BCM files

[Marek Kalisz]

I see that BCM has a few files (what I see): msbcm, lgf & mdf. The last two
are in \Documents and Settings, the first one is located in BCM directory on
drive D: (where all my documents sit).
1. What are functions/roles of those files?
2. Can I move, eventually, lgf & mdf to drive D:\BCM to keep all documents
together and simplify backups?
Marek Kalisz

 

[Leonid S. Knyshov]

I see that BCM has a few files (what I see): msbcm, lgf & mdf. The last
two are in \Documents and Settings, the first one is located in BCM
directory on drive D: (where all my documents sit).
1. What are functions/roles of those files?
2. Can I move, eventually, lgf & mdf to drive D:\BCM to keep all documents
together and simplify backups?
Marek Kalisz

The MDF file will never exceed 2gb.
The LDF file will get truncated to a very small size if you correctly backup
BCM.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE THEM. They are the files that comprise the embedded
database files for BCM's SQL Server instance. While it is possible to move
them, it is not a documented procedure.

The correct procedure to backup BCM is to click Business Tools -> Database
Management -> Backup Database. That backup can be placed anywhere on your
system.
You should also backup the PST file for your outlook. It lives in
"%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\"
--
Leonid S. Knyshov, CEO
Crashproof Solutions, LLC - http://www.crashproofsolutions.com
MCP Exchange 2003/Small Business Server 2003
Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partner
See the tips and tricks section on my website for video tutorials on BCM
Send a smile to Microsoft (Office 2007 Beta feedback tool)!
http://tinyurl.com/m4omy

 

[Marek Kalisz]

Thanks again. And - I repeat my question from one of my previous posts:
- How both databases are linked and which parts of records (History, for
example) will stay also in pst; or - is there any way to import those from
BCM to pst?
Simply speaking: is there any way to synchronize all info in both
databases - automatically, if possible?
Marek Kalisz

 

[Luther]

BCM has links to the Outlook Mails, Calendar and Task items that are
associated with BCM items (Contacts, Opportunities, etc.). The Outlook
items reside in the pst.

There isn't any automatic mechanism to keep them in sync. If you delete
a linked Outlook item, then when you open that item in BCM, BCM will
display the data it stored about that item in a simple form, instead of
displaying the Outlook item.

When you backup you BCM database to other media, you should backup the
pst file at the same time. You should also backup linked SBA databases
at the same time, if you are using SBA.

 

[Marek Kalisz]

Thanks for explanation. But - I want to be sure. My scenario is as follow:
I want to transfer ACT 6 all data to Outlook 2003 (Contacts, history, notes,
etc.) securing existing links. I realized that I can import those using BCM
import and they show up properly. Now - would they also show up/be
transferred from BCM to Outlook or I'll have to do another, separate
transfer directly to Outlook and then pray that they will be somehow
coordinated between both databases?
Marek Kalisz

 

[Luther]

When BCM imports future Appointments and Tasks (e.g. from ACT), it also
creates Outlook items, linked to the BCM Activity. For Appts and Tasks
in the past, it only creates BCM Activities.

I recommend you only import into BCM and let it create the Outlook
items based on the information it extracted from ACT. I would not try
to also import the ACT data directly into Outlook and than have to
reconcile dups.

 

[Marek Kalisz]

Thanks for your time, Luther. However, if - after import to BCM from ACT -
I'm going to lose all historical data in Outlook (this what I understand -
correct me if I'm mistaken) it's not very good for me. I wasn't planning to
use another huge PIM (BCM) anymore just to use BCM with it's more
sophisticated then Outlook's import to get all data (historical! - the most
important for me) to Outlook, then move them from Outlook to other, with a
smaller footprint and more convenient for my situation, PIM gadget (I'm
downgrading everything at my place).
Anyway - thanks again.
Marek Kalisz

 

[Luther]

Installing BCM or importing data from ACT into BCM will not delete any
data in Outlook.

 

[Marek Kalisz]

And what about reverse process: will transferring data to BCM put them also
into Outlook? (into empty pst, let say)
Marek Kalisz

 

[Leonid S. Knyshov]

And what about reverse process: will transferring data to BCM put them
also into Outlook? (into empty pst, let say)
Marek Kalisz

Marek,

Plain Outlook simply does not have all the features built-in to match your
ACT! records. That is precisely why BCM was written.

BCM is just as easy to use as plain Outlook with most interesting things
happening behind the scenes automatically.

There is no built-in linking feature in Outlook to correlate your records.
Copying data from BCM to regular Outlook is a simple drag'n'drop action.
--
Leonid S. Knyshov, CEO
Crashproof Solutions, LLC - http://www.crashproofsolutions.com
MCP Exchange 2003/Small Business Server 2003
Microsoft Small Business Specialist Partner
See the tips and tricks section on my website for video tutorials on BCM
Send a smile to Microsoft (Office 2007 Beta feedback tool)!
http://tinyurl.com/m4omy

 

[Marek Kalisz]

Thanks again. Tomorrow I'll start to research BMC - how it might work
according to my needs.
May be you convinced me...
Greetings.
Marek Kalisz