If you have two database files that you would like to combine into one larger file, you will need to export the data from one of the files, and import that data into the other file.


For example, if you have a file called ListA.esd and another file called ListB.esd, you can merge them into one database that contains information from both lists. Do so as follows:

  1. Open your database program from your Start Menu or from your desktop shortcut.
  2. Go to the File menu and choose Open
  3. In the Open dialog, browse to the location of the initial database file in the In Folder drop-down list.
  4. Double-click your the database file's icon in the file list. In our example, this would be ListA.esd

You should now have the first database open. You will now export the information out of the database to combine with a second file.

  1. Select the File menu and choose Export.
  2. On the dialog that appears, click the Add All button to add all the data fields from your current file and leave the Export Mode set to All Records. Click OK.
  3. Choose Desktop for your Save In location and leave the File Name and Files of Type selections as they are (they will say ExpFile and CSV Comma-Delimited). Click OK to complete the export.
  4. Now, choose the File menu and select Open
  5. In the Open dialog, browse tot he location of the second database file in the In Folder drop-down list.
  6. Double-click this second list file's icon in the file listing in the window underneath. In our example, this would be the second list to combine, or ListB.esd.
  7. If you are asked to save changes, answer accordingly. If you have made changes to this first file you are in, and you want to save those changes, click Yes, otherwise, click No.

You should now be viewing your second database. You will now import the initial database's records into this second database to make a larger, combined database.

  1. Select the File menu and choose Import.
  2. The Look In drop-down selection should be Desktop. Find the file ExpFile in the main browsing window and double-click it.
  3. The Use First Record for Field Names dialog should open. The first line of the file should contain field names, such as "First Name, Last Name, Address,..." etc.
  4. Click the Yes button. After you click Yes, the Assign Import Fields dialog opens. Use this dialog to match the fields from the import file to the fields in your current file.
  5. If the bottom-left dialog box for Fields in Import File is completely empty, then simply click the OK button.
  6. If the bottom-left dialog box for Fields in Import File has field name entries in it, you will need to assign those fields to an appropriately-matching field from the bottom-right dialog box for Fields in Current File. Do this by left-clicking to highlight a field entry in Fields in Import File list, then finding its appropriate match and clicking on it in the Fields in Current File listing. When you do this, both entries should disappear from their respective lists and re-appear as a field assignment in the top dialog box. For example, you might need to click on First Name in the Fields in Import File listing and then click on its "match" in the Fields in Current File listing, which is First.
  7. Repeat step 5until you have assigned every field from the Fields in Import File listing (so that it is empty), or it contains the leftover fields you have decided you do not need. Click OK when you're done.

    Note:The data in any unassigned fields will not be imported into your current file.

  8. The imported records are added to the end of your file, so now the current database has both records from your first database and records from your second database together. Go to the File menu and choose Save As...
  9. Choose a file location in the Save In drop-down and then give this new, combined database a name in the File Name box. When you are ready to save, click Save.

Your program has now saved the combined database as a new, larger file.