Thank you for your very quick reply.
I had had tried to do this before with no success. Your method worked. I was able to transfer the sims to a new world intact with a few exceptions.
As you mentioned the relationship panel outside of the household was wiped clean. I expected this and wasn't surprised when it happened.
The inventories were also wiped clean, both personal and family. All wealth was reset as well, even money in the new vault.
All ongoing royalty incomes were also wiped clear. This includes, books, music and multimedia products as well as written comedy routines.
I guess all that makes sense. When starting sims fresh in a fresh world it is the price of doing business.
On the plus side no personal progression was lost on any of the transferred sims. Their career, aspirations and skills all came across right where they were; and that was what I was after.
So again thank you for your help. I can now move sims to a new world when the old one becomes too kludged up.
I would have responded sooner, except I wanted to try out your method; and when it worked I found myself playing in the new town until the I fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning.