Membership file back-up

[jherring]

Exactly what information is "Backed-up" when I perform a Membership only file back-up? I am in the process of combining two computers with different data sets (one has accounting, contributions...the other has membership, attendence, activities) and want to be sure that combining the data doesn't over-write the wrong info. I have read the Forums and the articles for combining two sets of data and networking two computers. Just want to be sure I haven't missed something. Thanks!

[NeilZ]

Exactly what information is "Backed-up" when I perform a Membership only file back-up? I am in the process of combining two computers with different data sets (one has accounting, contributions...the other has membership, attendence, activities) and want to be sure that combining the data doesn't over-write the wrong info. I have read the Forums and the articles for combining two sets of data and networking two computers. Just want to be sure I haven't missed something. Thanks!

FWIW ... if you keep Contributions on one machine WITHOUT the Membership data, you're risking overwriting data. You can add Contributions and add a new contributor, that adds to the Membership database.

If someone is updating Membership on another machine, and that is then backed up, and restored to the machine with the Contribution data, everything that was added on that machine will be overwritten.

You're risking data synchronization problems, as the envelope number on the Membership computer, may be different than the one on the Contributions computer. If you restore to one, you can cause people's contributions to be lost or assigned to someone else.

The best way to do this is to keep Accounting on its own machine, and everything else on the other. When you post Contributions, you post to a file on a CD or USB Flash Drive and then bring that to the other machine.

Exactly what are you trying to do?? Combine two sets of data into one, then network from that machine with the merged database ??

I'm fairly sure this was covered in a previous thread:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4440&p=15449

That thread should answer most of your questions, along with the Knowledgebase Article listed in that thread. If you have some additional questions, please ask it in this thread to maintain the continuity of messages.

[jherring]

Thanks for the cautions. Your insight is very helpful and greatly appreciated!
God Bless!