GoldMine to Maximizer
Data Conversion Service
GoldMine to Maximizer
The Golden Path to Maximizer
C I Corporation -
MaximizerConvert.com
Maximizer - Data Conversions
Many people want to convert from Goldmine to Maximizer, but there has been no easy way to do it, without retyping the data.
The Goldmine.import file provided inside the Maximizer Import feature only brings in the Contact data (and no secondary contacts), without the important activities (calls, meetings, todo's), history, notes, groups, or email addresses. So, you're only left with basic rolodex information. "History was history." But you need to benefit from your many hours of data entry with Goldmine.
This looks pretty good, but a lot gets lost in the translation
Beneath the similar user interfaces of Maximizer and Goldmine, are some complex tables, index keys, and data relationships. Maximizer and Goldmine store their contact data in different ways, using differing fields and approaches. Maximizer's complex MAX format file is especially challenging to work with, which stores user information, notes, and attachment references. One small error, and the file is corrupted. This is perhaps why no one has yet created an effective data conversion program.
Goldmine conversion to Maximizer
The "Goldmine to Maximizer Conversion Process" is a series of procedures and programs which convert any Goldmine (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, FrontOffice, etc.) database into any Maximizer version format. We can convert your:
We do a lot of this type of conversion, and have refined the process down to about 3-4 hours. We've put the data back and forth between Maximizer and Goldmine many times over the years. Usually we do the job overnight, so people can leave off with Goldmine one day, and start with Maximizer the next day.
As different organizations use Goldmine and Maximizer in different ways, we would like to have a phone number to call someone familiar with your database, just in case we have questions about unusual particulars during the conversion.
Now our procedure is multi-user,
so it can run on multiple computers to divide the job between processors and save hours of time to
convert! One job that would take 60 hours was cut down to 10 when done on 6 machines.
Your data should first be compressed, using a program such as WinZIP or PKZIP. This is to make the file small, so that it can be sent more quickly. It will be sent in the form of a GOLDMINE.ZIP file. When we are done converting your database, we will send you an Maximizer_DATA.ZIP database file to uncompress and use with Maximizer
| 1. Upload to our
Secure Server using our convenient, easy web based uploading form 2. If your company
has an FTP site, we can download and upload it there. 3. By email to Convert@Cicorp.com Either way, your data is kept in the strictest confidence. |
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A complete list is included at the above link. A GoldZip.Bat file, placed in the Goldmine EXE folder, will get the proper files automatically. Or, you can create a compressed "Zip" file on your own. Please do not send the C:\GOLDMINE\MAILBOX\ATTACH folder, as this may have hundreds of Word processing, Excel spreadsheet, and PowerPoint files. These do not need to be converted, and only make the Zip file larger. This makes it take longer to send your files to us.
When we are done with the process, we will call and send you an email with the Maximizer_DATA.ZIP file attached (if it is a small database), or a link to download the file with your browser. For your security, this folder will be have an unguessable name. In addition, we will encrypt the ZIP file. We want zero chance that anyone else will get your data.
We convert your files on fast pentiums, and monitor their progress closely from anywhere.
Our Consulting Rates - Usually the job takes about
3-4 hours, for about US$ 200-300.
The cost depends on several factors:
We can provide you an estimate at no cost or obligation.
For some clients, we do the conversion on a weekly basis at a substantial discount. For example, a salesman who likes to use Goldmine, can send his database to his Sales Manager who uses Maximizer for activity analysis. This way they are both happy.
We
can take a look at your file via WebEx or VNC, for an estimate, if you have
special needs.
If you have more than 3 contacts associated with a particular record, you will need to create
separate contacts for them:
1. Go to the Contacts tab
2. Right click
3. Select Options
4. Select Convert to Record
Some features of Goldmine have no direct equivalent in Maximizer But we can discuss alternatives or Maximizer Add-Ons for such features as:
These five Key fields, Key 1 - Key 5, which appear on the top half of Goldmine, are basically User Defined Fields. These will become Maximizer's User1 - User5 fields. The other Goldmine User Defined Fields UserDef01 - UserDef10 and onward will become Maximizer's User6 - User 15 fields and onward.
We do a thorough check to make sure all the information that is possible, comes
across from Goldmine to Maximizer
For example, we perform a Field Name Checking
procedure
You will find an Maximizer Admin record used for
this check. But if we miss anything the we should have converted, we do that at no
additional cost.
Please keep in mind that the reason this conversion was not included in Maximizer was that it is
very difficult.
We have been working to develop a generic software package that "does it all" but this has proven difficult as there are a surprising number of variations in the way people use Goldmine and Maximizer Plus, the GM data is not always in the right place and may require some cleanup preparation. It's the exceptions that require special data handling.
The process still involves a number of expensive different programming tools which must be bought from software companies.
This list does not include the all important special programs and scripts written to make the conversion work. So it is best converted by a qualified database technician who already owns and has experience with these tools.
Even if we were able to create one conversion program, you would probably only need it for a one-time run. The program (and possible technical support) would cost more than our service work to do it, anyway. You might not use these database tools again and they would sit on your shelf.
We take care and run cross checking routines to verify that the data has converted properly. We know what to look for. For example, all files are pre-checked with Duane Anderson's MaximizerDiag.exe Maximizer diagnostics program.
The process is getting better and more refined just about every day. So you benefit from the latest refinements.
We sure do. Please Click here (Please call us at 202-829-4444 for password).
