Importing data to Drupal 6.x CCK fields

The task

It's the first time I look into this.  I have some data in Excel and want it go into CCK fields. Concrete case: import pictures for the MIMO gallery and create the normal node and CCK fields easily. Of course I could save CSV or import to mysql table if I have to. 

Choosing the Module

First glance at 6.x modules indicates that Migrate seems to be most appropriate and ready for use. So, I start testing it on a test server.

Migrate

I begin with V2-beta2. Just because it is already on the server. Installed on test server (including dependencies). Modules enabled.  I check status report for errors. I find only inunrelated problems. I try quick fixes. Ok now, but admin/content/migrate gives me an error, see 

http://drupal.org/node/991618

so I try most current versions of autoload, migrate and dbtng (devs). Ok

How to deal with Migrate?

Do I have to install Migrate example? Is there any other way? See Documentation below. I cannot find anything, so I activate Migrate Example.

Migrate Example

After activating the example, I go back to admin/content/migrate. Which is now filled with stuff. Let's have closer look later. Readme points me to look at file which is now in 

sites/all/migrate_example/beer.inc

etc.

beer.inc is well documented. I need to read it carefully.

Migrate workflow is very impressive.

Documentation

http://civicactions.com/blog/2009/jul/25/migrating_your_website_drupal seems to be outdated since it still refers to Table Wizard which has been superseeded by Data module.

Handbook http://drupal.org/node/415260

Project homepage: http://drupal.org/project/migrate

Migrate's Readme seems a bit out of date.

http://drupal.org/node/915102 is the best source of information. 

Other Modules

Now that I have a very preliminary understanding of the migrate module, I look at alternatives again. Main contender could importexportapi, but also the feeds or is predecessor. Let's leave this for another day.

Not only CCK

I need only to import cck fields, but also to upload images.