Advice on full data migration required

mr.mcgoo

Hi,
We are in a fairly unusual position, so a fair amount of pre-amble is required to explain the situation, so please bear with me.

We have Navision Financials 2.5 GB, our sales ordering is quite unique and required heavy mods. This has caused us to get stuck at 2.5 because upgrading was always extremely expensive and on the occasion when the benefits seemed to justify the cost, our MBS dealer couldn't get it to work and it was abandoned.

Now we are in the middle of an ambitious project to get back to a standard version of Navision V4 on SQL Server. Our unique requirements will be catered for in an external web application which will import orders into Navision.

What I require advice on are the options on moving the data from the old modded system to version 4. I can and have extracted the database into SQL 2005 using Access Upsizing wizard and the C/ODBC driver.

Specific questions are;
1. What migration/data import tools come with Nav 4.0,
2. How do I get them
3. Can I run them or does it have to be the dealer
4. How is it done from other non-Navision systems - is there an intermediate structure for use with standard tools?

The reason I am asking this here and not my dealer is that the dealer is talking about going the same route as before through all the different versions of upgrade tools, so I see no reason to make me think this won't fail again, plus they want shed-loads of dosh to do it!

I don't necessarily want to bypass the dealer, I would prefer a more streamlined method. And as a data conversion specialist in a previous life I know their suggested solution is just asking for trouble.

Marije_Brummel

When we do a conversion from an old not-navision system we first create new conversion tables. These contain exactly the data that is provided by the customer.

The next step is to create conversion routines to migrate to the navision datastructure. These can be simple 1 on 1 conversion for contacts but can also be more complex when creating open customer entries.

The advantage of this is the tracibility of the conversion because your old data remains in the new database.

Also when you discover a conversion bug you can easily correct it without searching for the old datafiles.

mr.mcgoo

Thanks Mark,
I have already got the 2.5 data into SQL so as you say I have the original data where I want it.

It is getting that data - or the important bits - into the new version. I have seen mentioned a Migration Tool, is that an end user tool? I am a VB ASP.Net and SQL programmer and could write my own stuff but would rather use a standard tool to do the job.

Failing that, is it possible to get documentation from somewhere, laying out the important structures.

Marije_Brummel

We use dataports most of the time, but since you have the data in SQL you can also use SQL tools to populate the SQL tables in navision.

Only advise is not to directly populate the navision aplication tables from your external data. Always have the table available in Navision to the conversion can be done in C/AL

mr.mcgoo

Thanks Mark,

The point you raise about not writing data directly into "New" Navision tables is exactly what I want to avoid doing because I will be unsure of other newer data that will be required to make it work.

Now you mention C/AL. I've tinkered with C/AL and C/Side a little in the past, enough to know I dont want to get too involved in that.

In past conversions I've done on other systems, the application we were going to had a set of standard tables with common fields in that I had to convert the old data into, they new application company then ran their migration program which take these intermediate tables and use it to fully populate the new system. Does anything like this exist yet for Navision 4?

Marije_Brummel

There was an implementation tool introduced in 3.70B Maybe that can help you.

It is available in 4.0 SP2 from tablt 8600 onwards. I;ve not used it yet.

If you don't want to get involved in programming C/AL you can also consider hirering a c/al programmer to do the conversion for you.

mr.mcgoo

Thanks again Mark,
I've got 4.0 SP1 CD but not SP2 - I'll see if I can get one.

You wouldn't happen to be touting your services by any chance?
Though to be honest, if there is any C/AL work we'll have to go to our MBS dealer else they won't support it! We have a licence that allows us a certain amount of developement, but not a full licence.

Marije_Brummel

It is also available in SP1.

mr.mcgoo

Sorry Mark, but I couldn't trouble you for where on the CD it is, because I am not sure what I'm look for?

Marije_Brummel

It is inside the navision database.

Goto the object designer and try to find form 8600 Implementation, run this.

It should be in the menu somewhere but I don't know where.

mr.mcgoo

Mark,
This looks exactly like the sort of thing I'm after.

My next question is ... are there any standard template spreadsheets floating around? Or, is there some documentation on this? The installed help doesn't seem to mention it!

mr.mcgoo

I've just been pointed in the direction of the Liquid Web Project Streamer site with training videos on it. http://www.projectstreamer.com/users/rbaxter/

Specifically the one titled "RIM_-_How_to_add_your_Master_Files".

This forum has been so helpful, I reckon it's stopped us wasting around £10,000 on our reseller, to do this for us.

Unfortunately we may have to still buy the Industry mapping files from them. Can anyone say what the going rate is for them? Are there any samples any where?

Savatage

It's always a good thing to save $$$. I'm glad you like the link I sent you. It's nice to have some vids to show you what's going on step by step.

This site has helped many people & some of us even become site supporters
http://www.mibuso.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9861

Don't forget the Search feature too - you will find tons-o-info here.
http://www.mibuso.com/forum/search.php

ps: i personally don't know what you mean by industry mapping files.

mr.mcgoo

Just to clarify, I was talking about the spreadsheets that contain the setup information that you use in the 2nd and 3rd tab (industry mapping, industry data) of the Implementation screen (form 8600).

I'm sure to sort out a donation - if my boss doesn't cough up, I will!

Savatage

Not that I was pushing :oops:
- it's purely a personal choice

if you do or don't it does not effect 1 bit the quality of the responses

Marije_Brummel

I think the mapping sheets are at our office. I'll send you the files next tuesday if you mail me your address.

I will send you an invoice for £5000 so you will still save 50%

Just kidding off-course 8)

mr.mcgoo

Did I say £10,000? I meant 10,000 Turkish Lira.

Feel free to invoice me for 5,000 Lira :twisted: