How to Change a Field from Choice to Lookup Without Data Loss (or Custom Coding)

Owned by Liz Griffin (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Dec 16, 2016
1 min read

Applies To Version(s): 3, 3.5, 3.7


Example: Change the relationships list field “Relationship” from a choice to lookup.

To do this work you need to be Internet Explorer and have administration (delete) privileges.  You will need to make and change views so that you can see fields that you are going to update or copy from.  You will use Datasheet to update data.

You need to manage your time so you can do all of the work at one sitting, or break before Step 5. 

At Step 5 staff will not have access to contacts or any reports that use relationships to pull contacts.

Steps

  1. Check and note the “internal” Name of field 

  2. Create lookup list = (Lookup) Relationship

  3. Back up your relationship data (template with content)

  4. Copy existing data into a new temp Single Line of Text field

  5. Delete original choice field and create a new Look up field with EXACT same internal name

  6. Copy temp data into new field

  7. Check and test pages and reports

  8. Delete temp field

  9. Report anything that doesn’t work to your assigned Product Expert


Internal name:  To find internal name go to List Settings > columns > find the choice column you are going to replace and put your mouse over it. In the Status Bar (Internet Explorer) – you will see “Field =” at the end of the string. The value after equals is the Internal Name.


Save List as template
http://help.sharevision.ca/#!Documents/savelistastemplate.htm



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