New Company setup data migration task - from System Administration DAT DEF

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Posted on by Nabeel Shoaib Faruqui

When importing a company's setup data to any other instance, a normal practice is to Import it via System Administration > Common > Data import/export

We did this for an old company to our new instance having 1 running company already. All data was imported successfully, but to my great surprise, I found some vendor names updated by this activity in our new instance. The already company we have in our new instance have some vendor data. This vendor data has been updated by this activity (only names and address book field) with the names of the old company data. Fortunately, the updated data was only few records.

I need to know the basic reason behind that. Any comments ? How this could be done - the vendor ids and all other fields dont have the relations with the old company and nothing in common. Even number sequences are also different. You comments can really help others.

This post can save others from this hazrad as well :)

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André Arnaud de Cal... 301,284 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi Nabeel,

The Data import/export option in the System administration menu is exporting and importing record ID's (foreign keys) which is far from ideal to copy setup if the tables do have this kind of fields. You can better use Data import/export framework which can deal with the foreign keys relations.

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Nabeel Shoaib Faruqui on at

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But what I need the answer related to this strange behavior of AX DAT DEF Import. If it is that much dangerous, that must be avoided completely.

Thanks for the answer Andre

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André Arnaud de Cal... 301,284 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi Nabeel,

I don't know which tables were exactly exported and imported. I also don't know the exact contents of the old and the new instance. Probably the new instance had a record in the global address book with the same record Id as party reference of one or more of the vendor records. In that scenario it can link the wrong party as AX does not know the party reference ID needs to be changed during import.

I have seen for example also issues caused by copying posting profiles where the record ID of an main account setup was copied literally. The Chart of Accounts was different, but used the same numbering pattern. In this scenario the main account number looks OK, but is in fact referring to another Chart of accounts which will generate errors at time of posting.

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5400 7,162 on at

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Hi Nabeel,

I will recommend you please use DIXF for any import where FK relationship is there. It has handled correctly if you providing correct input.

System Administration > Common > Data import/export - it is not recommended to import the FK relationship data. you can import entity which is totally flat. like \Data Dictionary\Tables\CustInterest.

Thanks

Bhaskar

Solution Architect

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Nabeel Shoaib Faruqui on at

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This pretty much answers the question - but I am looking for a definite words due to which it must have took place. I was surprised to see changes in my existing company when I imported the data for the new company. We all are aware the data is separated by DataAreaId and data is company dependent. It must not have touched the Vendor Names or Customers names of the company in other domain.

Thanks very much for your help

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5400 7,162 on at

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In Ax 2012, vendor name and customer name is associated with dirPartyTable which is shared. It is not company specific. can you check your second imported data where any partynumber is same against first company data. I could be possible.

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Weaveriski 23,620 Moderator on at

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And the setup of your DAT/DEF included these tables so you in essence told it to update the records. If you did not want those areas why did you include them in the table setup? Once you do then it will update existing records if you also select that in the import.

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André Arnaud de Cal... 301,284 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi Nabeel,

I think you should now have the "definitive words" with the latest replies from Bhaskar and Steven.

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Nabeel Shoaib Faruqui on at

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Thanks everyone for the replies and support. It now answers my question.

Thanks very much and regards

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