You've heard all about the great new features that are available in CV9. Now it's time to prepare for your upgrade. Whether you're already on a recent version of ClearVantage 7 or are way back on version 7.7.1, these 8 simple steps will help you make your upgrade as smooth as possible.
1. Review the Latest ClearVantage Features
On the ClearVantage Learning Resources page, you can find release notes for every version of ClearVantage since 7.5. Read the release notes since your current version and let your support analyst know which optional features you may be interested in. This will help determine the number of hours required for your upgrade as well as any licensing fees.
2. Moving Servers? Updating SQL?
Discuss the upgrade as well as any server moves or upgrades to SQL that will be taking place around the ClearVantage upgrade with your support analyst. If you are still on SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008, this would be a good time to move to SQL Server 2012 as a step towards PCI compliance. Another good reason to update is that SQL Server 2008 has reached its end of life for mainstream support which means that Microsoft is not patching any new bugs for versions earlier than SQL 2012. Note that a server move or SQL update can impact the number of hours that are required for the upgrade and are important to know for scheduling.
3. Approve the Quote
Once your support analyst has provided you with a quote for the upgrade, please approve the quote as soon as possible. Please note that upgrades are not placed on our calendars until the quote for the upgrade is approved.
Of course if you are a CV Sapphire client, your upgrades are included in your monthly hosting fee. If you are interested in finding out more about having Euclid host your database with quarterly upgrades included, please contact Dan Antonoff for more information.
4. Schedule the Test and Live Upgrades
It's important to schedule your test and live upgrades for a time you will be able to complete your review of the changes. The Euclid support and web analysts working with you will need to coordinate schedules and the sooner you let us know your schedule for the upgrade, the sooner we can let you know ours. The live upgrade should be scheduled no more than 30 days after the test upgrade. In order to best serve you, we do not perform live upgrades on Fridays or after normal business hours. If there is an unexpected issue during an upgrade, we want to ensure that the appropriate Euclid staff are available to assist as soon as possible. Additionally, though a particular support or web analyst may agree to come in an hour or two early to start an upgrade, this is done as the analysts' schedules allow and is not always possible.
5. Upgrade the Test Database
Once the test database is upgraded, the Euclid support analyst will provide you with an update file that will allow you to install the updated version of the ClearVantage application. This should be run on all the computers of the users who will be testing the upgrade. Most likely, you will use these same update files for the live upgrade.
The test website will also be upgraded but depending on schedules, this may not happen on the same day as the test database upgrade. Keep in mind that you may or may not have a test installation of your CMS and this may impact some of your website review.
6. Review Your Key Business Processes
Though the application has been thoroughly tested, it is important to review your specific business processes in the upgraded version of ClearVantage. There may be changes to the application that impact the functionality you are currently using or will allow you to simplify your processes. Walking through these processes in your test database will allow you to utilize the new features better as soon as your live database is upgraded.
At a minimum we suggest testing:
- Mission critical reports to make sure that they return the expected data and that the layout is correct;
- Creating new individual and organization records;
- Creating and paying dues for the new record in ClearVantage and on the web;
- Running membership renewal and drop processes;
- Creating and paying a registration in ClearVantage and on the web; and
- Posting and exporting financial transactions.
Be sure to review any custom imports, exports, third party interfaces as well, especially if you are moving servers.
7. The Live Upgrade
Once you are satisfied with your testing, it's time to upgrade the live database and website. At the scheduled time, all staff must be logged out of ClearVantage and a maintenance message should be added to the website. Access to the CV Web pages should be prevented during the upgrade. The Euclid staff will upgrade the live database and website and let you know when you can let your staff and members access ClearVantage and the website again.
While the upgrade is taking place on your servers, you can install the updated version of the ClearVantage application to all of your staff. Don't forget that users who access ClearVantage remotely will also need to have the latest version installed.
8. Enjoy!
Be sure to enjoy all the new features that you can access in your latest version of ClearVantage. Feel free to ask your support analyst if you have any questions on the new functionality. If you are making a large leap in ClearVantage versions, consider arranging training for your staff to teach them how to make the most of the new features or refresh them on some of the features they have forgotten about.
The comment feature is locked by administrator.