Easy changes and ones that need thought
| Change | Difficulty | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Text, color or column order | Easy | It does not touch the data |
| Adding a field or a report | Medium | Old records will not have the new field |
| Changing how something is calculated | Needs care | It may affect the numbers on past invoices |
| Moving data from local to cloud | Large | Every record is moved |
The safe way to change a program in use
- 1Write the change in a sentence
'Add a mobile number field to the customer screen and show it on the invoice.'
- 2Try it in the preview
Confirm the other screens are unaffected, especially printing and reports.
- 3Take a backup
Of the work computer's data, before you touch anything.
- 4Install the new version
At a quiet time, not at peak hour.
- 5Review your data
Open the latest invoices and balances and confirm they are as you left them.
Habits that make changes easier
- Change one thing at a time and test it before the next.
- Collect staff requests for a week, then do them in one batch.
- Keep the previous installer so you can go back if you must.