As a polyfrag system who decided to move to a new tracking app that can't support a transfer of data but wants to use it anyway, figured might as well share a way we are making it a bit more manageable to add alters since you know, we have 1.6k that we documented (though our head archivist is putting the true headcount in the 26k range - most being fragments with nothing really distinguishable but still).
So, how to make it more manageable to transfer without burning out?
1. Start by only adding profiles as alters front. Don't worry about adding those who have never fronted before or will probably never right off the bat. Start with those who are needed to be tracked
2. When time permits, start adding others by some criteria related to the fronters. Break it up into small parts. Maybe the alter that's fronting has a family in the system, let them add those members to the list. Fronter is dating someone else in the system, let them add that profile to the list. Fronter has a subsys, add that in
3. Make it a goal to add a certain number of profiles per day. Even if that number starts at just 1, a profile is a profile nonetheless.
4. When #2 runs out of being viable, start breaking down the alters by another category like role or source and add them in chunks based on that. Or even just the first letter of their name. Add all the A names left then go down the alphabet. Something that gives you the ability to see how far you've come with a dwindling list like that can help boost moral rather than going in at random and only counting down by total headcount
Of course, this is just a way that helps us not burn out. You might find some of these methods do the opposite for you and that's okay. Everyone is different. But if you feel overwhelmed, here's something you might be able to start with