This document aims to answer the most frequently asked questions in relation to the upgrade process of MYOB Advanced sites.
- Can we reschedule or opt-out of an upgrade?
- How do I access the Sandbox site?
- Will our site customisations still work in the new version?
- Will we need to pay for the upgrade to happen?
- What should I test in the Sandbox?
- Will Stratus test my daily processes as part of the upgrade support plan?
- Will the upgrade go ahead if we find issues when testing the Sandbox site?
- How recent is the data in the Sandbox site?
- Does the Sandbox site get updated daily from the Production site?
- How long does the upgrade take?
- What happens after the upgrade?
- What do we need to do if we have integrations with a third party app?
Where can I find out what is changing in the new version?
Click on the following link to access the MYOB Advanced release notes: Release notes (myob.com)
Can we reschedule or opt-out of an upgrade?
You must keep your site updated to within one version of the current version, which is usually accomplished by undertaking one major upgrade in a 12-month period. This is part of your end user licence agreement with MYOB.
How do I access the Sandbox site?
You can use your usual credentials (that you use for the Production site) to log into the sandbox site. You should access the Live tenant in the Sandbox site and do all testing here. This will not affect data in the Live tenant in the Production site. Please let us know immediately if you are unable to login, and we can assist you.
Please note, there are some major changes to security in version 2023.1.3 and above. This will mean, if you do not have two factor authentication (2FA) enabled, you will be prompted to reset your password to a minimum of 14 characters. This will happen at login.
This will also apply to all API user account passwords. They will need to be updated in both the sandbox site for testing and the production site before the upgrade. You will then need to communicate this with your third-party integration partner, so they can update the password in the integration.
Please click on the following link for further information on these changes: Better password security standards (myob.com)
Will our site customisations still work in the new version?
Not always. Sometimes data locations are changed to improve performance in the system. The customisation projects may need to be updated to re-direct to the new data location. If the customisation is to do with an ISV integration, then we may need to obtain an updated customisation from the ISV directly. If the customisation was created by our development team, or that of a previous support partner, then our development team will need to make it compatible with the new version.
Will we need to pay for the upgrade to happen?
If you do not have a support plan with us, we will send you the Sandbox site once available, and will not perform any checking unless you authorise us to do so, as it is chargeable time. If any issues arise that need to be addressed by Support, Consulting or Development, you will be charged at our normal hourly rate. Please ensure you include pre-approval for 1 hour of chargeable consulting time when raising issues to the Support desk related to the upgrade.
If you have a support plan with us that does not include upgrades, our support team will ensure the site can be accessed and attempt to republish any customisations that you may have. If there are any issues that need to be addressed after this, we will contact you with a quote for the work required.
If you have a support plan including upgrade support, our support team will log into the Sandbox site, republish any customisations and escalate any issues that need to be addressed to our Consulting/Development team. This work will be covered by your support plan.
If you would like to review your current Support plan, please reach out to us at support@stratusgroup.com.au, and we can discuss with you to identify the most appropriate plan for your needs.
What should I test in the Sandbox?
You should attempt to test all your key processes to ensure that they can be performed to the same level as in the current version. Print all associated documents to ensure they are populating with the correct information and formatting as the current document versions. Please ensure you review all key daily/weekly/monthly/yearly processes such as reporting / compliance requirements.
Check that custom forms, such as Proforma or Commercial Invoices, appear on menus where they should, and that customisations are functional. Note that some processes, such as STP submission, should not be done. Similarly, sending of emails, should be turned off, and integrations to external applications should not be run unless arrangements have been made to connect to a test version of those applications
If you identify any issues, please log them immediately in the existing upgrade ticket, so they can be addressed promptly.
Click here to download our testing template to help you get started
Will Stratus test my daily processes as part of the upgrade support plan?
Upgrade support covers Consulting or Development work that needs to be done to ensure your processes/customisations are compatible with the new version.
Testing of daily processes is the responsibility of the end user, as we do not know your business processes to the detailed level and nuance that you do.
Will the upgrade go ahead if we find issues when testing the Sandbox site?
If issues are identified that are not business critical, we will proceed with upgrade as planned. Rescheduling of the upgrade should be a last resort and only in extreme cases, due to the resources that each upgrade requires from all parties. If minor issues cannot be resolved before the upgrade, we will work with you to resolve them soon after.
How recent is the data in the Sandbox site?
The Sandbox site is provisioned approximately 30 days prior to the planned upgrade date. This Sandbox is provisioned from the most recent backup of your Production site. Once the backup is copied, the Sandbox site is then upgraded to the new version and made available to begin testing.
Back to topDoes the Sandbox site get updated daily from the Production site?
Once the Sandbox has been provisioned, the data is static other than the test data that is entered. Testing the processes is not reliant on constantly refreshed data from the Production site.
Back to topHow long does the upgrade take?
Upgrades are generally planned for either a Monday or Wednesday evening. The upgrade takes place between 10pm to 4am NZT, during which time the site is inaccessible.
What happens after the upgrade?
In the morning following the upgrade, the Support and Consulting team will log into your Production site first thing and republish any customisations. This is done as close to the commencement of business hours as possible. Please expect a slight delay, due to the volume of sites that must be reviewed after the upgrade.
If the upgrade fails, or we identify any issues that need to be resolved, we will communicate this with you immediately.
What do we need to do if we have integrations with a third-party app?
We