Transfer Settings from Database

What is this?

Margin Master lets you copy your configuration -- pricing strategies, rounding schemes, views, and other settings -- directly from one database to another. When you create a new database or migrate to a new server, you do not need to re-enter all your settings by hand. The transfer reads settings straight from the source database over SQL Server, so no backup file is needed.

Who is this for?

• New database setup -- After creating a fresh database, quickly bring over your existing configuration instead of starting from scratch.
• Server migrations -- Moving to a new SQL Server? Copy settings from the old server's database to the new one in a few clicks.
• Store cloning -- Replicate one store's setup to another store's database.
• Recovery -- Restore settings after a database was recreated or reset.

How to Access

Automatic Prompt (After Database Creation)

1. Create a new database via File > Database > Create Database.
2. After creation completes, a prompt appears: "Would you like to copy settings from an existing database?"
3. Click Yes to open the Settings Transfer dialog.

Manual Access (Menu)

1. Go to File > Backup/Restore > Copy Settings from Database.
2. The Settings Transfer dialog opens.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Select the Source Server

The SQL Server dropdown is pre-populated with servers from your known connections. You can also type a server name directly.

• Local servers appear as the machine name (e.g., DESKTOP-ABC123)
• Remote servers use their full name (e.g., SQL-SERVER-01 or 192.168.1.100\SQLEXPRESS)
• Windows Authentication is used to connect

Step 2: Select the Source Database

After selecting a server, the Database dropdown populates with all user databases on that server. System databases (master, tempdb, model, msdb) are excluded, and the currently active database is also excluded to prevent self-copy.

Step 3: Validation

When you select a database, the system validates it is a valid Margin Master database by checking for required tables:

• ApplicationSettings
• GlobalFileConfig
• PricingStrategies
• RoundingSchemes

If validation fails, a message explains what is missing. Only valid Margin Master databases can be used as a source.

Step 4: Review Available Settings

Once validated, the system reads all transferable settings from the source database and shows a status summary, for example:

Ready -- found 3 strategy(ies), 5 rounding scheme(s), 42 app setting(s)

The familiar backup/restore checkbox panel appears with two columns:

Common/Typical:

• Pricing Strategies (with sub-checkboxes for Steps, Custom Groups, SKU Level Exceptions)
• Rounding Schemes
• Database Connections
• Views
• Sort Options
• Store Groups

Optional:

• Startup Checks
• Import Processing
• Database Settings

Checkboxes that show "NA" (strikethrough) indicate that section has no data in the source database.

Step 5: Select What to Copy

Check the settings you want to transfer. At minimum, most users will want:

• Pricing Strategies (with Steps, Custom Groups, SKU Level Exceptions) -- your pricing rules
• Rounding Schemes -- how prices are rounded
• Views -- your custom column layouts and sort orders
• Database Settings -- application preferences and feature toggles

Step 6: Execute Transfer

Click Copy Settings. The application:

1. Writes the selected settings to the current database
2. Reinitializes with the new settings
3. Shows a success message

What Gets Transferred

What Does NOT Get Transferred

Certain settings are automatically excluded because they are machine-specific, security-sensitive, or track migration state:

This filtering prevents the source database's machine-specific configuration from overwriting the current database's local settings.