Upgrade to NPSP 3 Using a Sandbox in 5 Steps

By: Cindy Gavelek, Salesforce Implementation Specialist, Confluence Corporation

Confluence is a Salesforce.org Impact Partner – helping nonprofits of all shapes and sizes get the most out of Salesforce. In this Upgrade Month blog post, we share our best practices and processes to ensure a successful Nonprofit Starter Pack (NPSP) upgrade.

We think the smartest way to upgrade is using a Sandbox, so that’s the method we’re going to use in these instructions.
First, in preparation for the NPSP 3 Upgrade, it is important to plan your work, and then work your plan. Assuming there are no glitches*, the process could be completed within 3-4 hours, so plan your time accordingly.

Keep in mind that it is not necessary to make a decision about converting to the Household Model at this point. These steps assume that you are not immediately converting to the Household Model right now.

This is a 5 step process:
Step 1: Review existing documentation and frequently asked questions about the NPSP3 Upgrade.
Step 2: Perform the NPSP3 upgrade in a Sandbox created for this purpose.
Step 3: Create a backup of your Production Instance.
Step 4: Perform the NPSP3 upgrade in your Production database.
Step 5: Perform the post upgrade steps outlined for you to take advantage of your NPSP3 Upgrade.

STEP 1: Review Existing Materials

• Review the NPSP3 Upgrade instructions
• Review the NPSP 3 FAQ

STEP 2: Perform the NPSP3 Upgrade in a Sandbox

• Set up a Sandbox; name it ‘NPSP3’.
• Once the Sandbox is ready, login to the Sandbox from within your Salesforce instance.
• Go to the ‘Installation Page’ link on the Instructions link in Step 1, above.
• Make sure that the database indicated for the installation, once the check of the database is complete, is your Sandbox instance [it will indicate your login to your organization’s Salesforce instance with ‘.npsp3’ at the end].
• Enter the login confirmation [reference what is given to you on the page], again making sure that the login listed has the ‘.npsp3’ suffix to your database login.
• Monitor the Upgrade as each of the 8 Upgrade Steps is completed successfully.*
• Once the Upgrade is completed, log out of your Sandbox and log into your Production database.

STEP 3: Create a Backup of Your Production Database

• Most people shy away from change. Especially when it’s a change to your database. That’s the lifeblood of your organization. So, in order to rest easier, the first thing that must be done before you begin the NPSP3 Upgrade in your Production Database is: a Data Export.
• In Salesforce, a Data Export is essentially a backup of all your files. So, before you make any major changes to your database, it is best practice to export your entire database to CSV files, just in case. Since an export can take some time, depending on the size of your database and the export queue, be sure to plan for this as part of your Upgrade process.

STEP 4: Perform the NPSP3 Upgrade in Your Production Database

• Go to the ‘Installation Page’ link on the Instructions link in Step 1, above.
• Make sure that the database indicated for the installation, once the check of the database is complete, is your Production instance (it will indicate only your login to your organization’s Salesforce instance).
• Enter the login confirmation (reference what is given to you on the page), again making sure that the login listed is now for your Production instance.
• Monitor the Upgrade as each of the 8 Upgrade Steps is completed successfully.*
• Once the Upgrade is completed, go to Step 5.

STEP 5: Perform Post Upgrade Steps

• Go to the ”Post Upgrade Steps’ link on the Instructions Link in Step 1 above.
• Perform each of the steps as if you are not planning to do the Household Conversion.
• Review fields that have been added to Contacts, Organizations and Opportunities to determine whether your organization can use them. Below are some examples of new fields that will need to be made visible if your organization wants to utilize them.
  Contact: Deceased, Primary Affiliation, Exclusions, batch
  Account: GrantMaker, Batch
  Opportunity: Grant fields, Acknowledgement Fields, Batch, Primary Contact fields,
  recurring donation installment fields

* In the unlikely event of an error during the NPSP3 Upgrade, follow the instructions provided with the error. Create a Case in Salesforce and post the issue in the Power of Us Hub. Nothing has been insurmountable, and errors are rare.

Looking for some help with the upgrade? Visit www.confluencecorp.com. And don’t forget to register for the Upgrade Webinar!