Standard conversion uses the default mapping of fields. (Mapping is the process of matching data from one field to another.) You can use this type of conversion if the database you want to convert has not been modified or customized to include additional addresses, telephone numbers, or alternate contact fields. Standard conversion is an "express" conversion. All fields/data will convert with this option, so no data is lost.
Custom conversion allows you to change field mapping before you convert the database. Use this type of conversion if the database you want to convert has been modified to include additional addresses, telephone numbers, or alternate contact fields.
About conversion
You can convert databases, as well as supplemental files such as layouts, templates, etc., used in previous versions of ACT!. When converting databases, you can use any ACT! 3.x to 6.x database. You can use both ACT! 3.x-6.x and ACT! 7.x on the same machine, but once you convert the database, you will not be able to save data back to the previous database. For more information about conversion, see Conversion considerations.
There are two types of database conversion:
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When mapping secondary contacts, a secondary contact is created if any of the fields being mapped contain data (i.e., mapping a contact's Company field produces secondary contacts with only the company name filled in, even if there is no other secondary contact data for that contact). |
You may want to complete the following tasks before beginning your database conversion:
Delete obsolete data in the prior ACT! database. See "About database maintenance" in the online Help in the prior version.
Compress and re-index the prior ACT! database. See "About database maintenance" in the online Help in the prior version.
Back up the prior ACT! database.
To speed up the conversion process and avoid errors, turn off screen savers and close all other applications.
When database conversion is complete, you have the option of converting supplemental files as well. See Converting supplemental files for more information.
How do I...?