If you are planning on upgrading your Act! Premium or Pro software, we suggest that you read the following list of tips to ensure a pain-free conversion.

1. Review the upgrade process in advance: Act! has produced handy install reference materials for those planning upgrades:
   1. Act! installation guide
   2. Act! Quick Start for New Users Guide
   3. Act! Quick Reference Card
2. Do you have your new licence key? Ensure that you have your new license key before you upgrade. If you are a current Act! Subscriber, and are upgrading to a newer subscription version of Act!, your current key should work with the new version. If you recently purchased Act! Pro v22, you will need to have your new license key to register this software since your old key won't work. 
3. Check compatibility: Upgrading any software can cause system conflicts due to compatibility issues so we suggest checking that your hardware meets the minimum Act! system requirements. Additionally, you should confirm that your other office software and add-ons that you use with Act! will be compatible. For example, Act! v20.0 supports Office 2010, but v20.1 and newer does not. Act! v21 works with Windows 7, but newer versions of Act! do not. Also, if you are on an earlier version of Act! which used an older version of Microsoft SQL, this SQL version will need to be uninstalled so that v21 installs the required Microsoft SQL 2014. Spending a bit of time checking requirements prior to installing any software can avoid unnecessary expense for your business, save you time in the long run…and a few headaches.
4. Will my customizations convert? Depending on how old your current version of Act! is, but generally the answer is yes. Any database, report, template, layout customisations will come across to a current version upgrade, provided you're upgrading from Act! 2008 or newer (older versions make work, as well, but require template and layout tweaking to work as before).
   If you have any custom programming created for your current version we suggest checking with your provider in case additional updates are required.
5. Backup, backup, backup! We strongly advise that you have at least one reliable backup of all your data prior to upgrading your database. There is nothing worse that realising that something has gone wrong and you don’t have a backup. See How to back up and restore an Act! database. With Act! version v23 not being schema breaking, this is less of an issue than before, but still recommended.
6. Start clean: To get the best conversion results, it’s ideal to have your existing database checked and cleaned prior to conversion. Upgrading is a perfect time to purge old data to decrease your database size and increase the efficiency and speed of your database. To get assistance with this process, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us 1-800-857-0558.
7. How much time does it take to upgrade? The time required to upgrade Act! depends on such factors as the number of users, locations, speed of the hardware, and deployment methods. It can take anywhere from 15 minutes for a single user to a few days for larger, more complicated sites. Ensure that you plan the time/day for the upgrade to allow for any unforeseen complications and to avoid your staff sitting around unable to access to their data. The nice thing abut Act! v23 is you're only upgrading the software, not the actual database, so this speeds up the process and reduces the chances of failure.
8. Can I upgrade Act! myself or will I need help? Most users successfully upgrade Act! themselves however the ability to do so depends on the complexity of your environment. If you are a single user on Act! Pro v18, it is a straight forward install over the top of your existing application. If you have a team of users, are synchronising or use a hosted database service, your upgrade will need more planning and knowledge. Just think of Act! like a new car…do you service the car yourself or take it to an authorised service centre? You want the service done correctly so you don’t have car problems down the track. Our team of Act! Certified Consultants specialise in Act! CRM, so they have the expertise to help you throughout the entire upgrade process – from data clean to training. Utilising our services will ensure that your transition to the newest version of Act! is smooth and will minimise any downtime for your business ultimately saving you dollars. To discuss your Act! upgrade, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us at 1-800-857-0558.

You can download Act! Software from our web sites.
Please ensure you download the correct version (Pro or Premium/Premium Web) for your location, please click HERE.

Related Articles:

• The six (not so) hidden risks of outdated software
• How to Downgrade your Premium Database to Pro
• Act! Premium v23 is HERE!