Periodically, a new version of NLS—containing new features and enhancements—will be released and can be downloaded by licensed NLS users.

The recommended steps for the client and database upgrade process are as follows:

1. Download the installer for the new version from the FTP link provided to you.
   Please contact support if you need assistance accessing your FTP folder.
2. Make a backup copy of your NLS database (Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle) to use in testing the upgrade process. This is the best way to get a good idea of how long the database upgrade will actually take and will allow you to appropriately plan the timing of the actual production upgrade. This backup should be restored as a test database with a database name different from that of your production database.
3. Select a computer to be used for the upgrade test. If this computer does not already have NLS installed, install your current (pre-upgrade) version of NLS on that computer.
4. Test the connection between the upgrade test computer and the upgrade test database, and make sure that you can successfully log in.
5. Run the NLS installer and follow the installation instructions to complete the installation on the upgrade test computer. Upgrading to versions of NLS prior to 5.23 will require you to uninstall the previous version of NLS before running the installer.
6. Launch the new version of NLS on the upgrade test computer and connect to the upgrade test database. Follow the on-screen prompts to upgrade the database. You will be shown a report of the progress of the upgrade, but some individual steps of the upgrade may take a long time (depending on the size of your database). Do not stop the upgrade process.
7. When the upgrade is complete, log in to the new version of NLS and do any system testing that you desire.
8. Download and install a report pack appropriate to your new version of NLS. Test the reports that you use on a regular basis.
9. When you are satisfied with the testing, and ready to upgrade the production database, make sure that you have a fresh backup and that all NLS users are off the system.
10. Launch the new version of NLS on the upgrade test computer and connect to your production database. Follow the on-screen prompts to upgrade the database.
11. If for any reason the upgrade attempt fails, you must restore your database backup before attempting to upgrade again.
12. If for any reason you decide to terminate your attempt to upgrade, and have not yet upgraded the client computers (other than the computer selected to be the upgrade test computer), it will only be necessary to restore your database backup in order to resume production.
13. Once the production database has been upgraded successfully, verify that you are able to successfully log in.
14. Install the report pack appropriate to your new version of NLS.
15. On each client PC, uninstall the previous version of NLS then run the installer for the new version and test each connection.

While not all of these steps are absolutely required in order to upgrade an NLS version, following this procedure will ensure the minimum amount of production down time as a result of the database upgrade, and also ensure that you are able to resume production with your previous version in the event of any unforeseen problem with the upgrade.