Resource Page for Data Import, Export, and Migration in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

This page provides a list of published documentation, known issues, solutions, and tips and tricks to help you import, export, or migrate data for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.

This page contains the following sections:

• Recent news
• Choose a tool
• Common problems and solutions
• Featured videos
• Popular blogs 
• Still having trouble?

Recent news

Data Import/Export Framework

A new example of how to use the Data Import/Export Framework is available at: Importing a General Journal using Data Import/Export Framework AX 2012.

The Data Import/Export Framework was release as part of AX 2012 R3. It includes the following features:  

• A new security group for the Data Import/Export Framework, Microsoft Dynamics AX Data Import Export Framework Service User.
• Additional entities: Resource requirements, Operations, and Route relation.
• Staging-level validation of data that contains role separators.
• Support for SQL Server 2014.
• Additional data sources when you use Data Import/Export Framework as an Application Integration Framework (AIF) service. These include files, ODBC, and other Microsoft Dynamics AX instances. You can also now use a Data Import/Export Framework as an AIF service to export data to a file.
• Staging-level conversion of fields that use the GUID data type.
• The Custom Entity wizard now creates the class and functions of a new entity, in addition to the staging table, project, and query.

For more information about the Data Import/Export Framework, see the Data import/export framework user guide and What's New: Data import/Export Framework.

Test Data Transfer Tool

The Test Data Transfer Tool is used to install the AX 2012 R3 demo data. For a tutorial on how to use it, see Walkthrough: Import demo data for AX 2012 R3 by using the Test Data Transfer Tool.

Choose a tool

To learn more about how to import, export, or migrate data into Microsoft Dynamics, review the following resources.

Common problems and solutions

This section lists common issues encountered when importing, exporting, and migrating data.

Important: If you encounter a problem when importing, exporting, or migrating data, we recommend that you use Issue Search on Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services to research it. Issue Search is a search engine that you can use to quickly search for KB articles, hotfixes, and workarounds for reported issues in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2. You can see which reported issues are in the process of being fixed and see notifications when a hotfix is released for a specific functional area in Microsoft Dynamics AX. You can download released hotfixes, see which code objects are affected, and see the code changes introduced by the hotfix. In order to use Issue Search, you must have a CustomerSource or PartnerSource account, and have created a project. For more information, see the Lifecycle Services User Guide.

Data Import Export Framework

Version: The following issues are found in the version of the Data Import Export Framework for AX 2012 RTM and Feature pack from InformationSource

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Issue: Some customers have recently been unable to install some hotfix packages for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 if they are running a release before CU7, have a DMF model in the FPK layer, and are installing a hotfix released after CU7. Customers see the error "Violation of PRIMARY KEY constraint 'PK_ModelElementData_ElementHandle'".

Resolution: Follow the instrucitons in the blog post Violation of PRIMARY KEY constraint 'PK_ModelElementData_ElementHandle' error installing some hotfixes on Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2.

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Issue: After installing the Data Import/Export Framework you get a number of compile errors related to missing macros.

Resolution:

In the AOT, examine the macros node.  There should be AxdAdvancedLedgerEntryDCT and  AxdCustomerTransactionDCT macros in the node.  If you do not see these macros, then do a compare on the DataContainerTypes macro to make the macros visible.

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Issue: When you enter Setup > Data import/export framework parameters you get the error message: "Assembly containing type Microsoft.Dynamics.AX.DMF.ServiceProxy.DmfEntityProxy is not referenced".

Resolution:

Create the structure c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Assembly\GAC_MSIL\Microsoft.DynamicsAX.DMF.ServiceProxy\v4.0_1.0.0_31bf3856ad364e35\
and then paste the file Microsoft.Dynamics.AX.DMF.ServiceProxy.DLL, from C:\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Data Import Export Framework Server Component.

Restart the AOS, and compile into CIL.

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Issue: Importing Ledger Dimensions in Data Import/Export Framework in AX 2012 R2 does not function. You get the message "Financial Dimension 0 does not exist" when importing ledger dimension values.

Resolution:

Contact support for a workaround.

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Issue:

Unable to select ODBC connections created as System DSNs. You get the message: “System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.”

Resolution:

Create a User DSN instead.

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Issue: Creating a custom entity that imports to a table with a primary index that allows duplicates will import only one record.

Resolution:

Contact support for a workaround.

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For additional troubleshooting information that is regularly updated, see Lifecycle Services Issue Search.

Suggested alternate search terms:

Data Import Export Framework: DMF, DIEF, DIXF

Featured videos

RapidStart for Retail (InformationSource)

Related blogs

We recommend the following blogs:

• AXSupport: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/axsupport/
• AX Solution Architecture: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/axsa/
• Chris Garty's blog (Excel Add-in): http://blogs.msdn.com/b/chrisgarty/
• Dynamics AX 2012 Data Import using Excel Add-in: http://ax2012exceldataimport.blogspot.com/

Still having trouble?

If you’re still having trouble, you can get assistance in the following ways:

• Search for your issue on the Lifecycle Services site. You must know your CustomerSource or PartnerSource login, and create a project before you can search for issues.
• Post your questions on the Ask the Community site and a member of the Microsoft Dynamics AX community might respond.
• Contact your partner.
• If enrolled in a support plan directly with Microsoft, enter a new support request with Microsoft Dynamics Technical Support.

You can enter a support request on CustomerSource or PartnerSource by selecting Support> New Technical Support Request.

You can also contact Microsoft Dynamics Technical Support by phone using these links for country/region-specific phone numbers:

• Partners – Global Support Contacts (requires PartnerSource login)
• Customers – Global Support Contacts (requires CustomerSource login)