Author Topic: Delete all External IDs? (Read 309 times)

emilyf · January 26, 2015, 08:17:21 am

I need to clear out the External ID field in my database so that I can use it for another system's import. Is there a safe way to do this? Can I do it direct in the database or do I need to do it through Civi?

Are there multiple tables where it's used or is it just stored in a single area?

Thanks in advance.

JonGold · January 26, 2015, 08:20:18 am

I've done this through MySQL, and so long as you've got binary logging turned off (or are prepared for it to be a bit quirky), there shouldn't be any repercussions on any table but civicrm_contact.

"UPDATE civicrm_contact SET external_identifier = NULL" should do it.

This is also a reminder to finish my half-done extension designed to let you change the value of a single field of a found record to the same thing...

emilyf · January 26, 2015, 08:27:45 am

thanks jon...sorry for my stupidity but you mean turn off binary logging? is that just an issue with local install or I should do that on my production db too? or are you talking about something else...

JonGold · January 26, 2015, 08:49:43 am

I meant that if you have binary logging enabled, your change log won't reflect a change made directly via MySQL, and so will be inaccurate. It shouldn't have any other effect, but there's a lot I don't know about binary logging.

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Author Topic: Delete all External IDs? (Read 309 times)

emilyf

Delete all External IDs?

JonGold

Re: Delete all External IDs?

emilyf

Re: Delete all External IDs?

JonGold

Re: Delete all External IDs?