InfoQube IM - Community

Submitted by Pierre_Admin on 2009/05/25 22:44

Some users have reported problems importing Ecco Pro files (such as structured blog and here on OutlinerSoftware)

All the available Ecco file import fine, so we need help from users to supply us with problematic files.

The problems is generally not with the content, but with the folders (generally, naming issues between Ecco and IQ)

So, anybody interested can send us their file (cleaned of any confidential data) and we'll be able to finalize that module.

With the (nearly completed) URp and OPML/OML import, getting data into IQ will be much easier

Comments

Hi Pierre. Yeah, well, cleaning these files "of any confidential data" is a problem because even if I delete passwords and such which they contain, a superficial examination of the resulting Ecco file shows many of these are retained. Also, I tried to replace them using a regular expression and my editor, but that changes the Ecco file length, so Ecco is no longer happy with the result.

I have two suggestions, and they may be useful in tandem as well as singly:

Provide an "outliner and forms"-only reduced import capability, leaving rules and such behind
Provide an HTML report as a result of the Ecco file analysis which the user can employ as a diagnostic for what might be going on with the Ecco file.

Have you tried doing a database>>Compact. This should get the confidential info definitely out of the file... (but first make sure that the file is not connected to a master file or sync'd with another file (File>>Properties>>Disconnect)).

[quote]

Provide an "outliner and forms"-only reduced import capability, leaving rules and such behind

[/quote]

IQ can only import the hierarchy of items and their field values. Forms, Grids, Rules are not imported.

So, the steps to clean a file would be:

Disconnect from any master, sync file
Search (leave blank to select all items)
Select all items and Ctrl-D to Delete
Compact twice (I seem to remember that Ecco like 2 compacts in a row to really compact)
Zip and send it to me

Provided a suitable Ecco file which fails to import, after your kind guidance on cleansing it properly. Also included the resulting .SNDB after an attempt to import.

Provided by direct email.

Yes I did receive it. Thanks. I'll be able to look at it this week.

Hello. Just to report that I have imported an Ecco Pro file with over 18,000 items using 0.9.24 B without problems - despite the loss of grids and rules, this is still by far the best exit route out of Ecco I've found to date.

Lots of challenges remain - especially multiple assignment from a list of fields determined by the sub-items of an item (a.k.a. tagging!) And I have got to stick with Ecco for now for managing contacts and diary appointments, because I need Ecco's synchronisation with my ageing Palm Treo 680. But IQ is a better route forward than continuing to depend on decade-old Ecco software patched by who knows who... So many thanks Pierre.

Mark Gregory, Rennes, France - GMT +1/+2; EST +6