Import/export contact fields

[jsfdan]

Hi there, I use SugarCRM for Databases. Is there a way I can export and import into other databases, contact fields? By that I mean the fields you can create for contacts? Is there a way?

Thanks.

[Angel]

Try using the Export option within Studio.

Another option would be to create a custom manifest.php file with the proper instructions detailing the fields you wish to create.

BTW, I am assuming you are talking about copying the structure, not the data.

[jsfdan]

Yes I am talking about the fields that you can create for contacts. As for your "studio" export option... I'm looking but I can't find it.

Also what do you mean when you want me to "create a custom manifest.php file with the proper instructions detailing the fields you wish to create. "?

Thanks.

[Angel]

When one initially opens Studio, there is an Export button right in the center of the screen. I don't know of any way of hiding it, so I couldn't tell you why it is not there if you are not seeing it.

The only reason that comes to mind is that you might be using an older version of Sugar that did not yet include that feature.

As for the custom manifest.php, take a look at the CaseTwit project (link in my signature) and unzip the contents. It contains a custom manifest.php file that has instructions on creating a custom field via the module loader. You could use that as a basis for the work you want to do.

[jsfdan]

I'll stick to working the manifest.php file.

	'custom_fields' => array(
						array(
						   'name'            => 'tweet_update',
						   'label'           => 'Tweet Update', 
						   'type'            => 'bool',
						   'max_size'        =>  255,
						   'require_option'  => 'optional', 
						   'default_value'   => '0', 
						   'ext1'            => ' ',
						   'ext2'            => 'Cases',
						   'ext3'            => ' ',
						   'audited'         => 0, 
						   'module'          => 'Cases',
						 ),
		),

This looks promising... how would I run this and it would create a custome field?

[Angel]

You need to package it in a module install package, similar to the CaseTwit example I pointed you to. Once you've got the package ready, you would use the Module Loader tool in the Admin control panel to load and execute it.

Check out http://developer.sugarcrm.com and http://www.sugarcrm.com/wiki for more details on how a manifest.php file works.

EDIT: I should forewarn you that when I made that file, the resulting field was always set as "required" although I explicitly defined it as optional. Seemed like a bug to me. I am not sure if it was fixed as I haven't had a chance to test it again and that manifest.php was originally developed for 5.2

[jsfdan]

I tried uploading the .zip file of CaseTwit on Module loader and I got
"The uploaded file is not compatible with this version of Sugar: 5.5.1PHP Notice: Undefined index: uploads_dir in C:\websites\agencysandbox.com\www\_sites\agencies\ NBA\database\cache\upload\upgrades\temp\168.tmp\ma nifest.php on line 20 "
and line 20 is
$upload_dir = $sugar_config['uploads_dir'];

[jsfdan]

OK I got manifest working... how od I specify which fields to create the custom field for? I want to create custom fields for Contacts?

Here is my manifest...

<?php
$manifest = array(
	'acceptable_sugar_versions' => array('5.0', '5.1', '5.2', '5.5'),
	'acceptable_sugar_flavors' => array('CE', 'PRO', 'ENT'),
	'readme' => '',
	'key' => 'ndops',
	'author' => 'Dan Jasnowski',
	'description' => 'Installs custom CMT Fields for iBoomerang agencies.',
	'icon' => '',
	'is_uninstallable' => true,
	'name' => 'Custom CMT Fields',
	'published_date' => 'May 24, 2010',
	'type' => 'module',
	'version' => '1.0',
	'remove_tables' => 'prompt',
);
$installdefs = array(
	'id' => 'ndops_dtk',
	'language' => array(
		array(
			'from'=> '<basepath>/SugarModules/language/application.en_us.lang.php',
			'to_module'=> 'application',
			'language'=>'en_us',
		),
		array(
			'from'=> '<basepath>/SugarModules/language/application.pt_br.lang.php',
			'to_module'=> 'application',
			'language'=>'pt_br',
		),
	),
	'custom_fields' => array(
						array(
						   'name'            => 'testing_field',
						   'label'           => 'Just a Test', 
						   'type'            => 'textfield',
						   'max_size'        =>  30,
						   'require_option'  => 'optional', 
						   'default_value'   => '0', 
						   'ext1'            => ' ',
						   'ext2'            => '',
						   'ext3'            => ' ',
						   'audited'         => 0, 
						   'module'          => 'Cases',
						 ),
		),				
);
?>

On the last part for the custom field... there is a field called "module". and it has "Cases"... what should I do with that?

[Angel]

Take a look at the value of ext2 in the snippet from the manifest that you posted earlier. That defines the module you wish to affect.

[jsfdan]

Oh, so beside ext2... I put 'Contacts'... right?

(Although, I don't know why you'd put 'Contact's in ext1 instead of ext2, but OK.)

Thanks.
=====================================

OK so I have this in my manifest.php:

<?php
$manifest = array(
	'acceptable_sugar_versions' => array('5.0', '5.1', '5.2', '5.5'),
	'acceptable_sugar_flavors' => array('CE', 'PRO', 'ENT'),
	'readme' => '',
	'key' => 'ndops',
	'author' => 'Dan Jasnowski',
	'description' => 'Installs custom CMT Fields for iBoomerang agencies.',
	'icon' => '',
	'is_uninstallable' => true,
	'name' => 'Custom CMT Fields',
	'published_date' => 'May 24, 2010',
	'type' => 'module',
	'version' => '1.0',
	'remove_tables' => 'prompt',
);
$installdefs = array(
	'id' => 'ndops_dtk',
		 'layoutfields' => array(
        0 => array(
        'additional_fields' => array(  
        'Contacts' => array(
            'name' => 'last_contacted_c',
            'label' => 'LBL_LAST_CONTACTED',
            
            ),
        ),
        ),
   ),  
);
?>

then I go to module loader. I upload it. Then I install it. It installs correctly. I go to Admin -> Studio then I go to Contacts -> Fields... and I DON'T see last_contacted_c

Edit... I was looking through the Sugar CRM wiki and under custom_fields for Manifest... I saw modules... meaning "module: Used to specify the module where the custom field will be added. " What exactly does that mean?

Thanks.