PC:
Sat is not correct -- there is a Create Date in ACT's notes that they could
use as the create date of the BCM Business Note but don't do it because of
the method they use in going through the Outlook object model. It's in all
the ACT versions. The third party guys go directly into the SQL database
and get around that.
Other than paying their rates, there aren't many other options to get the
notes data into BCM and have the original date of the note retained.
However, I would propose some solutions that are not optimal but will get
you out of ACT, which is your goal.
1. Export your contact data from ACT into CSV, clean and combine fields in
Excel, then import it into BCM. Leave ACT on your PC and go back and lookup
notes when you need to. Depending on your business, I find that many people
"want" everything in one place but really don't "need" to refer to old data
that often. It's a more intellectual than practical desire which I fully
understand and agree with in an ideal world, but we're dealing with a tough
situation here.
2. Export your notes to a text report, by contact, and import it into
Microsoft OneNote. OneNote will index every character and can find data
instantly. At that point, you could copy/paste that data into BCM, either
in a Business Note or into the Comments field. Over a period of time, you'd
get most of the notes you "need" into BCM. OneNote comes as a standalone
product for $99 or as part of Office 2007 Ultimate, which also includes BCM.
You could also link a BCM contact to OneNote. OneNote is a fabulous product
that uses the MS Search Engine and allows you to create unstructured, free
form data that is instantly searched. If you're using a TabletPC, you'd
really see the power.
Hope that helps,
Lon
___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Managerwww.pinpointtools.com
I did see that in my import tests. The activities do retain that "date
stamp"
when imported into BCM. My problem is most of my critical information I
need
to bring into BCM is in the form of ACT note and history items, and date
integrity is a must.
I see this as a big issue with converting ACT users in BCM, as I would
imagine a lot of ACT people utilize note/histories and want to bring that
information over to whatever CRM they move to. I am dying for a Non-ACT
CRM
program that lives up to it's hype and have high hopes for BCM, but until
I
figure out how to get this information over, I'll still be searching for
the
answer.
It has to be able to be done somehow (especially if that info comes over
from the activitiy items) and plus there are 3rd party services out there
who
"claim" to be able to bring that info over, but I think a $5000 plus price
tag for those services is a bit nutty.
Is this note/history date issue happen with any ACT version (2000-2007) or
only specific to say ACT2000? That's what I am on. I was curious as to if
ACT
2007 was able to bring that info in..
Well I will continue to try to find a cure, as I have to get away from the
ACT franchise, and really like BCM in my infancy with it. Let me know if
anyone finds a cure.
This issue is by design because ACT does not provide us with this
information. Only those in the Activities tab of ACT will get the date
of
the activity.
-Sat [MSFT]
:
Thank you, I would like to hear your feedback once you tested things
yourself. I too downloaded SP1 and will tinker around here and see if
it
helps in the migration on my end.. We can all hope!
:
PC:
We've downloaded the SP1 and are testing this now. We'll post back
later
with our results... Keep your fingers crossed.
Lon
___________________________________________________________
Lon Orenstein
pinpointtools, llc
(e-mail address removed)
Author of Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager For Dummies
Author of the eBook: Moving from ACT! to Business Contact Manager
www.pinpointtools.com
I have gone thru the import wizard in BCM 2007 and it has converted
my ACT
2000 data, imported custom fields, and imported almost everything
into
BCM07...Except one important thing, all the dates for all my
contact's,
notes
and histories.. It brings the note/history items over but time/date
stamps
it
with the date of the import. Not good!
Is there anything on the horizon to help this data migration, or is
this
addressed in BCMSP1?
Please help, I have seen companies out there who will do this feat
for
you,
but they want your first born child in payment. There has to be a
way to
do
this thru the import wizard in BCM if not now, hopefully in the
future, as
I
am sure I am not the only one looking to do this.
Any help or suggestions from anyone.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
