[Koha] Please Clarify My Understanding of Data Upgrade Process

[paul POULAIN]

Robert Maynord wrote:

> Dear Koha Folks:
>
> Our Library is preparing for the upgrade from 1.2.3 to 2.0.  I have 
> 2.0-pre installed on a separate machine, with koha 2.0-pre up and 
> running - no data.  Our 1.2.3 machine is still operative, but the 
> Z3950 tool has stopped working.  Our data is safe, and I have made a 
> backup of it using the mysql tool.  My hope is to transfer the data 
> from the 1.2.3 machine to the new koha 2.0 machine.  However, I 
> understand that the two formats are not the same, 2.0 using the MARC 
> record format.  So far, I have the following 
> understanding/misunderstanding of the upgrade process---
>
> 1) There is currently no "dedicated" tool for data upgrade from 1.2.3 
> to 2.0. 

you're right.

> 2) The Z3950 tool in 2.0-pre is not yet operative, although some folks 
> may have had some luck "tweaking" it. 

the z3950 tool work for CATALOGUING. Not for external searches.

> 4) MARC records can be imported into Koha 2.0-pre using 
> bulkmarcimport.pl, but this should not be used unless the books are 
> actually available in the library.  Bulkmarcimport.pl does not import 
> into the breeding farm. 

you're right. To import into the breeding farm, go to parameters 
section. Import option.

> 5) If I have a commercial CD full of MARC records, bulkmarcimport.pl 
> will not work for the reason in #4. 

same answer as in #4.

> 6) If I had a way of converting the old data to MARC format, I could 
> import into 2.0 by using bulkmarkimport.pl 

right.

> I am sure there is much I am missing here.  Any clarification would be 
> most helpful, as I have the task of putting our Koha in good shape for 
> the school  librarian to use.  So far, I have not yet figured out a 
> clear way to proceed...

The migration tool from 1.2.3 to 2.0.0 will never be 100% automatic :
* run updatedatabase
* import MARC parameters table
* modify MARC parameters tables to fit your needs.
* run $koharoot/marc/updatedb2marc.pl script. This script is UNTESTED. 
It should work in theory. but that's all. It fills MARC tables from 
non-MARC (1.2 tables)

HTH

-- 
Paul POULAIN
Consultant indépendant en logiciels libres
responsable francophone de koha (SIGB libre http://www.koha-fr.org)