[RetailEdge Moderator]

A number of people have asked to see their 7.5 data in 8.0 prior to upgrading so that they can get a better idea of what their data will look like when the conversion process happens. If you would like to do this you can:

1. Download a copy of the RetailEdge 8.0 demo from our website at http://www.retailedge.com/point_of_sale_software_demos.php. This is a real copy of the program but is limited to having, 200 sales tickets, 100 customers, 100 inventory items.

2. Install Version 8.0 on the computer that has 7.5 as a Client/Server full install.

3. Run the RetailEdge 8.0.

4. Make a backup of the RetailEdge 8.0 data. This can be done by choosing backup from the Tools|Backup menu item.

5. Run the Convert_To_8_0.exe program found in the c:\program files\highmeadow business solutions\retailedge 8.0 directory. The program wizard will walk you through selecting where your Version 7.5 data and your Version 8.0 data is. If you have selected all of the defaults for your Version 7.5 and 8.0 installation, you should not have to change any locations selected by the Wizard. Be aware that this process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours depending on the amount of data you have. So most people run this program after closing their business and then let it run all night. The conversion program will require that you have done a complete closing in 7.5 and don't have any data in your receiving file. The conversion program will not remove or change Version 7.5 data. It will simply copy it into Version 8.0.

6. Once you have converted your data to Version 8.0, when you run Version 8.0 you will get an error message that you are running in Demo mode. This simply means that you have exceeded the demo limitations listed above and can't post any more data (ring in sales, create new items, etc.). You will still be able to run reports, see what you data will look like in Version 8.0. If you want to actually modify and create new data like sales in Version 8.0 you should follow the steps below.

7. First check the Location ID for your store. This can be found by choosing Locations from the Tools|Settings menu item.

8. Then Export a small subset of your inventory and customer data to a REDI file format. This can be done by choosing Export from the Tools menu. Then walk through the process of exporting the customer and inventory data. You will need to filter your data so that you export the number of records that is below the demo limits above. This filter might be for one vendor for your inventory or one city for your customers. RetailEdge will tell you how many records you have exported.

9. Make a backup of your converted data in RetailEdge. Then restore in the original demo data backup you made.

10. Choose Locations from the Tools|Settings menu item. Then modify the Location ID in the the demo data to the Location ID you found in Item 7 above.

11. Then import the REDI files you created by choosing Import from the Tools menu.

You should now have a small subset of your data in the RetailEdge 8.0 demo program to allow you to see how this data looks in Version 8.0.