Urgent -How can I get my linked contact history out of BCM?

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Guest

I"m trying o move to Entourage. Can I print some kind of report or export
to some kind of separate file? I can'b believe I"m just screwed here. I
knew BCM was bad, butI can't believe there's no way to get my linked items
out without opening each specific note and printing it out.
 
RV,

You have been BCM "assimilated." There is no easy way out...resistance is
futile! Ok, ok, enough with the Star Trek metaphor already.

From my understanding, I believe your problem is with the BCM history items.
You can export your BCM contacts to a CSV file and then likely easily import
that CSV file into Entourage if it is anything like Outlook in this regard.
I am not certain however if your BCM history items can be exported to a CSV
file. I am not too strong at Export and Import because I haven't done it
enough. Some else more in the know will have to chime in here.

I hope you can get the help you are looking for.

Best regards,

-THP
 
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and phone log
for each contact.
 
If it helps any, you CAN print a BCM report. Create the report and then
select the print options under the File drop down in the upper left hand
corner of the open report.

-THP
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and phone log
for each contact.
RV,
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
Click to expand...
 
I did try to do a repoort, sekectubg 'business history", but it didn't print
any of the history - just the contact informatiion.

EDIT - While trying to resolve this I folllowed driections for 'managing
data files' and made a new file with a new name, hoping to be able to export
it or do something. Now my contacts are gone. How do I get back to the old
list of contacts?

Can I just say I hate, hate, hate BCM.

mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com said:
If it helps any, you CAN print a BCM report. Create the report and then
select the print options under the File drop down in the upper left hand
corner of the open report.

-THP
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and phone log
for each contact.
RV,
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
knew BCM was bad, butI can't believe there's no way to get my linked items
out without opening each specific note and printing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
RV:

Here's an idea for you to get your history data out of BCM.

Run a report called Activity, By Business Contact (or Account). After it
runs, click on Modify Report, and change the filter to find the accounts or
contacts you're looking for. Then, click on Columns, and under Basic
Columns, select Comments, plus any other columns you want to export. Then,
click on the Excel icon on the icon bar and it will export to Excel. You
should have all the history you'd want. You can save that as CSV or XLS and
maybe import it into your new program.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com


RV said:
I did try to do a repoort, sekectubg 'business history", but it didn't
print
any of the history - just the contact informatiion.

EDIT - While trying to resolve this I folllowed driections for 'managing
data files' and made a new file with a new name, hoping to be able to
export
it or do something. Now my contacts are gone. How do I get back to the
old
list of contacts?

Can I just say I hate, hate, hate BCM.

mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com said:
If it helps any, you CAN print a BCM report. Create the report and then
select the print options under the File drop down in the upper left hand
corner of the open report.

-THP
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and phone
log
for each contact.

RV,

[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
knew BCM was bad, butI can't believe there's no way to get my linked
items
out without opening each specific note and printing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, I'll try it. I'll have to figure out how to do that.
How do I get back to the main BCM database, that seems to have disappeared?
Right now my contacts are empty.
Thx

Lon Orenstein said:
RV:

Here's an idea for you to get your history data out of BCM.

Run a report called Activity, By Business Contact (or Account). After it
runs, click on Modify Report, and change the filter to find the accounts or
contacts you're looking for. Then, click on Columns, and under Basic
Columns, select Comments, plus any other columns you want to export. Then,
click on the Excel icon on the icon bar and it will export to Excel. You
should have all the history you'd want. You can save that as CSV or XLS and
maybe import it into your new program.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com


RV said:
I did try to do a repoort, sekectubg 'business history", but it didn't
print
any of the history - just the contact informatiion.

EDIT - While trying to resolve this I folllowed driections for 'managing
data files' and made a new file with a new name, hoping to be able to
export
it or do something. Now my contacts are gone. How do I get back to the
old
list of contacts?

Can I just say I hate, hate, hate BCM.

mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com said:
If it helps any, you CAN print a BCM report. Create the report and then
select the print options under the File drop down in the upper left hand
corner of the open report.

-THP

RV wrote:
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and phone
log
for each contact.

RV,

[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
knew BCM was bad, butI can't believe there's no way to get my linked
items
out without opening each specific note and printing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
From the main Outlook menu, click on Business Contact Manager, Database
Tools, Create or Select a Database. Enter the name of the PC that hosts the
BCM databases and click the Connect button. You'll get a list of databases
in that dropdown you can choose from.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com


RV said:
Thanks, I'll try it. I'll have to figure out how to do that.
How do I get back to the main BCM database, that seems to have
disappeared?
Right now my contacts are empty.
Thx

Lon Orenstein said:
RV:

Here's an idea for you to get your history data out of BCM.

Run a report called Activity, By Business Contact (or Account). After it
runs, click on Modify Report, and change the filter to find the accounts
or
contacts you're looking for. Then, click on Columns, and under Basic
Columns, select Comments, plus any other columns you want to export.
Then,
click on the Excel icon on the icon bar and it will export to Excel. You
should have all the history you'd want. You can save that as CSV or XLS
and
maybe import it into your new program.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com


RV said:
I did try to do a repoort, sekectubg 'business history", but it didn't
print
any of the history - just the contact informatiion.

EDIT - While trying to resolve this I folllowed driections for
'managing
data files' and made a new file with a new name, hoping to be able to
export
it or do something. Now my contacts are gone. How do I get back to
the
old
list of contacts?

Can I just say I hate, hate, hate BCM.

