Migrating From 7.0.7 to Gold

[efficiondave]

We're working on migrating from 7.0.7 to Gold R9. We've already successfully upgraded a copy the database without issue but we also want to make lots of changes to product hierarchy, URLS, add Shop By/Parametric Search Functionality, and perhaps take advantage of other new features. We don't want to make those changes on a live site. But we also don't want to lose all the User and Order data that's occurring now on the live site. So I'm wondering what the best way to handle this is?

I believe the best thing to do will be to create scripts to import the user and order information from the currently live site to the new site when it's ready to go live. I'm not sure how much transformation of the data will be needed for the change from 7.0.7 to Gold.

Does anyone have scripts to do this already?
Is there a better way?

Thanks for your consideration,
Dave

[Katie]

Hi Dave -

One method we have used in the past is a program that will compare databases. It is some somewhat expensive, but there is 14 day evaluation (if you time it just right).

Here is a link for more info -
http://www.red-gate.com/products/sql-de ... a-compare/

When you are ready to take the site live, just compare the new (modified) Gold database with the live AC7 database and populate only the tables that have data you want to bring over.

It will probably be quicker than creating scripts.

Hope this helps.
Katie

[AbleMods]

I've used that technique a few times in the past. It's worked well for me, although you need to know at least a little about SQL databases to attempt it.

[efficiondave]

Our plan is to:
-backup the live DB
-Run the upgrade script that comes with Gold on the live DB (so we don't have to deal with differences in data structure)
-Run scripts to Delete all User and Order Records from the new DB in an order where we don't get blocked by foreign key constraints.
-Run scripts to move the Order and User data from the Live DB to the new DB with IDENTITY INSERT ON and again using an order where we don't get blocked by foreign key constraints.
-Switch the site to the new DB

I'll share the delete and insert scripts when they are done.