How to merge object using DevToolKit

selece28

Hi Nav masters,
I'm currently working with more then one tech. I just want to know how is the correct way to merge objects using Devtoolkit?

Could someone guide me with the correct way?
Because now i just compare the 2 objects manually by opening 2 DB, SQL and native. I put the Main DB in SQL and copy one codes at a time from Native to SQL. I took me lots of time. And I'm afraid i will miss something when comparing and joining the objects.


Thanks in advance.

DenSter

I personally use Beyond Compare for that purpose, which is a text compare tools. Export all relevant objects from both databases and split the file up into files per object, into individual folders. Now you can compare the two folders and merge the objects. You'll have to import the txt objects back into the target database and compile them to make sure it is done correctly. For forms you'll need to also open them in design to make sure you didn't overlap any controls.

jlandeen

Does Beyond Compare handle splitting the .txt file into seperate object files or do you have another tool to do that? This is something I've seen done in the past but haven't found a nice tool to help automate the process.

ara3n

here is a tool that splits the txt files.

http://www.mibuso.com/dlinfo.asp?FileID=289

selece28

Hi Ara3n,

Just want to make sure we have the same thought.

So, you mean export out per objects from both DB as txt file and compare them using text compare program? Then copy the codes from New object into Target object and then save and import into target DB, is that right?

And for Form object, i still need to compare the design view to make sure its correct, right?

Thanks

ara3n

yes.

For forms, I it's a little harder to see and understand the changes. So I compare them by looking at the two forms and identifying the changes.
When I compare txt forms, I only look for code changes, the rest I make manually.

DenSter

That's how I started, but when I really had to merge massive numbers of forms I decided to figure out how it works. Once you do enough forms, you'll start to see where things go, which properties are important. To me it's easier to know for sure that a certain textbox has made it to the target form and all I need to do is move it to the right position, than trying to figure out by eye whether I caught all of them in a manual compare.

I don't like comparing forms in two NAV databases at the same time, it doesn't catch everything. For me, using text compare for forms is by far the easiest and fastest way to merge forms. It just takes practice.

Also if you merge the controls on the form with a text compare tool, it will use the same control ID's, and will make it less likely that you're going to have conflicts later.