Answers.Body: <p>Export the records from MS Access into a csv file and than import it into CiviCRM using CiviCRM UI import like Contact, Contribution, Membership etc. You map those contact using external identifier for reference.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-01T09:23:07.733Z
Answers.Text: Thanks Pradeep - so normal UI import process as per https://docs.civicrm.org/user/en/latest/common-workflows/importing-data-into-civicrm/.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Davy Ivins
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-01T09:25:36.183Z
Answers.Text: Yes thats the one... You may need to create relevant custom fields, membership types etc before importing
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pradeep Nayak
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-01T11:30:55.740Z
Answers.Text: I've done a lot of this from Access, Excel, etc. We just use the internal unique identifier as the "External ID" in CiviCRM. Then when you are importing information on a person, this can help tie some of their information together.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jenni Simonis
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-02T08:01:17.333Z
Answers.Text: Many thanks Pradeep and Jenni. I'm holding thumbs for good clean data from Access and a smooth ride - otherwise I'm going to be begging your help again :-)
Answers.UserDisplayName: Davy Ivins
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-03-31T12:57:50.230Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-03-31T12:57:50.230Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pradeep Nayak
Body: <p>Our client has asked us to move them from a legacy MS Access based membership system to CiviCRM (on Drupal). Their existing system encompasses many years of memberships, accounts, academic records etc. </p>
  
  <p>This will be the first time we will be importing a full system. Can anyone point us to any best practice advice or guidance?</p>
  
Tags: <import><export>
Title: Advice for moving from Access to CiviCRM
ThreadText: # Advice for moving from Access to CiviCRM
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-03-31)
  
  Our client has asked us to move them from a legacy MS Access based membership system to CiviCRM (on Drupal). Their existing system encompasses many years of memberships, accounts, academic records etc.
  
  This will be the first time we will be importing a full system. Can anyone point us to any best practice advice or guidance?
  
  **Tags:** import, export
  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2020-03-31. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  Export the records from MS Access into a csv file and than import it into CiviCRM using CiviCRM UI import like Contact, Contribution, Membership etc. You map those contact using external identifier for reference.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thanks username_1 - so normal UI import process as per https://docs.civicrm.org/user/en/latest/common-workflows/importing-data-into-civicrm/.  
  > **username_1**: Yes thats the one... You may need to create relevant custom fields, membership types etc before importing  
  > **username_2**: I've done a lot of this from Access, Excel, etc. We just use the internal unique identifier as the "External ID" in CiviCRM. Then when you are importing information on a person, this can help tie some of their information together.  
  > **username_0**: Many thanks username_1 and username_2. I'm holding thumbs for good clean data from Access and a smooth ride - otherwise I'm going to be begging your help again :-)  
  
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