Upgrade to R2 or R3 from 6.1

general discussion
1

We are considering our upgrade options from 6.1b.

We have a heavy investment in VBA, and our users are mostly power users who would make use of subqueries, group functions, personal data sources etc, so I think we will be mainly DeskI.

Browsing thought the forum, users seem to have had problems with R3.
If stability is our main priority, would we be better off to upgrade to R2?

Peter Hegarty :ireland: (BOB member since 2004-05-04)

2

Not been my experience at all.

Not in my opinion, mine is as stable as a stable thing and there are advantages to going with XiR3 over r2.

dessa :madagascar: (BOB member since 2004-01-29)

3

I’m with Dessa. Go with XI 3.1 (no such thing as R3).

Migrating from 6.x to anything XI for full client (Reporter, now DeskI) is going to require SIGNIFICANT regression testing and probably some re-writing anyway. And I don’t know the exact dates, but I think R2 is near end of support anyway.

Plus, moving from 6.x will require a complete re-vamp of your security model, and the XI 3.x security model is much better than R2. I even advise folks moving from XIr2 to XI 3.x to “start over” with their security model.

Dwayne Hoffpauir :us: (BOB member since 2002-09-19)

4

Thanks Dwayne.

When you stress the testing and possible rewrites are there particular issues you have met that I should be aware of?

Peter Hegarty :ireland: (BOB member since 2004-05-04)

5

I’m glad you said it, that really niggles at me.

I’d be most concerned with formatting issues with any upgrade myself.

With r2 to 3.x beware the security change.

Damocles :uk: (BOB member since 2006-10-05)

6

Too many to mention as a definitive list, but from memory:

  • VBA code differences (remember, the platform is TOTALLY different)
  • Linked data providers (linked were unlinked, unlinked were linked)
  • Embedded logos disappeared, or caused crashes.
  • Formulas that gave wrong results, until there were “touched” (edited) once.

To be fair, our DeskI reports would have to be considered complex. Our former account manager said that DeskI “was being made to perform unnatural acts.” If your reports are more straightforward, your regression may not be as difficult.

Dwayne Hoffpauir :us: (BOB member since 2002-09-19)