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How can I transfer data between apps?
How can I transfer data between apps?
Moving data from one form to another.
Mike Meesseman avatar
Written by Mike Meesseman
Updated over a week ago

To export the data, you can use either the exporter or the downloader. It is typically easier to use the CSV file type when exporting the data but you can use Shapefile if you wish. When using the exporter, the only option that you should select is to include photos.

Once you have exported and downloaded the ZIP file that is produced you can take that ZIP file and directly import it into the new app as new records.

Notes:

  • The created and edited timestamps and ‘by’ system fields will be changed to the current timestamp and user account importing the data. This is because the system views them as new records in a new app. 

  • Do not select the option to include full history when exporting the data out of the original app. History cannot be transferred to the new app and including the history will just result in a record being created for every record version that is included in the data file.

  • If you do have record linked apps, recreating the links can be a bit of a pain. This is due to the records getting new record IDs when they are being imported into the new apps. The best way to do this is to rename the record_id column in the data files to something else. Then in the app itself create a text field and map that column to the text field. This will allow you to see the original ID and the new ID. Starting from the linked app import the data into Fulcrum as new records. Then run an export and use that data file to replace the record IDs in the data file with the record link field. After everything is completed. You can delete the text field from the app.

  • When importing data and photos, make sure that the uploaded ZIP file contains all the photos and the data files. The importer will see that the photo ID is already in use but since the photo is present it will upload the photo and rename the photo file.

  • When uploading data in a repeatable section, make sure to include both the parent and child data files. There is no need to worry about the record IDs like with record linking but the importer does need the parent file to import any child records.

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