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Updating Records

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    #1

    Updating Records

    There probably is a very simple way to do this, but since I'm still learning, I need some help.

    I have two identical databases: Database A has data from a pull from the college system that has had some updated information as well as additional data fields added. Database B is identical to A except that it doesn't have the additional updated fields, but has newer records. The reason I have two identical databases is that database A was an older pull of data (2 months ago and was found to have missing data). It was decided to scrap everything and just start from a fresh pull of current data. However, now that things have smoothed out, they want the old data (database A) merged with the new pull records in database B.

    So, what I want to do is take the data in A's class set and based on course_id, update some of the fields in the new class set in database B so that lots of hours won't be expended manually updating. There are over 18,000 records.

    My question is what is the best way to do this, again, I'm a newbie and am trying to learn all the ins and outs of Alpha.

    Thanks in advance,

    Ben
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Updating Records

    I think you want a post operation with the course_id field as the linking field. Most operations work on tables (not sets).
    There can be only one.

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Updating Records

      Ben, one of the "ins and outs" to master is the distinction between "databases" and "tables". An Alpha Five "database" is sort of like a "project" or an "application". it contains a number of objects including tables. "Tables" are the actual data stores. The "dbf" files, if you will. Here it seems you're really talking about tables, not databases, right?

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Updating Records

        What I have is actually 2 Alpha 5 V10 databases (each located in its own directory), one called QA and the other called WFD. WFD is an exact copy of QA. Inside of each database there are identical tables (Classes, Instructors and Students). What I want to do is merge/update the Class data from QA into WFD based on the Class_Id.

        Does this help?

        Thanks,

        Ben

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Updating Records

          Better, but we have no idea what "merge/update" might mean to you.

          Suppose you have a field class_desc in Classes in WFD. That field is empty.

          The same field exists in Classes in QA but has been populated.

          You can design a post operation for Classes in WFD to fill in the class_desc from the field in Classes in QA.

          For example.
          There can be only one.

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Updating Records

            Hi, Ben.

            Yes.

            As Stan suggests this is going to have to be done one table at a time. You will need to think about how you want to handle:

            a) records that are identical (and how do you define identity?);

            b) records that have the same class_id but different data (which do you keep and which do you discard?);

            c) records that exist in a table in the QA database but are not present in the corresponding table in the WFD database (append ? if so, do you preserve the class_id or assign a new one? How do you avoid overwriting or duplicating an existing record with the same class_id? Are there field rules that must be observed as new records are entered in to the table in the WFD database? auto-increment fields? etc)

            This gets complicated in a hurry, and the same thought process is needed for each table.

            -- tom

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Updating Records

              I understand what you mean about this getting out of control real quick. Merge/Update to me means marrying data from one source into another. I'll tinker around and see what I can come up with.

              Thanks everyone,

              Ben

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Updating Records

                Tom and Stan,

                I went in and used the "Post" function and it worked like a champ. Thanks again for your help. I'm slowly digging out of the hole and starting to move forward more productively with Alpha.

                Thanks,

                Ben

                Comment

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