In order to keep your Shepherd's Staff software up-to-date, you will need to install updates periodically. We release new versions of the software at least once a year and release service packs several times a year.
If you are on a version of Shepherd's Staff older than 8.7, you may have to upgrade to an intermediate version of Shepherd's Staff before you can get to the latest version due to the scope of required changes to the database structure.
For information on where to download installation files if you have an active support plan, click here.
If you find you are updating from an older version of Shepherd's Staff, and need assistance doing so, please Submit a request or call our support line at 1-800-346-6120. One of our technicians will be able to assist you in this process.
You can see the version and release date information either in the lower-right corner of the Shepherd's Staff login window (in versions 8.8 and above), or in the bottom-center of the main central Shepherd's Staff window (pre-version 8.8). See examples in the screenshots below.
For the newer versions of Shepherd's Staff:
For versions prior to Release 20210315:
Below is the upgrade path for prior versions of Shepherd's Staff. If your software is on version:
9.0 - Run Check for software updates or Submit a request for a 9.1 installation file.
8.9 - Run Check for software updates or Submit a request for a 9.1 installation file. After receiving the installation file, users can install it directly over older software.
8.8 - Run Check for software updates or Submit a request for a 9.1 installation file. After receiving the installation file, users can install it directly over older software.
8.7 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
8.6 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
8.5 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
8.4 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
8.3 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
8.2 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
8.1 - Submit a request or download for the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
8.0 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
7.8 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
7.7, 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, and 7.0 - Submit a request for or download the installation files below or call support at 1-800-346-6120. The installation files below will need to be installed in the following order:
- Version 7.8
- Version 8.7
- Version 8.8
- Version 9.1
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
Note: 8.7 will not automatically uninstall 7.8. Use Add/Remove programs to uninstall 7.8
Note: Please make sure to open and close Shepherd's Staff between each upgrade.
Note: The Check for software updates utility may be used to upgrade from 8.7 to 9.0
3.0 and 2.0 - The database will need to be sent to support for updating. The technician will return the updated database and send install files for the latest version of the software. For the installation files below Submit a request or call support at 1-800-346-6120.
Note: Direct upgrades to the newest version are not supported.
- Version 9.1 has the ability to upgrade versions 8.8 through 9.0 to 9.1
- Version 8.8 has the ability to upgrade versions 8.7 to 8.8 (updating the database infrastructure)
- Version 8.7 has the ability to upgrade versions 7.8 through 8.3 to 8.7
- Version 7.8 has the ability to upgrade versions 7.0 through 7.7 to 7.8