the relevant account. I have tried a dummy run and when I map
the field I cannot seem to get the contact to link to the account.  Can this
be done? Or do I have to link them one by one???? I hope not!!!! If anyone
can shed some light on this for me that would be fantastic as I don't know
what else to do?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

BCM won't do it for you. It preserves links when importing BCM files.
When importing from ACT, BCM first converts the data in ACT to a BCM
file, so it can import the links in ACT. If you can write a program to
convert from CSV to BCM format (XML with BCM's fields) then you're on
your way.

An alternative is to add the links to the database after importing. If
the contacts CSV rows have the account name you can map that to a BCM
field you are not using, then you can run a SQL command to update the
contacts; set the contact's parent to the account that matches the
imported string.
 
BCM won't do it for you. It preserves links when importing BCM files.
When importing from ACT, BCM first converts the data in ACT to a BCM
file, so it can import the links in ACT. If you can write a program to
convert from CSV to BCM format (XML with BCM's fields) then you're on
your way.

An alternative is to add the links to the database after importing. If
the contacts CSV rows have the account name you can map that to a BCM
field you are not using, then you can run a SQL command to update the
contacts; set the contact's parent to the account that matches the
imported string.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Hi Luther
Thank you so much for your feedback, it is appreciated.
One question....how do I run an SQL command?
Thanks
 
Hi Luther
Thank you so much for your feedback, it is appreciated.
One question....how do I run an SQL command?
Thanks- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

All machine with sql server should sqlcmd.exe or osql.exe, command
line tools that will send sql commands to the database.

Some what easier to use is Sql Server Express Studio, which can be
downloaded for free from microsoft.com.
 
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