converting from Church Windows

[SBChurch]

I just installed PC, version 10 and need to transfer all of my database files from Church Windows, version 4.1. Does anyone have some efficient instructions for doing so? I will begin reading the manual too, so if you know what I need to reference first, would be very much appreciated!

[NeilZ]

I just installed PC, version 10 and need to transfer all of my database files from Church Windows, version 4.1. Does anyone have some efficient instructions for doing so? I will begin reading the manual too, so if you know what I need to reference first, would be very much appreciated!

There are really only two ways to do this:

1. Manually - enter all the information by hand.
2. Have the PC+ staff do the conversion. Call the Powerchurch office, and they will let you know what the cost would be to move the data from one format to the other.

Depending on the size of the church, you may find it cost effective to take advantage of the conversion service.

The reason that there is no 'built-in' conversion system is that it is very hard to track database changes in all the many church management programs. What the PC+ staff does is to review the copy of the database you send them, and then they will transfer the data to the PC+ Foxpro database, converting any info from one datatype to the required type as necessary.

[SBChurch]

Funny my co-worker thought he read somewhere that all we had to do was create an export file from CW for transferring data to PC+, which is one of the reasons we decided to purchase a new system, such as PC+.

[NeilZ]

Funny my co-worker thought he read somewhere that all we had to do was create an export file from CW for transferring data to PC+, which is one of the reasons we decided to purchase a new system, such as PC+.

The only data that can be imported from another program via an Export file is mailing list data. You cannot import personal profiles, nor contributions data via this method, primarily due to the different types of data items found in the various programs available.

That said, when we were evaluating church management programs in 2000, we evaluated most that were on the market, and PC+ definitely gave us better 'bang for the buck' over Church Windows, you're making a good move here, one that will save you money over the long term, and give you more capabilities for use.