Upgrading from e-Sword 7 or 8 to e-Sword 10+

Lately, I've been receiving a lot of questions about upgrading from an old version of e-Sword (mostly from missionaries who want to use the content we've been creating). I'm writing this so I can point future upgraders here to this Tutorial.

The vast majority of upgrades from older versions happen without issue! But I think its better to know about a few possible issues before running into them. That way, there's no panic--there's no fear--there's nothing unexpected. If you know what might happen, then you will already know the answer.

• Before beginning, download the e-Sword Converter. This program will convert all user made commentaries, dictionaries, Bibles, devotionals, topics, etc. The program says it converts to e-Sword 9 format. Your converted files will also work in e-Sword 10.
  
  The program is very easy to use! You may run the program just to see what it looks like without converting anything. When you do convert, NO CHANGES are made to your original files. The new files have a different filename extension--for example, your file "file.top" becomes "file.topx".
  
   converter.jpg   55.03K   79 downloads
  
  The red box in the picture shows you the "Batch mode". The converter can convert just one file or will convert all files in your e-Sword folders! Your modules will usually be in c:\program files\e-sword and/or my documents\e-sword.
  
• Download and install e-Sword 10.x. Be sure to close your old version of e-Sword first.
  
• Study Notes and Topic Notes: You can open these directly in e-Sword 10, if you prefer (or use the converter above). In e-Sword 10, all Notes (including Topics) appear in the lower, right corner of the screen. Right click this window and select Open. Choose the older ".not" notes to open. Then locate your old Study Notes, usually in my documents\e-sword.
  
   topicnotes.jpg   64.17K   47 downloads
  
• Free Official e-Sword Modules: Your free, official e-Sword modules (like Barnes, Adam Clark, BDB, Thayer, etc) will not convert using the e-Sword converter. No worries, though. e-Sword 10 includes an internal module downloader for the official modules. Nothing to install. Nothing to do in your browser. You will regain your free, official e-Sword modules using the screen below inside e-Sword 10.
  
   official-free.jpg   279.95K   40 downloads
  
• Premium (Paid) Official e-Sword Modules: Modules that you may have purchased (or should have purchased), like Bible Believers Commentary or the NASB Bible, can also be downloaded through e-Sword's internal module downloader. But you will need your original license key to install these modules. Don't have your original license key? Simply contact eStudySource.com and they can provide your key to you from your original purchase.
  
• A small number of Bibles were not compatible with e-Sword 10. Most of these have already been repaired. But if you use a very rare Bible version, that Bible may not be compatible with e-Sword 10. I can't stress how exceedingly rare this is! If it happens, ask for help on our message boards and we will help fix the file.
  
• Renaming Bad Tabs: Sometimes people made old e-Sword resources with improper abbreviation names. For example, you cannot use a user-made commentary with the BBC abbreviaton. BBC is reserved for e-Sword's official Believer's Bible Commentary. If any of your resources use e-Sword's official abbreviations (like BBC for Bible Believer's Commentary, AMP for the Amplified Bible, NIV for the NIV Bible, etc), they will not appear in e-Sword 10.x.
  
  If you want to use a module with a "bad" tab name, you must rename the module abbreviation, using the e-Sword Tab Renamer. Or, you may send the module to one of our members who will rename the module for you. Again, just ask for help on the message boards.
  
• Give a child a lock...and he will use it. Some module makers used passwords on public domain modules. Why? The same reason my children lock bedroom doors--because they "can" and it's "fun". If you have a public domain module that will not convert because of password, contact me. If the module is not a paid or official e-Sword resource, I will remove the password for you.
  
  If the module is a paid or official e-Sword resource, simply abort the conversion of that module and download it with the internal e-Sword 10.x downloader (as described in #4 above).

(Posted in Tutorials).

Hi

This is very good info for people who want to upgrade but fearful of loosing all their valuable resources.

thanks again Josh for letting people know.
Patchworkid

The only things I'd add are:

• Backup the existing e-Sword collection to CD or DVD;
• Make sure that those CDs or DVDs are readable;
• Start the conversion process;

When the conversion process is ended:

• Check your resources, to find out what, if anything, did not convert;
• Test your resources, to be sure that everything displays correctly;
• If those two are "good", then backup your new e-Sword collection to CDs or DVDs;

One other thing. Include a copy of the version of e-Sword that utilizes the resources, when you backup your collection.

jonathon

Updated this to include the e-Sword Tab Renamer application. This will help people who lack technical experience to update the e-Sword tab names.

Josh, I have Windows 7 and e-Sword 10.1 installed. I have dowload a few free older .top files that I want to convert to .topx files. I downloaded the converter, run it, select source and destinations but the 'CONVERT' button remains greyed out ? This happens in Normal or Batch mode. Any advice on what I'm doing wrong ? Thanks.

Oh..also in e-Sword my Topic Notes tab options are all greyed out as well. I cannot create, open anything in the Topic Notes area. ?

Edited by MitchC, 04 August 2012 - 11:36 AM.

hi
to start your Edit Topic - press control and right click on the mouse that is to open a topic location but what you want to do is click on the white sheet of paper to start a new topic

Hi pathcworkkid,

I have no icons available and no cursor in my Topic Notes tab. The Journal and Study Notes tabs are fine. See pics:

I'm most concerned about the converter so I can add about a dozen reference works (.top) files to the Reference Library, but they need to now be .topx files.

Edited by MitchC, 04 August 2012 - 11:57 AM.

Here is what my converter looks like also... No CONVERT button to click on.

some Win7 settings may not allow you to write to the "...Program Files..." folder. You may need to move the .top files somewhere else, convert, and then move back into the "...Program Files..." folder.

Dave, I have copied the .top files to My Documents\eSword and other directories. No 'Convert' button no matter where I put them.