Posted by civicpixel on November 21, 2008 at 8:55pm
We're using CiviCRM to handle all of our membership, class registration and other CRM needs here at Denver Open Media. We're planning to integrate it with the Open Media Project, but not make it a dependency. I'm curious who else is already using it / looking to use it, and maybe we can start sharing our different configurations.
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Where Davis Media Access is at
I'm working on a php script to migrate data from egroupware (http://www.egroupware.org) into CiviCRM. I'm using the script as the CiviCRM only allows import into contacts and activities. I wanted the flexibility of transliterating fields and using the CiviCRM API to create group and pledge records. I can share this script as it might be useful for importing from cvs files exported from Facil.
I'm curious what sort of groups and roles you have defined. For Organic Groups what nodes do you have defined?
What are you using for calendering? In Egroupware each user has their own private calender. You can add contacts and other users as participants to the entries. My current guess is in CiviCRM you can use the meeting activity.
In a nutshell, rather then reinventing the wheel. I am looking at having most of the functionality in Facil (http://www.beckersoftware.com/facil/FeatureList.htm) available via Drupal.
as a small center we'd be interested
in using CiviCRM. We do not have it implemented yet. My concerns are we have an office manager that is older - can she use it effectively? Does it make sense for a small organization? We're waiting in the wings you could say.
How are you managing your data?
"Can she use it effectively?"
Depends. We used to have an older office manager who got frustrated even trying to use his email. So, implementing data management digitally was not an option. We did do a few things but had to print everything out on paper. If your office manager at least knows email and how to google, then the basics (contact management) of CiviCRM shouldn't be tough.
"Does it make sense for a small organization?"
Take a look at how you interact with your information. Memberships for example. How do you find out who is a current member? How do you do a mass mailing to recently expired members asking them to renew? How do you thank them?
With a good CRM you better able to look up someone and see what there current status is with your organization (workshop enrollment, membership, donations, etc.).
Sign me up
I'd love to migrate from Facil to CiviCRM and would be happy to write the export/import process.
I think the easiest way to do this would be:
1. Set up CiviCRM on Drupal install on web host
2. Set up PHP/MySQL on the Windows box currently running Facil
3. Set up CiviCRM table structure on the same box
4. Determine commonalities between CiviCRM and Facil
5. Connect to both Facil and MySQL using ODBC
6. Use an ODBC tool to migrate the data over - write table joins and all
7. Migrate MySQL data to webhost running Drupal and CiviCRM
I've set up CiviCRM and run it a handful of times, but it has always been starting from scatch, and I don't know the schema structure well. Anyone know the structure well enough to help?
What I've learned so far..
I'm taking a similar approach to migrating our data to CiviCRM.
My script is running on the Drupal web host. I use PHP/MySQL to connect to the egroupware database.
I'm using the CiviCRM API Functions (http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC/CiviCRM+Public+APIs). Note: most of the examples are for 1.x not 2.x (params arrays are incorrect.)
The fun part. This is where I think our efforts can come together. While our source data is from different databases we might want to target the same set of roles, groups, activity types, etc. i.e. Maybe you tag board members differently in facil but upon importing we both group them under "board". This will work toward developing a sample set of data for PEG centers to try out.
Just connect with Facil db via MySQL/ODBC from the script on the web host and use the CiviCRM api.
PS: While a script offers the best flexibility, experimenting with importing csv files is a good place to start. I immediately nixed this idea when I couldn't import more then one location for a contact.
Interested in using CiviCRM in Pasadena
I have a naked drupal install and want to use CiviCRM, but my scripting skills are about equal to my underwater welding ability. I really don't know quite where to start and could use any help anyone has to offer. I learned about all of this at the ACM West conference and am ready to start implementing the stuff I heard.
The primary function of our system is more for in-house use presently until we work out the kinks. Our immediate needs are for a Volunteer/Producer data & tracking system & scheduling of equipment and training classes. We ultimately want to migrate away from Facil.
Is CiviCRM the best place to start if working toward the DOM model I saw a couple of months ago?