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Merging standard databases

You use the Merge tool to merge selected standard databases into one new standard database that you name.

For each type of database record, merge rules and selection order determine the contents of the new database. The merge process merges databases table by table, formatting columns as necessary. Unique records are added to the new database, while duplicate records are ignored. This may mean that some records are renamed or renumbered in the new database.

The merge process also creates a log file that describes potential problems in the new database caused by missing or conflicting information. For example, if a formula is replaced by a matching record with a different equation, the report shows that the original equation for Area was Length x Width but the equation is now Width x Height in the new database.

Before you start

Make sure no other users are working with the databases you want to merge.
Make sure that all the databases you want to merge are compatible—for example, make sure they all use the same crew pricing and job cost systems. (See About Merging Databases for more information.)

Important! The merge may produce unexpected results in the merged database if group records are renamed. We recommend that you make sure that duplicate names do not exist for records that are marked as group in one database and non-group in another database that you are merging before you merge databases.

To merge standard databases:

On the ribbon in the Estimating Management Console, click the [Tools] button.
In the navigation pane, click Merge.
In the right-hand pane:
1. Select the Exclusive access confirmed check box, indicating that you have exclusive access to the databases you are merging.
2. From the Available standard databases list, for each database you want to merge, select the database name, and then click the right arrow button to move the database to the Selected standard databases list.
  
  Note: The new database will use the settings from the first database in the list of selected databases as the default settings for the new database.
3. In the New standard database name box, type the name you want to give to the new standard database.
4. Click [Merge].
  
  When the merge process begins, it checks that the selected databases use the required matching settings. If it finds any conflicts, it displays an error message, and the merge does not proceed.
  
  If you receive an error message, review the Windows Event Log to identify the errors, and then fix them before attempting to merge the databases again. (For example, you can remove a database that has incompatible values from the list of databases to merge, if you cannot change the values for the source database.)
  
  When the merge process finishes successfully, it displays a message telling you that the merged database is ready for use and whether any records in the new database were renamed or renumbered. It also includes a button that lets you view a log file that details the changes that were made to the data in the merged database.
5. Click [View Log] to display the log file in Notepad.
6. In the Estimating Management Console, click [Close] at the message that says the merged database is ready for use.

After merging standard databases

Review the log file for details about how the merge affected the new database (for example, to see which records were renumbered).
Print or save a copy of the log file for reference.