Extracting data from FIMS for your Foundant data conversion to CommunitySuite is a necessary step in the data migration process.
If you access Host*Net through your web browser, do not use these instructions. Follow the instructions in Data Migration: Web-Based FIMS to CommunitySuite instead.
Before starting the data migration process, ensure that you have an account with administrator privileges on your computer and in FIMS. If you don't have administrator privileges on your computer, you will not be able to create the directory for the data.
Data Migration Video
This video provides a brief overview of the data migration process from FIMS to CommunitySuite.
CommunitySuite's Home page has been updated from what is shown in the accompanying video. Navigation links are the same but have been reordered on the page.
Step 1: Copy the dumpdb_local.p File to the FIMS Folder
Once you download the file attached at the bottom of this article, continue with the steps below.
The following steps only need to be completed the first time you migrate data from FIMS to CommunitySuite.
- Login to FIMS.
- Click the Help drop-down menu, and then select About FIMS to locate your FIMS install directory.
- Look at the first letter in the Physical Database Name area, take note of it for the following steps, and then click OK.
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You only need to know the drive letter at the beginning of this area. Do NOT copy the FOUND/dbfiles/FOUND file or folder.
- The directory is generally "n:\npo\fims," meaning you are on the N: drive.
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- Open File Explorer on your local computer and navigate to where you downloaded the dumpdb_local.p file.
- This is typically your downloads folder.
- Right click the file, and then select Copy from the list.
- Click the caret to expand the drive that you determined in step 3.
- In the example screenshot, you would click the caret next to the N: drive.
- In the example screenshot, you would click the caret next to the N: drive.
- Expand the found folder, FIMS folder, and the CUSTOM folder.
- Inside the CUSTOM folder, right-click in the white space, and then select Paste from the list.
Step 2: Create a FIMS Folder in Your C: Drive
The following steps only need to be completed the first time you migrate data from FIMS to CommunitySuite.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the C: drive.
- Right-click in the white space, click New, and then click Folder.
- Name this folder "fims."
- Open the fims folder.
- Create a second folder using step 2 above, and then name it "data."
Step 3: Execute the Program
- From the FIMS homepage, click the Tools drop-down menu. Next, click System Utilities and Run Procedure.
- Enter “dumpdb_local.p” into the Procedure Name field if it doesn't automatically appear. Click the box next to Disable GUI for Character-Based Procedure, and then click OK.
- Depending on the size of your database, this process should take 1 to 15 minutes to run.
- You will see something similar to the image shown below and possibly a “Not Responding” message. This message will disappear once the process is finished.
Step 4: Run the FIMS Tables and Fields Report
- From the FIMS homepage, click the Tools drop-down menu. Next, click System Utilities, System Reports, and then Display FIMS Tables and Fields.
- Check the Show Unused Tables and Fields box. Next, click the Order button, and then click OK.
- When finished, the report will appear in the FIMS Viewer.
- When finished, the report will appear in the FIMS Viewer.
- Click File, and then select Save As.
- Click the FIMS folder in your C: drive, enter "tables.txt" as the file name, and then click Save.
Step 5: Compress the Folder
- Navigate to your C: drive.
- Right click the FIMS folder, and then click Compress to ZIP file.
- Name the file and note it for the following steps.
- Rather than saving it on the C: drive, your computer may only allow it to be saved on the desktop. You will receive a similar message as shown below, and then click Yes.
- Rather than saving it on the C: drive, your computer may only allow it to be saved on the desktop. You will receive a similar message as shown below, and then click Yes.
Step 6: Upload the File to CommunitySuite
- Login to your Live site in CommunitySuite.
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If this is your first time logging in to the system, reference the body of the email you received from Foundant for your URL, username, and password.
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- Navigate to the Home page and click System Data.
- Click Files in the left-side menu.
- Click Create in the left-side menu.
- Click Choose Files.
- Select your zipped FIMS file, and then click Open.
- Enter a description, and then click Start Upload.
- It is recommended that the description be "FIMS Data as of MM/DD/YY," with the date information being the date you moved the data.
- The FIMS zip file should now appear on the Files page.
- It is recommended that the description be "FIMS Data as of MM/DD/YY," with the date information being the date you moved the data.