Select the Migration Data

Before you migrate data between two instances, you must first select the data, which involves choosing the tables or functional objects you want to migrate. The mode you specify in the Migration Tool determines how you select the data for migration. Data can be selected in one of two ways:

  • Compare Mode (Compare and Migrate action)
  • Specify Criteria Mode (Specify and Export action)

In Compare Mode, the data in the source database is compared with the data in the destination database, and any data differences that are detected between the two databases are then migrated. In Compare Mode, you can compare and migrate specific tables or functional objects, but not both at the same time.

In the Migration Tool, the compare mode is known as the Compare and Migrate action. You can either perform the entire Compare and Migrate action or just perform the compare part of the action and then save the actual migration file for a future migration run.

When operating in Specify Criteria Mode, you select the exact data to be exported without comparing databases. Like in Compare Mode, in Specify Criteria Mode, you can specify to migrate tables or functional objects, but not both at the same time.

In the Migration Tool the specify criteria mode is known as the Specify and Export action. After you have performed a Specify and Export action, anyone with write access to the destination database can run the migration file to import the exported data into the destination database.

Optionally, you can encrypt the migration file when it is created. It is important to note that if you use this option, you cannot import the encrypted migration file using the Migration Tool. Encrypted migration files can be imported using the Import Migration File maintenance form in the WFM application connected to the target database.

See Optional: Encrypt the Migration Data.

Select Tables/Functional Objects Page

Selecting data (in Compare Mode or Specify Criteria Mode) involves choosing the tables or functional objects you want to migrate.

In the left panel of the Select Tables/Functional Objects page, select the database tables or functional objects you want to compare between the source and destination databases. You cannot migrate tables and functional objects at the same time.

Note:  A functional object represents a hierarchical grouping of tables that are bundled according to application functionality, such as Form Builder or Team Security.

All of the tables and functional objects that are listed come from the schema.xml and customschema.xml files. Keep in mind that some of your tables and functional objects may be hidden (excluded). Excluding tables and functional objects is a manual process that is performed through the Manage Migration Object List screen. By default, all tables and functional objects are visible in the Select Tables/Functional Objects screen. However, to make your object selection process more efficient, you can streamline the list of objects through the Manage Migration Object List. Use this List to exclude any tables and functional objects you do not use. For more information about excluding objects, see Manage Migration Object List.

Note: If you are migrating Cognos reports with Workforce Performance, select the Workforce Performance functional object.

The right panel displays a description of the topmost highlighted entity. Click Edit Criteria to view and edit the filter conditions for the selected entities.

Applying Filter Conditions

The Migration Tool provides the option of applying filter conditions for the selected tables and functional objects to narrow down the records you want to migrate or export. In the following example, the user has selected to compare and migrate the CALC_GROUP table and has applied the following filter:

CALCGRP_ID =10001

As a result, in the Compare Mode-Select Differences and Specify Mode-Select Export Records screens, only the employee record that satisfies the CALCGRP_ID = 10001 filter are displayed.

Filter conditions are saved to the Migration Tool configuration file. When you select a table or functional object, any previously-created filters (i.e., filters that have been saved to the configuration file) for that table or functional object will also be applied. To determine which tables and functional objects are filtered, see Show Filters.

Tips for Select Tables/Functional Objects

Here are some helpful tips to follow when navigating through the Select Tables/Functional Objects page:

  • Tables that are italicized represent ones that do not belong to any functional object.
  • Objects that are in bold text represent objects that have already been compared.
  • Select the Tables option to display a list of all the tables that are available for migration or export. Alternatively, select the Functional Objects option to display a list of all the functional objects that are available for migration or export. You cannot select tables and functional objects at the same time. As mentioned earlier, some tables or functional objects may be excluded from this list via the Manage Migration Object List.
  • Enable or disable the Select/Clear all check box to select or deselect all objects for migration or export.
  • Click the Hide/Filter previously compared objects check box to hide objects that you have already compared and specified in this Migration Tool session. In other words, in this session, you have already selected some of the objects, clicked Next and then returned to this screen to select more objects.
  • To select or deselect a consecutive group of tables or functional objects, click the first table or functional object you want to include in the compare, and then <Shift+Click> the last table or functional object you want to include in the compare. Right-click the selection and select Select/Deselect from the shortcut menu.
  • To select a group of tables or functional objects that are not consecutively listed, click the first table or functional object, and then <Ctrl+Click> each additional table or functional object. Once you have made your selection, right-click the selection and select Select from the shortcut menu.

Compare Mode - Select Differences Page

The Compare Mode - Select Differences page displays the data differences that exist between the source database and the destination database for the selection criteria you entered in the previous screen. In this screen, view the data differences and then decide which differences you want to migrate.

The left panel of the Compare Mode - Select Differences page displays only the tables or functional objects you selected for migration that contain data that is different between the source database and the destination database. By default, all of the objects in this panel are fully selected for migration.

The right panel consists of two halves. In the top half, you can decide which records you want to migrate. If you selected to migrate functional objects, you will also see a Table Name field, which represents the highlighted child::parent table within the functional object that contains differences. Records that are selected (i.e., Migrate check box is selected) will be migrated. Click on a record to view field-level differences in the bottom half. In the bottom half of the right panel, you can decide which fields within the selected record you want to migrate. Fields that are selected (i.e., Migrate check box selected) will be migrated.

When you choose to not migrate some of the records or fields, the object icon in the left panel will automatically change from Selected to Partially Selected, indicating that some, but not all, of the records or fields have been selected to be migrated. If you decide to not migrate all of the records, the object icon in the left panel will change to Not Selected, indicating that none of the records in that object have been selected to be migrated.

There are three types of record differences:

  • Delete - When a record exists in the destination database but does not exist in the source database.
  • Insert - When a record exists in the source database but does not exist in the destination database.
  • Update - When the same record exists in both the source and destination database, but the field-level data differences exist between the two.

Use the Display arrow to narrow down your list of object differences:

  1. Click the blue Display arrow to expand the Display section.
  2. Select Differences Only .
  3. Select at least one of the three differences types:
    • Delete
    • Insert
    • Update
  4. Click OK .

Only those records that match the difference types selected will appear in the upper-right window.

After you have specified the differences you want to migrate, click Next > Create Migration File. If, however, you want to migrate more objects, click Previous.

Specify Mode - Select Export Records Page

The Specify Mode -Select Export Records Page displays the records that exist in the source database for the selection criteria you entered in the previous screen. In this screen, view the records and then decide which ones you want to export.

The left panel of the Specify Mode - Select Export Records page displays the tables or functional objects you selected for export. By default, all of the objects in this panel are fully selected for export.

The right panel consists of two halves: in the top half, you can specify filters to further narrow down the records you want to export; and in the bottom half, you can decide which records you want to export. If you selected to migrate functional objects, you will also see a Table Name field, which represents the highlighted child::parent table within the functional object. Records that are selected (i.e., Export check box is selected) will be exported. When you choose to not export some of the records, the object icon in the left panel will automatically change from Selected to Partially Selected, indicating that some, but not all, of the records have been selected to be exported. If you decide to not export all of the records, the object icon in the left panel will change to Not Selected, indicating that none of the records in that object have been selected to be exported.

After you have specified the records you want to export, click Next > Create Export File. If, however, you want to add more objects to the export file, click Previous.