Two copies of V10 -- can I copy contribution files

[sailman]

For some reason we ended up with two computers (not networked) each with a copy of V10. The first computer was used exclusively for putting in the contributions. The second was used for membership data, attendance, etc. but no contribution data. The acounting module is not used on either computer.

I looked in the "data" directory and saw that there were many different files. Is it possible that some files pertain only to the contribution module? If so, could they be copied to the second computer without destroying the data base? The object here of course is to have one computer with the total data base, and then move to networking.

If that is not feasible, the fallback plan would be to keep both computers standalone until 1 Jan 2008, and then start the new year with both computers networked on a combined data base. The 2007 giving reports would of course be printed before the first computer was networked to the combined data base.

[NeilZ]

For some reason we ended up with two computers (not networked) each with a copy of V10. The first computer was used exclusively for putting in the contributions. The second was used for membership data, attendance, etc. but no contribution data. The acounting module is not used on either computer.

I looked in the "data" directory and saw that there were many different files. Is it possible that some files pertain only to the contribution module? If so, could they be copied to the second computer without destroying the data base? The object here of course is to have one computer with the total data base, and then move to networking.

If that is not feasible, the fallback plan would be to keep both computers standalone until 1 Jan 2008, and then start the new year with both computers networked on a combined data base. The 2007 giving reports would of course be printed before the first computer was networked to the combined data base.

The problem is that the databases may not be totally synchronized in the fact that some family and personal profiles may exist on one machine, and not on the other.

My suggestion is to finish out the year, then network using the current membership data computer as the master. I'd backup the contributions machine database before doing any networking so a backup is available.

I'd also make sure that on the contribution machine, the current PCv10 icon is removed from the desktop prior to networking so that that copy is not easily accessable.

[sailman]

The problem is that the databases may not be totally synchronized in the fact that some family and personal profiles may exist on one machine, and not on the other.

My suggestion is to finish out the year, then network using the current membership data computer as the master. I'd backup the contributions machine database before doing any networking so a backup is available.

I'd also make sure that on the contribution machine, the current PCv10 icon is removed from the desktop prior to networking so that that copy is not easily accessable.

Fortunately the contribution machine did not have any new members or envelope numbers, only updated records of contributions .

Data bases on both machines were backed up. I followed the advice of tech support here and then backed up only the contribution module on the computer used to record contributions. I merged/imported the contribution module data into the main computer. After all was checked, the contribution machine was cleaned of Power Church, and networked in the normal manner.

All records were thereby successfully combined. But as you point out if the membership info such as names were different on the two computers the problem would have been much more difficult.