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faq:dos_update_information_for_the_layman

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Part 1: Lets get training working

  1. The first step is to get your data for upgrading.
  2. The second step is for Windward to upgrade this data via a multi step upgrade process to get you up to the new version of our software
  3. The third step is to set up this training data on your new server

Please note: You must have a technician perform the installation of the new version on your new server and any any clients you want to run on before step 3 above.

Another good piece of advice is related to training. Please leave a significant amount of time before training to Get the data loaded into your training data set. It is very valuable for you to have this upgraded data avaiable to you when you train on how to use the new software.

Part 2: Make a list, and check it twice

This is the most important step of all of the work that you do during the upgrade process. It is the one that determined how smooth the process will run when you go to Part3 and go live. Here you make a list of everything that you need to do to the training directory to get it running the way you like it to. Please record any setting changes, form design, POS device configuration in system five, Bank Rec, and more. People in each role within the company should test the functionality they use and make a list of anything they had to change or adjust.

Here is a partial list of common roles:

  • Shipping/Receiving
  • Accounting
  • Book-keeping and end of day
  • Invoicing clerk
  • Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Accounts Receivable Clerk

The better you perform these checks the smoother your installation will go, so please do a good job here.

Part 3: Time to go live

  1. The first step is for you to sign off on the update you received for training. If this is not done then we have problems we need to address before continuing.
  2. The second step is to get your data for upgrading. After this point all invoices and other activity will have to be re-entered into the new system.
  3. The third step is for Windward to upgrade this via a multi step upgrade process to get you up to the new version of our software
  4. The fourth step is to set up the data on your new server
  5. The fifth step is for you to take the list of issues you have been making from testing of your training data set and fix all of those issues on your new data.
  6. The sixth step is to start entering new sales and any other activity entered to the old system since the data was taken for upgrading.

What happens if I want to clean up my data

  The process that would allow you to do that cleanup is called a "DOS restart conversion". This process removes all invoices, bills, journal entries, and other activity from the system. This gives you a fresh start and allows you to remove any customers, suppliers and inventory you wish to remove. If you want the new version to come over with only the clean customers etc. we add an additional intermediate step. This step is described in point form below:
* Export all of the data you wish to clean up
* Fix in excel
* Import into the new system

It is very important to test this process so you are familiar with what information comes into the new system any missing information is taken into account when you go live. The testing of this process goes like this:

  • We do a dry run of the process loading the updated information into your training data
  • You do your training and testing on this updated data
  • You make a list of all of the problems you come across and what was done to deal with that problem.
  • When you go live, we repeat the export & import process, and perform all fixes from your list

This testing process is vitally important. The more thorough it is, the less problems you will have once you go live.

faq/dos_update_information_for_the_layman.1211575894.txt.gz · Last modified: 2008/05/23 13:51 (16 years ago) by cliff