Copying, Importing, and Exporting Lawson Data

The following table lists several data transfer scenarios, along with suggestions on the utilities to use to accomplish the task. Use these utilities when you need to move, export, or copy some portion of the Lawson database.

Use To copy
dbdump -d and dbload All the data from a specific data area or data ID of a product line into the same data area or data ID in a different product line.
expsysdb and impexp Data from all data areas of a product line (or all files of a given application) to the same data areas in a different product line, including any related attachment files.
dbcopy To copy data from one data area to another.
An application import/export program or custom program and impexp Data from only a few or several selected data area files, with data meeting a desired set of selection criteria.
CSV file (created by either rngdbdump or by some other method) and importdb CSV-formatted data area files to a Lawson database file. CSV files are also called comma-delimited files.
lashow from the displayed report; choose the CSV File option from the Send (F8) menu. Lawson report data to a spreadsheet.
Paint, generate, compile, and run the desired report using Environment 4GL, and display the report. From lashow, choose the CSV File option from the Send (F8) menu. Transfer custom report data to a spreadsheet.
gendbload All the data from a specific data area or data ID of a product line into the same data area or data ID in a different product line, overriding the product line.

These commands, the parameters they accept, and other considerations are explained in this guide, the "Product Line Maintenance" chapter in the Lawson Administration: Server Setup and Maintenance guide, or the System Utilities Reference Guide.