We're planning to convert to Re 7 and are trying to pull together a draft budget. Could anyone let me know approximately how much staff time was needed to prepare for the conversion, and what post-conversion time was needed to get up to speed. Also I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who used RE's remote installation servie and how that worked for them cost. We're a small shop; I'm the only person using the database, and was self-taught, so imagine that we'll need a fair bit of time to dedicate to working with current data to prepare for the conversion. I'd also like to hear anyone's comments about how useful the conversion training session was. I like to think I can manage to learn to use RE7 myself, but it might just be more cost-effective to attend a training session to expedite the process. Many thanaks. Lois Peterson Development Officer Surrey PUblic Library www.spl.surrey.bc.ca

I set up a conversion plan 6 months before the scheduled date. I worked with my IT department very closely and met with them at least once a month to discuss how things were going and to keep everyone up to date. After receiving the actual update, we created a "dummy" database on a seperate server, that way I could look at 7 with my own files, but not harm my live data. For the most part, I just ran off all of my report and query parameters and made sure that addresses were correct, especially concerning countries. Clean up is still a work in progress, I would advise taking as many courses for 7 as you can afford to do. Hope this helps, Kate St. Andrew's Episcopal School

I think how much time will depend on how much you utilize RE currently. I worked with a document called "Successful Conversion Project Planning" from Blackbaud. It is fabulous - I highly recommend it. I itemized all that I had to do and estimated how much time it would take me to do the task. As well prioritizing what needed to be done immediately and what could wait. (for example - quarterly, yearly reports) Training - we took it. I don't think training gets you anymore than what support and help documents can give you. Good Luck! Ann

Related to this, is there a central location where I can find the many problems that cropped up after the conversion, and what could have been done prior to conversion to avoid these problems? I remember last year many horror stories of things that went wrong after the conversion.

I managed a conversion to RE7 last year and although most of v7 will be familiar and easy to use, I recommend a training session or two, especially to cover address processing and relationships, which are fairly differnt in v7. Do as much clean up as you can before!

To Ann McCallum: Where did you get the "Successful Conversion. . ." I called BB to request it, but they didn't know what I was talking about. Thanks, ShawnAlis Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas

It was in the "The Raiser's Edge 7 Essential for Version 6 Users training manual - section Successful Conversion Project Planning. If RE can't send it to you - I can photocopy and fax to you or send you the binder. Let me know how you make out. My direct email is [Email Removed] - feel free to contact me directly here.

Thanks so much! If I can't find it, I'll let you know. Shawnalis Cusato Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas