[RESOLVED] The ultimate migration nightmare - need help

[ppowell]

I have to migrate data from one database table to another table in another database where the fields do not match, not even in the same order, and even if they do match, on occasions the datatypes are completely different (varchar vs int, varchar vs char, int vs datetime, etc.).

I am expected to do this immediately so this is an emergency request.

Help!

Thanx
Phil

[AIS4U]

ppowell:

Well, you don't give a whole lot of information such as are you trying to get the information from one MYSQL database to another MYSQL database or are the databases different DBMS?

I assume that since you are in this forum you are trying to use PHP to do this???

One way that comes to my mind is to read the information from the first database and write it into a CSV (comma separated value) flat file.

Then you can create variables for the different CSVs in the flat file.

Then using those variables you can assign the CVSs to the specific fields of the second database and write the information into the second database.

It is kind of the long way around, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck

[ppowell]

I'm applying what you suggested (BTW sorry I thought you would all know it was from one MySQL database to another MySQL database, both within the same MySQL 4.1.12 platform on the same box), but it's extremely slow and cumbersome:

1) about 10 fields alone go from being varchar() to int() foreign key constraints
2) 5 fields are now part of separate association tables
3) Taken 4 hours to clean up only 69 rows.. and we have several THOUSAND rows!

In light of this, any ideas on a faster approach? LIterally from one MySQL DB table to another MySQL DB table and the fields are not always parallel or even alike!

Thanx
Phil

[ppowell]

Found a much easier way to do it:

INSERT INTO SELECT

Wow I couldn't believe it was that simple, how embarassing!

Phil