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— | howto:mergerballs [2023/06/07 20:39] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1 | ||
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+ | ====== Merge Multiple R-Balls ====== | ||
+ | RIMMF is a single user application. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To share your data you must export it and make the export accessible to others. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If many people are working on a common project, as in a jane-athon, its usually desirable to combine all of that work into a single folder that can then be reloaded into RIMMF. | ||
+ | |||
+ | These are the general steps we would use following a jane-athon: | ||
+ | * each cataloger exports their data folder | ||
+ | * the exported folders are combined into one folder | ||
+ | * the resulting folder is shared (in some way) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Before you start ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | If each participant begins the project with a file of core records (something we dubbed a ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Its equally important that each participant be assigned a unique record prefix to be used in the records that they add to the project themselves. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Thus, at the end of the project, the records in each participant' | ||
+ | |||
+ | __Workarounds__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | If there are no core records in the project, then its easy to assign a unique record prefix to all of the records in a data folder using [[howto: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Otherwise, the following workaround may solve the problem. Be sure to backup your data folder before trying this workaround. | ||
+ | |||
+ | For each particpant' | ||
+ | |||
+ | * close RIMMF, if it is running | ||
+ | * open the data folder in windows explorer | ||
+ | * click on the name column to sort on it | ||
+ | * identify the core records (filenames beginning with the core record prefix) | ||
+ | * delete the core records (in windows) | ||
+ | * start RIMMF | ||
+ | * [[howto: | ||
+ | * close RIMMF | ||
+ | * add a __clean__ copy of the core records to the data folder | ||
+ | * start RIMMF again (to re-index and repair broken links) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Exporting the data folder ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The general steps to export a data folder are [[howto: | ||
+ | |||
+ | But there are a few things to be extra careful about if combining data folders. So, for best results, make sure that: | ||
+ | |||
+ | - **All records** in the EI view are selected | ||
+ | - The option **' | ||
+ | - The type of export option is set to: **Zip (Rimmf R-ball)**((This format preserves the 'one file=one record' | ||
+ | - Each participant exports their data folder to a __uniquely__ named file (the filename prompt appears as soon as the **Export** button is pressed.) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Warning ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | If your project does not meet the guidelines stated above: | ||
+ | - core records have a unique record prefix (or were not used at all) | ||
+ | - each participant used a unique record prefix | ||
+ | |||
+ | __the steps below may result in data being lost__. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Merging the exports ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | This step requires a single computer, with RIMMF installed on it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Make a new folder and name it appropriately | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Gather all of the exported files from the previous step and copy them to the new folder | ||
+ | |||
+ | Since the .zip format is being used, there should be one .zip file for each participant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * For each .zip file, right-click on it and select ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | After the first .zip file has been extracted, the remaining .zip files may probably generate messages that prompt you to ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | * When all of the .zip files have been extracted, remove them from the folder. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Start RIMMF, and use the Change data folder ' | ||
+ | |||
+ | This will re-index the records and repair any links that were lost by overlaying the core records. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Alternately, | ||
+ | ===== Sharing the result ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Once the steps above have been completed, you may want to review the resulting data folder and clean-up any problems (duplicate records, incomplete records, etc.). | ||
+ | |||
+ | This is just the normal database maintenance that all catalogers and metadaticians love to perform. | ||
+ | |||
+ | When that's out of the way, follow the **Exporting ...** steps above on your new combined folder. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The resulting .zip file can be | ||
+ | |||
+ | -shared on a web server (like we do with the R-balls: [[http:// | ||
+ | -emailed to your colleagues as an attachment | ||
+ | -and so on. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The main thing is that the resulting .zip is easily imported back into RIMMF |