Combining Records on Two Computers

[SGCF-K]

I think I've seen this on here previously but just want to be sure I do things right: if we are using two computers with PowerChurch (v. 10) and want to combine the information onto one computer what do I do. I want to be sure I do not lose contribution data. Do I simply do a back-up of the one computer's information and then restore it on the second? Will this merge/sync the information or create duplicates? (Duplicates wouldn't necessarily be bad as long as it isn't deleting information we can work with it.)

Thank you!

[NeilZ]

I think I've seen this on here previously but just want to be sure I do things right: if we are using two computers with PowerChurch (v. 10) and want to combine the information onto one computer what do I do. I want to be sure I do not lose contribution data. Do I simply do a back-up of the one computer's information and then restore it on the second? Will this merge/sync the information or create duplicates? (Duplicates wouldn't necessarily be bad as long as it isn't deleting information we can work with it.)

Thank you!

I take it that these are two separate databases ??

I see they're running the same version, it can be very easy to update the one database. However, once you do so, I strongly urge that you network these computers to use only one database so they do not get out of sync in the future.

Some questions:

1. Is the membership data (mailing list profiles and personal profiles) up to date on both computers ??
2. Are you tracking the envelope numbers on the computer that currently does not have contribution data?

If one membership database is more current than the other, there may be a problem.

Let us know the answers to this, and we'll come up with something

[SGCF-K]

Everything originated off computer-1. Last year someone else took over recording contributions and uses computer-2. Both have the same version of PowerChurch with the same maintenance updates.
The membership info should be mostly up to date though either could have more updated information. (Dependent on whether a member called with an address update to me with computer-1 or made a note on a check which was then updated by someone else on computer-2.) I could do a report to double-check addresses between the two if I needed to before combining.
I am tracking envelope numbers on computer-1. However if envelope numbers have been added to families/individuals since sharing the info I don't have those updated. They would only be on computer-2.

[NeilZ]

Everything originated off computer-1. Last year someone else took over recording contributions and uses computer-2. Both have the same version of PowerChurch with the same maintenance updates.
The membership info should be mostly up to date though either could have more updated information. (Dependent on whether a member called with an address update to me with computer-1 or made a note on a check which was then updated by someone else on computer-2.) I could do a report to double-check addresses between the two if I needed to before combining.
I am tracking envelope numbers on computer-1. However if envelope numbers have been added to families/individuals since sharing the info I don't have those updated. They would only be on computer-2.

OK, you're going to have to do two things before you can do anything else.

1. Make sure that the data on Computer 1 is totally current. I would pull a Membership Master Report under the Mailing List Reports from each computer to verify the data on Computer 1. This report lists all the address and phone data, as well as the envelope number assigned to each personal profile.

The problem is this report does not show the last update date, you may have to verify with the member if there is a major difference in addresses.

2. Update the envelope numbers (if necessary) on Comp1 to those shown on Comp2.

Once this is done, Computer 1's database will be ready to restore the backup taken next:

1. Take a backup from Computer 2 using the Powerchurch Backup Utility, ONLY backup the Contribution Data files by selecting that from the list on the second screen of the backup utility. Save that to a network drive, floppy disk, CD or USB flash drive.

2. Restore that backup on Computer 1 using the Powerchurch Backup Utility. Select the drive where the backup is stored.

If all goes well, and if you did the first verification steps it should, Computer 1 will show the proper contribution data.

Again, I strongly urge that you now network Computer 2 to use the database on Computer 1. You can do that by following the instructions in this knowledge base article:

http://powerchurch.com/support/answers/ ... icle_id=33

However, before you do this, its a very good idea to delete the current Powerchurch program from Computer 2.

[Zorak]

I may be jumping in too late, here, but we have a KB article regarding the multiple data sets:

http://www.powerchurch.com/support/answ ... icle_id=82

[NeilZ]

I may be jumping in too late, here, but we have a KB article regarding the multiple data sets:

http://www.powerchurch.com/support/answ ... icle_id=82

Nice, I did a search on 'Database merge' but it did not turn this one up. It does have some very good suggestions to go with what I suggested.

[SGCF-K]

Thank you so much! all of this has been very helpful.

Computer-2 (contributions) has more records than Computer-1 (main database). Is this going to be a problem when I merge or will it just add these to Computer-1's information when I restore the Contributions back-up?

Thank you again!

[NeilZ]

Thank you so much! all of this has been very helpful.

Computer-2 (contributions) has more records than Computer-1 (main database). Is this going to be a problem when I merge or will it just add these to Computer-1's information when I restore the Contributions back-up?

Thank you again!

Unfortunately, you will have to find those additional records on Computer 2, and manually add them to Computer 1. There isn't a way to merge that data to the membership database on Computer 1. I would also check to see if there are duplicates in those names, as I've had people in the past add a new name to the database, when there were already records records existing.

I'm assuming you ARE talking about Mailing List and Personal Profile records.