Migrate from Author-it On-Premises to Author-it Cloud - Author-it Cloud

Learn what migrating from Author-it On-Premises to Author-it Cloud requires, how to prepare for it, and how to minimize disruptions while migrating.

Initial consultation

Your Author-it Cloud migration will start by contacting an Author-it Pre-Sales consultant. The consultant will speak to you about the general requirements for migrating to Author-it Cloud, and your organization's unique requirements.

Your Author-it Pre-Sales Consultant will:

• Create an Author-it Cloud trial account for you, if required and at your request.

• Discuss the requirements for migration.

• Discuss the network and technical requirements of Author-it Cloud.

• Discuss the differences between Author-it Cloud and Author-it On-Premises.

• Discuss alternatives to OLEs and Word Macros in Author-it Cloud, if required.

• Discuss if and how macros and after-publish actions can be imported to Author-it Cloud.

• Discuss if and how your Author-it plugins can be used in Author-it Cloud.

• Discuss if and how any third-party integrations or specific rendering engines can be used in Author-it Cloud.

• Discuss if you have multiple libraries, and how this can be catered for in Author-it Cloud.

• Discuss the folder structure your organization will use for external files (such as linked file objects and publishing templates) in Author-it Cloud.

Technical preparations

After your initial consultation, there's some technical tasks your organization will need to perform to enable the migration.

1. Upgrade all Author-it On-Premises modules to the latest version.

   Upgrading to the latest version ensures that all of the content in your Author-it database will be compatible with Author-it Cloud.

2. Move all external files (such as linked file objects and publishing templates) to a centralized location. This means that every file must have the same root path. For example, if you move all the files to a physical server, every file must be on the same drive (such as C:).

   Moving these files to a central location makes it possible to migrate them to the Files module.

3. Use Author-it Administrator to run the external files reports, and fix any files or paths that can't be found.

   This ensures that all of your files will be copied or moved to the Files module.

4. Consolidate your libraries, if required.

   Your Author-it consultant will have discussed if, and how many, of your libraries need to be combined. Most organizations merge their libraries into a single library, then migrate the single library to Author-it Cloud.

5. Create a copy of your library database or databases to use for the migration.

6. Set up administrator access to your database server for an Author-it consultant, or someone from your organization working with the consultant via screenshare.

   This will allow the consultant to place Author-it installers and the Author-it Cloud Migration Toolkit on your database server, and run them.

7. Ensure you have .NET Framework 4.8 or later installed on your database server.

   This is required to run the Author-it Cloud Migration Toolkit.

8. Ensure your workstations meet the minimum computer requirements for Author-it Cloud applications.

9. Calculate the disk space requirement for your library or libraries. Compare them to the Author-it Cloud disk space policies, to determine if you need to purchase additional disk space.

10. Ensure your database server has enough disk space to perform the migration. The migration requires three copies of your database: The original, a backup, and copy of the backup. Your database server will need to have enough disk space for all three copies to be on it at the same time.

Organizational preparations

• Because there are differences between Author-it Cloud and Author-it On-Premises, some of your organizations processes will need to change. Prior to and during the migration, we recommend reviewing these differences, updating your organization's processes, and creating or updating training for your staff.

• During the migration, your organization will be unable to us Author-it Cloud or Author-it On-Premises. You should make preparations to suspend content creation during this time, or to create content that can be imported into Author-it Cloud.

The migration

1. An Author-it consultant runs the Author-it Cloud Migration Toolkit over the copy of your database.

2. Author-it creates your Author-it Cloud library.

3. Author-it migrates your files to the Files module.

4. Author-it creates your users and user groups in Author-it Cloud.

5. Author-it works with your I.T. team to configure Author-it Cloud SSO integration for your organization, if required.

6. You're granted access to Author-it Cloud.