Moving your data from your original (pre-2.0x) Transana database into the Transana 2.0 database is a two-step process. The first step is to extract your data from your original Transana database into an intermediate, portable format called Transana XML. The second step is to import that Transana XML file into Transana 2.0x. This two-step process results in greater compatility with Transana 2.0x and with future versions of Transana.

Note that you should export your original database BEFORE you uninstall Transana 1.22 - 1.24, and before you download and install Transana 2.0x. Uninstalling the old Transana may remove some of the files necessary for accessing your old Transana database. If you have already uninstalled Transana 1.22 - 1.24, you will need to reinstall it. (Don't worry, your data is still intact and safe, unless you manually deleted it.)

Follow these directions to export your database, download Transana 2.0x, and convert your database to the new format.

1. Download the Transana Data Export Utility, Version 1.0. Extract the file from this zip archive, and put it in C:\Program Files\Transana.

2. Double-click the file TransanaDataExporter.exe to launch it. (Since this is a one-time-use utility, there is no special installer for it.) You should see the following screen:

3. Enter your BDE alias. In most cases, your BDE Alias is Transbase unless you explicitly changed it in the BDE Administrator, or added more databases. If you are not sure, start up Transana, choose Options > Program Settings, and then click on the BDE Alias tab.

4. If you want your data to be exported to C:\Program Files\Transana\Transana.xml, use the default XML Filename, as displayed in the Database Exporter tool. If you would like to call the file something else, or save it in another location, enter the appropriate information in the XML Filename field.

5. Click Export. You can watch as the Transana data objects are processed. The process can take quite some time, especially if you have a lot of long Transcript records. You should see the message "Data Export completed" when the data export is done. If you encounter problems, e-mail the developer.

6. Exit from the Transana Database Exporter. If you want to, you can now remove your old version of Transana, using the Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs" tool. However this is not required, if you would like to keep it around for a little while.

7. If you want to install your data on a different computer than the one where Transana was originally installed, you can transfer the Transana.XML file now. There are several ways to accomplish this, including saving it to a common network location, using a USB memory stick or "thumb drive," sending the file via e-mail, or copying the file onto a CD.

8. Download and install the latest version of Transana 2.0x and start the program.

9. After the Splash Screen, you see the following dialog box:


Type in a new database name here. (At this time, the Transana 2.0x Import Database routine can only bring data into a new, empty database.) Click OK, and tell Transana to create the new database.

10. From the Tools menu, choose Import Database. You see the following dialog box:

11. Click Browse and navigate to the Transana XML file you created in step 5 above. Then click OK to start the data import process. Depending on the size of your database (especially the number and length of your Transcript records), this process may take several minutes.