We also have received very positive feedback from Maximizer Certified Consultants and commendation from Interact Commerce Corporation senior executives from around the world. This has "evened the playing field" with Goldmine, which was long able to convert from Maximizer Before Goldmine was able to assimilate Maximizer files, but not vice versa. Now Maximizer can convert from Goldmine equally well.
That is a good question. If Maximizer did, we would not have bothered developing the procedure.
For one thing, it takes a number of different software packages to accomplish the job: dBase.com's dBase 7.5 , Redstone Softbase's GoldBox, Sequitter Codebase, Microsoft Visual Studio and ZedTek's ZTreeWin. This would be too expensive.
It may come down to one word: "BLoB." Maximizer's BLB file stands for "Binary Large oBject." This is where the Notes, Email addresses, Attachment paths, Passwords, Usernames, etc. are stored. Blob is a good name for it. It is a complex file, and one wrong byte corrupts it. So special care must be taken to ensure the information from Goldmine goes into the right place.
The conversion process takes more than a simple MAP file. Other programs, such as Outlook, can be easily imported. It is just a matter of matching the fields from one data file into Maximizer's structure. But Goldmine's data structure is not that simple.
Another reason is Goldmine's unusual field use. Goldmine uses its fields in quite unusual and let us say, creative ways. For example, in Goldmine's CONTSUPP.DBF file, the Address and City fields are sometimes are used for secondary contacts. But at other times, these fields are used for the "address" of a linked document template! At other times, for an email address. This is too inconsistent for standard import procedures. We are familiar with such idiosyncrasies, and take care of them in our conversion process.
Another obstacle is the date format used in Maximizer Instead of storing March 15, 2001 as "03-15-2001", Maximizer stores this as "ZJ1D!" This was done to save bytes of storage space while storing the date as well as the time of day. So simple field mapping cannot be used, and a special conversion function must be used. So it may come down to another word - ZJ1D!
We are working to develop something that could be included in the Maximizer product. But it would have to be compact enough, easy to run, and fit well into the Maximizer menu system. That is a challenge in itself. So, for now, it is a special process.
It took someone knowledgeable and determined (stubborn) enough to pave a "golden path" for many frustrated Goldmine users to move in to Maximizer Rick Shaddock is an expert in contact management databases and database design. He has used both Maximizer and Goldmine since they hit the market in the early 1990's. He has performed various experiments on the products, such as importing over 1 million records to see if it will blow up Maximizer (It didn't, but ran very slowly.)
As our Chief Contact Converter, he has been both an Maximizer Certified Consultant (1992 - 2001) and Goldmine Certified Professional. He has achieved certification in other contact managers, and as a Microsoft Certified Professional. He has proven himself in the field, handling hundreds of clients, taken the required advanced seminars, and passed the exams with the highest marks.
He did his graduate work and dissertation on relational database modeling theory. He is proficient with the programming tools needed to develop the process: Maximizer SDK, CodeBase, dBase - Borland Database Engine, Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC), Structured Query Language (SQL), Microsoft Access and Microsoft Visual Studio - including Visual Basic and Visual FoxPro.
In order to accurately and objectively advise our clients which is best, C I Corporation puts its
own company database in one or the other, when a significantly new version comes out in Maximizer or
Goldmine. We want to keep on top of the latest features of all the major contact
managers, and be able to compare and contrast them.
This way we can speak from years of daily hands-on experience. Clients asked "Why is Maximizer
better than Goldmine?" We wanted to be able to give an experienced answer. Some
consultants can only offer advice about the one program they are certified in. At C I
Corporation, we do our best to try all the major options, and compare and contrast them, in order to
call ourselves consultants.
Like you, when it is time for a switch, we want to retain all our precious notes, groups, and
history records. The conversion procedures included in Goldmine and Maximizer do not completely
convert their competitor's format. A lot gets lost in the translation.
So, out of necessity, we have developed programs and procedures over the years to help us convert
quickly and completely. We are experts in what is happening at the deep file and table relationships
level.
Since 1992, we were quite satisfied with Maximizer and may never have tried, much less mastered Goldmine, except for a temporary disagreement years ago with Symantec Corporation, which used to market Maximizer But it proved to be a fortunate thing for Maximizer that we looked in to competing products and developed conversion processes.
Maximizer and Goldmine each have their strengths and weaknesses. They are suited to a particular type of user or organization - playing to different audiences. They are both good for different reasons. With each version they each expand in their capabilities. (Is that statement political enough?) But we find that 99% of clients we find want to convert from Goldmine to Maximizer - instead of the other direction, due to Maximizer's user-friendliness.
Goldmine has more features, but is generally considered is harder to learn than Maximizer Some organizations have found the the users do not use those features anyway. If they features aren't used, they don't really exist for the user. Maximizer is a program that a person new to computers could easily use.
Here is a comparison from Interact.
Intellisync can convert most of the contact data, and activities for Palms, and other simple rolodex systems. But, unlike Intellisync, we also retain the relationships - the way a contact relates to the activities, groups, histories, and notes. After an Intellisync conversion, the contacts, activities, groups, histories, and notes are separate entities.
Goldmine pretty well has that taken care of with its own menus.
Tools, Import/Export Wizard, Import Contact
Records and Process Monitor
There is also a utility made by Team IMA.
We offer training and consulting in contact management and other popular business software.
Please click on the following links, or feel free to call with any questions.
Sure! Please click here for a variety of sceenshots of past conversions from Goldmine.to Maximizer We can also provide a demo file comparison.
