Vanco Imports into Powerchurch - test run

[davidbaker4096]

We are starting with Vanco for our eGiving contributions.
We would like to do a test import of the Vanco data into a clone of our Powerchurch(on a separate pc).

What we would like to know is...can we do a test import of Vanco transactions into this cloned database?

We want to verify that things go to the correct accounts into our Powerchurch before we do the real imports into our real powerchurch computer. Is this possible or is it only a one time thing? I asked a Vanco specialist and they suggested the question be directed to Powerchurch support forum. I don't want to do this test import if it can only be done once. I know there are date ranges to select but I would like to download and import everything we have contributed so far to verify accounts, memberships (envelope ids) and transaction fees going into our powerchurch correctly.

Thank You,
David Baker, Trustee
Glory Baptist Church
Aitkin, MN

[NeilZ]

We are starting with Vanco for our eGiving contributions.
We would like to do a test import of the Vanco data into a clone of our Powerchurch(on a separate pc).

What we would like to know is...can we do a test import of Vanco transactions into this cloned database?

We want to verify that things go to the correct accounts into our Powerchurch before we do the real imports into our real powerchurch computer. Is this possible or is it only a one time thing? I asked a Vanco specialist and they suggested the question be directed to Powerchurch support forum. I don't want to do this test import if it can only be done once. I know there are date ranges to select but I would like to download and import everything we have contributed so far to verify accounts, memberships (envelope ids) and transaction fees going into our powerchurch correctly.

Thank You,
David Baker, Trustee
Glory Baptist Church
Aitkin, MN

If you're importing into a cloned database, then your original database will have no record that you downloaded from Vanco in the first place. If Vanco says you can download the same data multiple times then you can test using the cloned database, then use the normal database and download again.

I am assuming that the Powerchurch on the separate PC is not networked with the main Powerchurch 'server' and is using a restore of the main Powerchurch database.

FWIW ... I do that all that time, and nothing affects the main database since it has no idea what I've been doing on the test database.

[fbctnc]

First Baptist Church is currently on a trial period with VANCO. I, too, have gotten the suggestion to contact Power Church with my questions.

I agree that you can not do a test run Import from VANCO on a separate computer. Once the Import from VANCO has been done 1 time, it is no longer available for importing.

My test run sent by a VANCO rep was an actual donation and I was only able to Import from VANCO once.

I also have a stand alone Power Church version 12.2 on my PC, separate from our Online version 12.2, that I usually use for testing "what if".

[NeilZ]

First Baptist Church is currently on a trial period with VANCO. I, too, have gotten the suggestion to contact Power Church with my questions.

I agree that you can not do a test run Import from VANCO on a separate computer. Once the Import from VANCO has been done 1 time, it is no longer available for importing.

My test run sent by a VANCO rep was an actual donation and I was only able to Import from VANCO once.

I also have a stand alone Power Church version 12.2 on my PC, separate from our Online version 12.2, that I usually use for testing "what if".

This sounds like a VANCO limitation, not a Powerchurch one. In other words, VANCO should be able to provide 'fake data' that you could test with, or allow download of the same data. Evidently it does not, for valid reasons I would think; I hate to think of the issues if someone downloads the same data twice to the 'live' database. That would be a real mess to clean up.

That said, there are at least hundreds of congregations using Powerchurch and VANCO for their online contributions that are not having any problems with the process of downloading, and I'm guessing they just downloaded the transactions to their normal database after following the directions on how to setup the system for using Vanco.

The issues that crop up here are usually those of a congregation allowing online donations, but not realizing that they can not have funds going to two separate bank accounts, and stuff like that.

I don't use the process, so I can't help further.

[davidbaker4096]

Thank You all for replying regarding my Vanco imports.

From what I am reading Vanco import module in PowerChurch does not allow multiple imports even to a test system...it is a one-time thing.

What I think I will do then is the following. Use the real Powerchurch system (standalone) v 12.2 and do a single date range with only a single transaction to make sure it goes into our production system to the correct account and for the correct member(envelope id) ditto with the tx fees account. what would really be nice is if I could export a csv from vanco of a date range of contributions and then use that csv to inspect the contents and then import into the cloned database to verify but that does not look like a viable option.

[NeilZ]

Thank You all for replying regarding my Vanco imports.

From what I am reading Vanco import module in PowerChurch does not allow multiple imports even to a test system...it is a one-time thing.

Actually, this is more a Vanco thing as if you downloaded to a test database, the production system would have no idea that you downloaded previously, so it would try to do the download. Vanco is stopping that download.

What I think I will do then is the following. Use the real Powerchurch system (standalone) v 12.2 and do a single date range with only a single transaction to make sure it goes into our production system to the correct account and for the correct member(envelope id) ditto with the tx fees account. what would really be nice is if I could export a csv from vanco of a date range of contributions and then use that csv to inspect the contents and then import into the cloned database to verify but that does not look like a viable option.

Make sure you have all the correct Contribution Funds properly setup at Vanco, and the fee account setup properly in PCPlus. As far as a CSV, again, that's a VANCO thing. I would have assumed they provide some type of report that you could use to verify the data import.