Dear all, I’m in the processing of creating a merge-database for a client who has to upgrade to a newer version. So far it seems to go well, but I’d like to hear if anyone has any experiences- good/bad with using the tool. Morten Barfoed, datatech S.p.A Italy
Hi. I have used Mergetool to upgrade customers and it has been ok. I have found out that the tool does not always merge all of the fob and thats of course not good. (I do not know if I did something wrong, I think not.) The tool is not the nicest one either but I would not like to do it any other way. I know many are not happy about the tool but I will not talk for them. Regards Gudmundur Petursson
About the merge tool–practice, practice, practice!! For 2 years my fulltime job has been upgrading databases and the merge tool has been invaluable during this period. But it took a lot of practice with it to get a good working knowledge. It also helps if you have a strong understanding of Navision objects in text format.
Morten, Consider that you will most likely end up doing a lot of manual work in Navision, outside of Merge Tool. It does a good job merging code (tables and codeunits). However, one added column in a report results in HUGE “differences”. My suggestion is: * when merging forms/reports - look closely for code changes * you can copy/paste visual elements, it is faster this way Ciao, Alex
How come you you’re still alive ? I once had to do 2 upgrades in a row (heavily customized database and not my code!) and I almost thought of suicide at times 
quote:
Originally posted by dhskier: For 2 years my fulltime job has been upgrading
I have used the merge tool for localisations, and I don’t really think that I would like to do it any other way. I have done this 9 times now, and I find extra things to assist me each time I use it. So to quote wickstrom: About the merge tool–practice, practice, practice!!
Tip: after merge use www.araxis.com to compare the txt files. New version vs base version. Anybody knows a better tool ? Best Regards, Mark Trouwborst LIMO Automatisering B.V. tel +31 (0)182 631 333
I use Codewright to compare text files. Bill Benefiel Manager of Information Systems Overhead Door Company billb@ohdindy.com (317) 842-7444 ext 117
Posted the following in another topic by accident so its here twice. This posting stuff sure is tough, guess I should stick to upgrades!!! :} Alex–thats the same way I do it. Forms and reports don’t do so well in the merge tool. But watch the copying and pasting of fields from one form to another on card forms. If you have a field with an entry in the nextcontrol property and that entry isn’t present on your new form, you get a rather uninformative error message when tabbing off that control and then get blown out of the form. Tarek–challenge of the day. Upgrade a heavily modified 3.53 Avista dos database to 2.6 manufacturing!! Talk about contemplating suicide!! I usually have 3-10 active upgrades going. The nature of the work suits me so I do all right with them!! Bill B.–Don’t I know you!!! Hows it going bud!! Don’t know if anyones aware but–last year I took a 2 day class on the merge tool taught by one of its authors. And according to this individual, the merge tool was originally written, not with upgrades in mind, but for version control and modification history tracking. Later all
I use Exam Diff Pro to compare text files. It’s available at: http://www.nisnevich.com/examdiff/examdiffpro.htm
CodeWright is the tool of choice of many Navision developers but other equivalent products will work well also. Dave Studebaker das@libertyforever
I personally find that CodeWright is too slow and too advanced (for simple Navision code) - it’s rather difficult to learn to use. Araxis is not quite so difficult - but it’s even slower when comparing. It’s built in merge functions are great but very very slow if you compare a full Navision object-text file. In most cases I prefer the Merge Tool, but as many other I tend to do the forms and reports “in-the-hand”. Have anyone tried the new merge-tool?? It’s now in the same package as Impuls WorkBench and is now called Developers Toolkit. Best regards, Erik P. Ernst, webmaster Navision Online User Group
I use “Beyond Compare” from Scooter Software to compare text files. It’s available at: http://www.scootersoftware.com/download.html
quote:
Originally posted by Admin: Have anyone tried the new merge-tool?? It’s now in the same package as Impuls WorkBench and is now called Developers Toolkit.
Is it released yet? Per.Bay@navigera.com Product Manager www.navigera.com
Yes - Beta 2. Best regards, Erik P. Ernst, webmaster Navision Online User Group
Erik, Do you know where we can get a review copy of Beta 2? I don’t see it on the Navision-US ftp site.
I guess you have to ask Navision-US. It’s released here in Denmark to the NTR and NSC’s. Best regards, Erik P. Ernst, webmaster Navision Online User Group
Instead of starting a new, thread, I decided to have a follow up on this old 2001 post
It’s now almost a decade later,
I’ve not done any for years, so I’m wondering what tools (NAV tools, which third party tools) you guys use nowadays
I look forward to hear any feedback from the Upgrade Maestro (Tom Wickstorm), if he’s not too busy that’s [:)]
For merging a few objects I still use Beyond Compare, but I don’t think it’s a wisest & safest choice for a full blown upgrade …