The two products
What is the difference between the free assessment and the paid archive?+
The free Assessment counts and describes what is in your GP or NAV environment so you can confirm scope and price. It does not copy business records. The paid Archive copies the agreed history, checks it against the source and gives your team permanent search, query and export access.
When do we receive each product?+
You receive the Assessment before purchase. After you approve the scope and buy the Archive, you receive the archive app, a run guide and two extraction runs: one for testing during the migration and one for the final cutover.
What files do we keep?+
Keep the final archive file, reader app and verification report with your financial-system backups. Staff open the archive whenever they need old GP or NAV data.
Using old ERP data
What can ordinary users do in the archive?+
Search across modules, browse customers and documents, follow related records, build filtered queries, save searches and export result sets. Fields use business labels, with the original source table and column available when needed.
Can technical users run SQL?+
Yes. The reader includes a read-only SQL workspace for analysis. Queries cannot update or delete archived records.
Which exports are included?+
Clipboard, CSV, typed XLSX and document PDF are available from result grids. The paid product also includes batch document export, repeatable migration extracts and an Audit Pack with supporting files and a checksum manifest.
Can the archive help with a Business Central or other ERP migration?+
Yes. Use the first archive to inspect old values, answer mapping questions and create repeatable source files before cutover. ERPDataArchive prepares the source data; your migration team decides what is loaded into the new ERP.
Does this replace live GP or NAV reporting?+
No. Use the live ERP for operational reporting while it is active. ERPDataArchive is for durable historical access, cross-module search and repeatable exports before and after retirement.
Does the archive reproduce posting or every custom report?+
No. It preserves posted and historical records and provides reconciled views. It does not post new transactions or promise an exact recreation of every custom, SSRS or third-party report layout.
Completeness and cutover
How do we know the final archive is complete?+
The reconciliation report compares source and archive row counts, fiscal-year trial balances, module control totals and document counts. It records the final archive hash. Your organization reviews the report against the frozen or snapshotted source before approving decommissioning.
What if the extraction is interrupted?+
You can continue an interrupted extraction instead of starting again from the beginning.
Why are two extraction runs included?+
The rehearsal run lets users and the migration team test the archive while the source ERP is still available for comparison. The second run captures the final cutover state after posting has stopped or the database has been snapshotted.
Security and ownership
Does the software upload our ERP data?+
No. It connects to the SQL Server you specify and writes files to a location you choose. You may send us the small assessment review file if you want help confirming scope and price.
Can the software change GP or NAV?+
No. The supplied SQL account has read-only database access and cannot post or update records. Your IT provider can review the permissions and monitor the connection.
Who can read the archive?+
Anyone who can access the archive file can read the included records. Store it in a restricted folder, use disk encryption where appropriate and exclude sensitive payroll fields unless you need them.
What happens if ERPDataArchive closes?+
Your archive and reader stay with you. Opening and exporting an existing archive does not require our servers or an active subscription.
Which system you run
Which systems does this work with?+
Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision). The process and prices are the same; the source-system pack and supported modules differ.
Running Dynamics SL, AX or QuickBooks Desktop? Tell us which system. Those requests help decide what we add next.
Which versions are supported?+
Dynamics NAV 2013 through NAV 2018. NAV 2009 and earlier are out of scope because they use a different dimension model.
For Dynamics GP, the free assessment reports the exact version and confirms fit before you buy. An unsupported version is identified during the free assessment.
We are moving from NAV to Business Central. Does that change anything?+
It is a common use case. Your migration team decides how much posted history belongs in Business Central. ERPDataArchive keeps the older NAV records searchable without loading them into the live ERP.
There is more detail in NAV history after a Business Central migration.
Should we do this before or after the migration?+
Start before cutover. The history must be extracted and reconciled while the old system is still available, because that is when the source totals can be checked. The rehearsal run happens during the migration and the final run uses the cutover state.
Coverage and commercial terms
What happens to third-party and custom tables?+
The free Assessment lists the custom and third-party tables it finds. We review them with you before purchase and state clearly which ones will be included, excluded or require additional setup.
Does support renewal control access?+
No. The optional $299 annual renewal covers help and updates after the first year. An existing archive continues to open and export if you do not renew.
What should we do first?+
Request the free assessment. It establishes the company count, module coverage, history depth, third-party footprint and estimated archive size before anyone selects a tier.