:

If it helps any, you CAN print a BCM report. Create the report and
then
select the print options under the File drop down in the upper left
hand
corner of the open report.

-THP

RV wrote:
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least
then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and
phone
log
for each contact.

RV,

[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
knew BCM was bad, butI can't believe there's no way to get my
linked
items
out without opening each specific note and printing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, I'll try it. I'll have to figure out how to do that.
How do I get back to the main BCM database, that seems to have disappeared?
Right now my contacts are empty.
Thx



Lon Orenstein said:
RV:
Click to expand...
Here's an idea for you to get your history data out of BCM.
Click to expand...
Run a report called Activity, By Business Contact (or Account). After it
runs, click on Modify Report, and change the filter to find the accounts or
contacts you're looking for. Then, click on Columns, and under Basic
Columns, select Comments, plus any other columns you want to export. Then,
click on the Excel icon on the icon bar and it will export to Excel. You
should have all the history you'd want. You can save that as CSV or XLS and
maybe import it into your new program.

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com
Click to expand...
RV said:
I did try to do a repoort, sekectubg 'business history", but it didn't
print
any of the history - just the contact informatiion.
EDIT - While trying to resolve this I folllowed driections for 'managing
data files' and made a new file with a new name, hoping to be able to
export
it or do something. Now my contacts are gone. How do I get back to the
old
list of contacts?
Can I just say I hate, hate, hate BCM.
:
If it helps any, you CAN print a BCM report. Create the report and then
select the print options under the File drop down in the upper left hand
corner of the open report.
-THP
RV wrote:
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and phone
log
for each contact.
RV,
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
knew BCM was bad, butI can't believe there's no way to get my linked
items
out without opening each specific note and printing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

The database will be in a file in this folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data
\Microsoft\Business Contact Manager

BCM 2007 should automatically make this database available in the
Selext database wizard.

With earlier versions you need to attach the database to the sql
server instance manually.
 
I cna't beleive it's this complicated to get BCM to recognize a database!
This is absurd. I'm very surprised at Microsoft because usuallly their
programs are the best out there. Weeks later I am still trying to get my
contact history out of BCM and I can't even get it to recognize the database.
 
No need to worry about that one, I got it to recognize by renaming it.
BUt I can't figure out how to run the aforementioned report.
 
Dont' worrry about that one, I got it to recognize by renaming it. But I
still can't figure out how to run the aforementioned report.
 
I cna't beleive it's this complicated to get BCM to recognize a database!
This is absurd. I'm very surprised at Microsoft because usuallly their
programs are the best out there. Weeks later I am still trying to get my
contact history out of BCM and I can't even get it to recognize the database.
Click to expand...

I had to do some work with an ACT installation a few months back. Even
though they use Sql Server just like BCM, they go out of their way to
hide access to the database with a secret password, so that the ACT
program is the only one that can access the data. I finally figured
out how to get around that restriction, but it was unnecessary waste
of time. In comparison, BCM leaves the database completely open to the
owner (the user that created it).

Sql Server is more complicated than it needs to be for simple users
like BCM, but BCM has tried to make using it easy for most users from
the first release, and has opened (i.e. documented) it more with each
release. For example, BCM 2007 automatically scans for abandoned BCM
database files and displays them in the database wizard. That's
something BCM added for their users, Sql Server itself doesn't have
that feature. 2007 also documents some aspects of the database so that
other applications can synchronize their contacts with BCM.
 
I tried this in Outlook 2003 w/BCM, but there is no report called "Activity"
PLUS, any report I did try returned "report could not be generated"

MS products can be so frustrating....I just want to get the job done, not
diddle around on forums trying to find a solution.

Lon Orenstein said:
RV:

Here's an idea for you to get your history data out of BCM.

Run a report called Activity, By Business Contact (or Account). After it
runs, click on Modify Report, and change the filter to find the accounts or
contacts you're looking for. Then, click on Columns, and under Basic
Columns, select Comments, plus any other columns you want to export. Then,
click on the Excel icon on the icon bar and it will export to Excel. You
should have all the history you'd want. You can save that as CSV or XLS and
maybe import it into your new program.

HTH,
Lon

___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
800.238.0560 x6104 Toll Free (U.S. only) +1 214.905.0401 x6104
www.pinpointtools.com


RV said:
I did try to do a repoort, sekectubg 'business history", but it didn't
print
any of the history - just the contact informatiion.

EDIT - While trying to resolve this I folllowed driections for 'managing
data files' and made a new file with a new name, hoping to be able to
export
it or do something. Now my contacts are gone. How do I get back to the
old
list of contacts?

Can I just say I hate, hate, hate BCM.

mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com said:
If it helps any, you CAN print a BCM report. Create the report and then
select the print options under the File drop down in the upper left hand
corner of the open report.

-THP

RV wrote:
I can't believe there's not some way to print a report. At least then I
could copy and paste the text without opening each little note and phone
log
for each contact.

RV,

[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
knew BCM was bad, butI can't believe there's no way to get my linked
items
out without opening each specific note and printing it out.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Okay, I upgraded to Office 2007 SBE thinking that somehow that would give me
the options I need. Now I have the Activity report, but it still only lists
the history items, it does not include the contents of those items!!! This
is not helpful.

So, if I have to open them one-by-one and PRINT them, I thought I'd download
the PDF add-in for Office 2007 that allows you to save as a PDF instead.
Guess what? It works with all the Office programs EXCEPT Outlook! OMG this
is ridiculous!

BTW, does anyone actually monitor these forums or am I just wasting my time?
 
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