Any tool or suggestions to transform & export data from one SQL server to another SQL Server

  • I have a legacy system which uses SQL Server as its back end and i am going to replace the legacy system with new ERP package which has SQL as its back end. For a month or so , when i input data into legacy system , i want to modify & insert that data into the ERP system also . Table structures are different in both the SQL Servers . This is like a data migration . Can anybody help me ??/

    Anybody done like this before ??

  • I'd see what tools your ERP solution provides for loading data into it, for example, loading a ledger entry, a sale etc. THere are often a lot of complex things happening behind the scenes with ERP solutions which you'd be unlikely to be able to replicate yourself.

    Generally, you would have a load tool which would push the entries through the ERP system's internal logic to ensure it remains consistent (bearing in mind data quality, obviously). Then you can set up ETL to pull out the data from the legacy system in the correct format for the ERP's loading mechanisms.

  • I'd agree with Andrew. Getting consistent data into an ERP system can be a nightmare if you don't understand all the rules and their nuances.

    What ERP system is it, if I may ask?

    Rob Schripsema
    Propack, Inc.

  • For a commercial ERP system, this is an extremely complex task. You will need either a utility provided by the software vendor, or a complete design document that describes everything about the architecture of the new ERP system, and if you did get that (unlikely), you would still be facing a monumental task.

    Converting oxygen into carbon dioxide, since 1955.
  • The ERP system is Microsoft Dynamics Navision 2009 which has Dataports / XML ports for loading data from external source like legacy system. My problem is to finalize the best tool we can use to extract and transform data from the legacy system which can give the result in XML or excel etc.,.

    I was looking options like ETL tool or Biz talk server or developing own SQL routine to extract , transform data and output into XML or Excel format.

    Can you please guide me in this.

  • SSIS is your friend here. Lots of good tips, examples and advice on http://www.sqlis.com/

  • Steve Cullen (3/30/2010)


    For a commercial ERP system, this is an extremely complex task. You will need either a utility provided by the software vendor, or a complete design document that describes everything about the architecture of the new ERP system, and if you did get that (unlikely), you would still be facing a monumental task.

    The issue with complete design documentation is that the data structure and how and where the data is stored is highly dependant upon the packages, modules and configuration options chosen as part of the implementaion. A typical implementation can lead to the creation of (literally) thousands of tables with highly complex interdependancies and data flows.

    Not only that, but in some cases there is stuff going on under the hood that would militate against this route even if it were available. For example, in BaaN, the middleware between the interface and database (porting set) typically uses hash columns added to the tables for indexing. So unless you knew the algorithm used to populate these - if you load data other than via the load tools provided, your app is broken.

    For data migrations to such systems you just use the load tools provided

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