ShoWorks Help Articles

How to convert data files from ShoWorks 2006 to ShoWorks 2009

Summary

ShoWorks 2009 can convert and read data from files created from ShoWorks 2006.  ShoWorks 2009 cannot import custom reports from prior versions.  More informaton about reports from prior versions may be found on the help article:  hhttp://fairsoftware.com/articledetail.aspx?AID=113028

Steps 1 through 6 below describe how to convert older files.  Steps 7 through 10 describe how to futher create a new data file and import records from prior years.

Steps

1. Run ShoWorks 2009 and verify that you are running at least version 12.1.3 or newer (12.0.0 will not convert files).  To find out which version of ShoWorks 2009 you are running, select Help > About ShoWorks.  The version will appear.  If your version is 12.0.0 then you must first update ShoWorks by exiting ShoWorks and going to http://fairsoftware.com/updates and following the instructions to downloading and installing the update patch for ShoWorks 2009.
   
   
2. Locate your old data file(s) that you want to convert.  Note: ShoWorks can only convert data files in ShoWorks 2006 format (ShoWorks 2003 files are not supported).  You may locate your old data files by any of the following methods:
   
   
   • If you have ShoWorks 2006 installed on the same machine, you may select Start>>Programs>>ShoWorks 2006>>ShoWorks 2006 Info (a blue icon).  This will open the ShoWorks 2006 info screen and display the name and location of the last data file that ShoWorks 2006 was reading:
     
     
   • If you do not have ShoWorks 2006 installed on the same machine, you will need to locate your ShoWorks 2006 data files by searching possible locations that the file(s) may be located.  The person who setup ShoWorks on your machine or your network administrator would know this.  ShoWorks 2006 files have a .swd extension. For example, mydatafile.swd  You may choose to use Windows Search (Find) to find the files.  See your Windows documentation for instructions on how to find files.
3. Run ShoWorks 2009 if you do not already have it open and click the Office Button then Open Data File.  Locate the file that you found in step 2 above, highlight it, and click the Open button.
   
   
4. ShoWorks 2009 will then prompt you to convert the file.  Choose "Yes" when prompted.
   
   
5. A backup of your data file will be made and a new file will be created in the new ShoWorks 2009 format and be loaded.
   
   
6. Repeat the steps 3, 4, 5 as needed to convert more files.
7. Once you have converted your old files, you may start a new year with a fresh file by selecting the Office Button then New Data File.  You will be prompted to specifiy a name for this new file (such as "myfair2009").  Note the name and location of this new file and click "Open".  A new data file will be created and loaded with zero (0) records.
   
   
8. Upon creation of a new file, you may be prompted to import any records from previous years.  If you are not prompted to import records, you may do so by selecting Office Button then Import, then Import or Merge Records
   
   
   
9. Choose which records you wish to import into your new file by selecting the appropriate check boxes, and then click the "Import" button.
   
   
10. You will then be prompted to locate data files that contain the records that you wish to import (see step 5).  Locate the files and follow the onscreen instructions.