Merging Excel to HomeBase

Hi! There is an import function in Homebase 2.1 under
"File->Import/Export" which will allow you to add/merge books into the
database. I've not used it because much of Homebase I find a bit buggy,
but it is supposed to work. What I would do is use the Homebase export
function to export some records to see what the format is required by
Homebase, and then export your Excel records in the same format. Should
work, I've done the same in the past with other programs. It think the
format is straight text with some very basic formatting. Make sure you
provide unique record numbers if you have to supply them or you might
write over existing data in the database. You might have to write a
macro in Excel to do it (surely someone has already done this??) but I
haven't had a need to do it. You can also call the ABEBOOKS tech
support people and I'd guess they can walk you through it.

Best,
John Kuenzig
Bookseller

Graeme & Chris Williams wrote:

 >If you can program using VBA you could create a import/export file for
 >Homebase. I tend to use Delphi so cannot advise on using VBA, but I have
 >managed to create a program to convert items listed (and not sold) on eBay
 >through Auction Tamer to Homebase.
 >
 >It was a long time ago so I don't have the information at my fingertips but
 >basically the import/export file is text based and can be opened in notepad.
 >Go into ../hb2/export and you should see the DB files with the extension
 >.txt double click on one of these and it should open. As far as I recall it
 >is reasonably easy to figure out what it does.
 >
 >Hope this helps
 >
 >
 >"booksenmusic" <booksenmusic.TakeThisOut@computertamer.net> wrote in message
 >news:16128433.0311290640.df1613d@posting.google.com...
 >
 >
  >>Hi, all... I have a 700+ item Homebase file that I would like to add
  >>items to that were created in Excel. There has GOT to be a way to do
  >>this, but I've not found it. Has anyone done this and can give me some
  >>advice?
  >>
  >>
 >
 >
 >
 >

--
Sincerely,

John Kuenzig, Bookseller

Kuenzig Books
PO Box 452, Topsfield, MA 01983
978-887-4053 9am-7pm Eastern Standard Time
orders.TakeThisOut@kuenzigbooks.com (orders or inquiries)

Important Books in Science, Technology and Speculative Fiction

Secure, direct ordering at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.kuenzigbooks.com" target="_blank">http://www.kuenzigbooks.com</a>
Save time, money and earn other exclusive benefits.

We are proud members of:
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Buying 18th-21st century books, manuscripts, ephemera,
scientific instruments, artifacts, and related material in
our fields of interest<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Merging Excel to HomeBase 

Unfortunately, while you can export books as UIEE, tab or comma deliminated,
the import function only accepts files in Homebase's own format, at least
this is true for ver 2.3. So, I am not sure if it is possible to export
straight from Excel into a format that Homebase can use.

Having said that I don't have Excel and it could be that Homebase uses some
sort of standard file format for books that is recognised by other software
similar to UIEE format so I am prepared to stand corrected.

"John F. Kuenzig" <jfk_NOSPAM RemoveThis @netsleuth.com> wrote in message
news:3FCCC561.1000000@netsleuth.com...
 > Hi! There is an import function in Homebase 2.1 under
 > "File->Import/Export" which will allow you to add/merge books into the
 > database. I've not used it because much of Homebase I find a bit buggy,
 > but it is supposed to work. What I would do is use the Homebase export
 > function to export some records to see what the format is required by
 > Homebase, and then export your Excel records in the same format. Should
 > work, I've done the same in the past with other programs. It think the
 > format is straight text with some very basic formatting. Make sure you
 > provide unique record numbers if you have to supply them or you might
 > write over existing data in the database. You might have to write a
 > macro in Excel to do it (surely someone has already done this??) but I
 > haven't had a need to do it. You can also call the ABEBOOKS tech
 > support people and I'd guess they can walk you through it.
 >
 > Best,
 > John Kuenzig
 > Bookseller
 >
 > Graeme & Chris Williams wrote:
 >
  > >If you can program using VBA you could create a import/export file for
  > >Homebase. I tend to use Delphi so cannot advise on using VBA, but I have
  > >managed to create a program to convert items listed (and not sold) on
eBay
  > >through Auction Tamer to Homebase.
  > >
  > >It was a long time ago so I don't have the information at my fingertips
but
  > >basically the import/export file is text based and can be opened in
notepad.
  > >Go into ../hb2/export and you should see the DB files with the extension
  > >.txt double click on one of these and it should open. As far as I recall
it
  > >is reasonably easy to figure out what it does.
  > >
  > >Hope this helps
  > >
  > >
  > >"booksenmusic" <booksenmusic RemoveThis @computertamer.net> wrote in message
  > >news:16128433.0311290640.df1613d@posting.google.com...
  > >
  > >
   > >>Hi, all... I have a 700+ item Homebase file that I would like to add
   > >>items to that were created in Excel. There has GOT to be a way to do
   > >>this, but I've not found it. Has anyone done this and can give me some
   > >>advice?
   > >>
   > >>
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
 >
 > --
 > Sincerely,
 >
 > John Kuenzig, Bookseller
 >
 > Kuenzig Books
 > PO Box 452, Topsfield, MA 01983
 > 978-887-4053 9am-7pm Eastern Standard Time
 > orders RemoveThis @kuenzigbooks.com (orders or inquiries)
 >
 > Important Books in Science, Technology and Speculative Fiction
 >
<font color=purple> > Secure, direct ordering at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.kuenzigbooks.com</font" target="_blank">http://www.kuenzigbooks.com</font</a>>
 > Save time, money and earn other exclusive benefits.
 >
 > We are proud members of:
<font color=purple> > MARIAB <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.mariab.org</font" target="_blank">http://www.mariab.org</font</a>>
<font color=purple> > IOBA <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.ioba.org</font" target="_blank">http://www.ioba.org</font</a>>
 >
 > and graduates of the Book Seminars International Programs:
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bookseminarsinternational.com</font" target="_blank">http://www.bookseminarsinternational.com</font</a>>
 >
 > Buying 18th-21st century books, manuscripts, ephemera,
 > scientific instruments, artifacts, and related material in
 > our fields of interest
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Merging Excel to HomeBase 

booksenmusic RemoveThis @computertamer.net (booksenmusic) wrote in message news:<16128433.0311290640.df1613d RemoveThis @posting.google.com>...
 > Hi, all... I have a 700+ item Homebase file that I would like to add
 > items to that were created in Excel. There has GOT to be a way to do
 > this, but I've not found it. Has anyone done this and can give me some
 > advice?
Here is a method that MAY work with a little trial and error.
Open up any Homebase file (from the HB2 export folder) in Excel to
learn the Homebase field names. Substitute the Homebase field name for
your Excel field names.
Install a new empty Homebase program on a different drive, or a
different computer. Export your Excel file as tab(text delimited). The
file must end in .txt . Try importing it into the empty Homebase
program. If this is successful, and if the book ID numbers jive with
your existing Homebase inventory (numbers like 000701), then you can
export the file from Homebase program2 as a Homebase.txt file, and
import them with the merge function in Homebase Program1.

Peridote<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Merging Excel to HomeBase