Upgrading from 5.2 to 5.3 Enterprise

[DetlevFriemelt]

We are about to be upgraded from 5.2 to 5.3 Accpac Enterprise Edition. Running GL IC OE AR AP CB PO
Our service providers estimate the upgrade to take 80 hours to do.
I am certain that I am about to be ripped off.
Has anyone done this upgrade recently that can confirm how long it took.
Can I do the upgrade myself?

 

[jayconverse]

1. How much data do you have?
2. What's the condition of your data, i.e., data integrity checks?
2. How many custom reports?
3. How many custom programs?

Jay Converse
IT Director
Systemlink, Inc.

 

[ettienne]

80 hours for a single company is a bit steep, it all depends on what is included with the upgrade: software installation, data upgrade, training, report conversions, customization (macros, etc).
The installation and data upgrade normally takes between 4 and 16 hours, depending on the size of the company (number of workstations), size of the database, and if data intergity errors and other errors are found during the conversion.
Training and reports can add many hours to that, so it is difficult to come up with a number of hours it should take.

 

[DetlevFriemelt]

1. 20000 items (2Gb data)
2. No integrity errors
3. Only a Picking slip, Invoice and Wabill (all of which I wrote myself)
4. No custom programs

 

[jayconverse]

Yeah, that's pretty steep. FWIW, you can install the 5.3 system manager and all 5.3 programs alongside 5.2 programs, and run an upgrade test (Dbdump/Dbload to a new company) without messing up your production company.

Look out for optional fields, that's the big change from 5.2 to 5.3.

Jay Converse
IT Director
Systemlink, Inc.

 

[DetlevFriemelt]

Thanks Jay and Ettienne
I have set up all the workstations myself in the past, and have written my own Crystal Reports.
I am looking at a software upgrade only. (as per our Software Assurance Plan)
As far as I can see there is little new in 5.3 that requires training - unless I am missing something.
Thanks again

 

[DetlevFriemelt]

I have optional fields active, but am not really using them. What are the changes and what do I look out for.

 

[ettienne]

I would say get the assistance of a consultant on an hourly basis for the upgrade, then do the rest yourself. There are a couple of gotchas with the upgrade which might cause some delays, otherwise it is simple process.

 

[jayconverse]

They go from being part of the record, to a separate table.

For example, ARCUS.TEXTOPFLx are now in ARCUSO. The biggest impact is in custom reports, where you either have to use subreports, or multiple joins from ARCUS to ARCUSO.

Jay Converse
IT Director
Systemlink, Inc.

 

[DetlevFriemelt]

Thanks a ton, the advice as usual is tops and I was right with my suspicions. Will go for the hourly option and setting up 5.3 alonside 5.2 using a qualified business partner/consultant (I do anyway)
Looks like the optional field or custom reports is not going to be an issue either.
Thanks!