Upgrading to SuiteFactory v7.0 and SQL

You can upgrade from all versions from 2.0 through 6.5. Before you convert to 7.0 you must first upgrade to the latest version of 6.5 first (Version 6.5.211).  See CCI for details.

If after reading these instructions, you have any questions or doubts, please contact us at 781-933-9500 for assistance before you start.

If you have NT you can click on drivers for all drivers and installation instructions.  You will only need these if you have RocketPort Adapters or Ethernet Serial Hubs.

Note: Windows 2000/XP should have the RocketPort Adapter drivers built into the operating system.  Window 95/98 are not supported operating systems for SuiteFactory.

There are many differences between the latest build of SuiteFactory and the earlier versions of our software. Please read the attached documents describing SuiteFactory , SuiteDNC , SuiteDocs and SuitePacs for details. If you now have a packets license, then you will receive the equivalent license for SuiteDocs and SuitePacs .

Our licensing model has changed. You will no longer have to run the licensing and activation key routines at every workstation. It needs to be run only once for each database.

Versions 5.x and up have major differences from the earlier versions. Rather than having separate executables for setup, administration and shop floor, there is one runtime program into which you login. The features available to you depend upon to which user groups you belong and the rights granted to those groups by the system administrator.

Also, versions 5.x and up do not allow DNC files to be assigned to individual machines. All files are now assigned to what we now call Resource Collections (roughly equivalent to the machine group of V4.x and under.) A Resource Collection is a container for like machines, the DNC files for those machines, and the user groups with rights to those machines and files.

The SuiteFactory database has a different structure than the earlier versions therefore they must be converted. The process is mostly automatic. However, during the conversion process from versions 4.x and earlier where DNC files could be assigned to individual machines as well as groups you will be asked to select a Resource Collection to which to assign any machine assigned files. Machine groups are automatically converted to Resource Collections. You will be given the choice to assign them to an existing Resource Collection or to create a new one to which to assign them. This is explained again below.

Note: BEFORE CONTINUING, COPY THE DATABASE as follows: Copy the entire contents of the database folder to another folder. The database folder is in the database path. You can find the database path by clicking Help/About. Make the copy by right clicking on the database folder and select Copy. Then right click on the parent directory of this folder and select Paste. You will get a new folder called Copy of . . . If the original folder is called dncwin44, for example, the copy will be called Copy of dncwin44.

Note: Please call for assistance! 781-933-9500