Run a Demo or Full Migration

Run a Demo or Full Migration

Use the walkthrough that matches the migration you are running. Each section follows the same operating lifecycle while keeping Demo and Full Migration requirements separate.

For paid activity after a migration has already run, use Migration Action Options before following the applicable configuration path.

Demo Migration Walkthrough

Prepare the Migration

• Sign in to Next-Cart and prepare access to the intended Source Store and Target Store.
• In Migrations -> Demo Migrations, click Start for an existing Demo or Start a New Demo for a separate test.

For an existing Demo: Start

For a separate test: Start a New Demo

• Identify the sample records and relationships you want to validate.
• Protect existing Target Store data before using any clearing option.
• An account can perform up to 10 Demo Migrations per day.
• The Demo can process up to 10 Products, 10 Customers, 10 Orders, and 10 Pages, while supported Taxes, Manufacturers, and Categories in the Demo scope are not governed by those four numeric sample limits.

The self-service Demo is available before purchasing a Full Migration. For a custom, complex, or project-specific hands-on evaluation, use Dashboard Home > Request a Demo for a technician-assisted Demo. Use Request a Demo rather than a Support Ticket for that technician-assisted Demo workflow. A technician-assisted request is a separate workflow and should not be described as carrying the same blanket free-until-purchase entitlement as the self-service Demo.

Demo Configuration includes Select Data, Additional Options, and Attribute Mapping. Add-ons and Custom are unavailable in Demo Migration.

Connect Stores

1. In the Connect Stores step, set up the Source Store and Target Store using the exact connection method and values requested for each selected platform.

   

2. Confirm that both store setups belong to the intended Source and Target stores. After completing any required external platform or hosting task, continue in the open Connect Stores step.

3. If you want to check access before continuing, use Test Connection. If Next-Cart reports a problem, use the pop-up notification and Not connected status to identify the affected platform.

   

4. Demo Migration is fixed to Start a new migration. The two Continue actions remain non-selectable.

5. Click Continue to Configuration to open Select Data.

   

Use Connect Your Source and Target Platforms for the exact platform-specific connection procedure.

Configuration

Select Data

1. Review the Data Types available for the active Demo path and any dependency notices.

   

2. Select the Data Types required for the Demo. Use Select All or Clear All when helpful. Reviews and Coupons are unavailable in Demo Migration.

   

3. Click Next to continue to Additional Options.

   

Use Select Data for the complete selection guidance.

Additional Options

1. Review the Additional Options displayed for the Demo.

   

2. Select only the options required for the intended result. If none are needed, leave the default settings unchanged.

   

3. Preserve Customer IDs on your Target Store, Preserve Order IDs on your Target Store, and Continue the previous migration are unavailable in Demo Migration.

4. Click Next to continue to Attribute Mapping.

   

Use Additional Options for the option reference and risk guidance.

Attribute Mapping

1. Review the mapping categories displayed for the Demo.

   

2. Keep correct pre-filled values or adjust the supported mappings when required. Select Skip only when the corresponding value should not transfer to the Target Store.

3. Click Go to Migration when the mappings are complete. Demo Migration has no Add-ons or Custom configuration stage.

   

Use Attribute Mapping for the complete mapping guidance.

Migration

1. In the Migration step, review the summary and confirm the selected Data Types. The summary does not display the detailed settings from the Configuration step.

   

2. Use Run in Browser. Run in Background is unavailable in Demo Migration.

   

3. Click Start Migration.

   

4. Monitor Progress, Success, Failed, and Skipped for each Data Type and review the Total row. Completed means processing finished; it does not by itself prove that every record imported successfully.

   

5. Use Download Migration Log when processing finishes and preserve unexplained failures or skips for investigation.

   

6. Validate the records and relationships actually produced in the Target Store. Use Review Demo Results and Validate Demo Results to classify the result.

Repeat supported Demo checks within the daily allowance when correction is needed. Validate Add-on-dependent, Custom-dependent, and broader-scope outcomes through the appropriate paid migration workflow.

Use Demo Migration before relying on Full Migration

A Demo Migration is the built-in validation checkpoint for testing a representative subset before relying on Full Migration. It does not require a paid migration first.

Use the Demo to verify the migration path, connection method, representative data structures, mapping behavior, media handling, and visible Target Store result. Demo Migration exposes a reduced scope and reduced configuration compared with paid migration work, so do not treat it as a full-volume rehearsal or proof of every paid Add-on or Custom requirement.

Area	Demo Migration	Full Migration
Purpose	Early evidence from a representative subset.	Execute the purchased migration scope for the intended broader result.
Purchase prerequisite	A paid migration is not required first.	Requires the purchased migration and its approved scope.
Configuration	Includes Select Data, Additional Options, and Attribute Mapping.	Includes the configuration stages available to the purchased path, including purchased Add-ons and approved Custom scope where applicable.
Data-type coverage	Reviews and Coupons are unavailable.	Uses the supported data types available for the purchased migration path and scope.
Add-ons and Custom	Unavailable in Demo Migration.	Available only when purchased/approved and supported for the migration.
Run mode	Run in Browser only.	Run in Browser or Run in Background when shown for the paid migration.
Evidence value	Useful for discovering connection, mapping, structure, media, and target-representation problems.	Requires broader validation and sign-off before the result is accepted for launch.

The strongest Demo is one that deliberately includes difficult Products, representative Customers and Orders where available, media, relationships, and edge cases that can expose translation problems. A clean Demo result reduces uncertainty but does not prove that untested records, paid-only configuration, Add-ons, Customization, or the final source-data window will behave identically. It is evidence for the tested sample, not a guarantee of complete Full Migration quality or a satisfaction guarantee.

When the Demo exposes a material data-model or configuration problem, resolve or formally accept that difference before Full Migration.

Full Migration Walkthrough

Prepare the Migration

• Confirm that the purchased migration is Active, covers the intended Source-to-Target path, and has sufficient remaining Entity Points capacity.
• Prepare Source and Target Store access, Target Store protection, and representative validation checks.
• Confirm who will operate the migration and who will accept the result. Delegated collaborators use their own Next-Cart accounts with Delegate Access.
• In Migrations -> My Migrations, locate the intended purchased migration and click Start.

Connect Stores

1. In the Connect Stores step, set up the Source Store and Target Store using the exact connection procedure and values required for each selected platform.

   

2. Confirm that the connection details belong to the intended stores. After completing any required external platform or hosting task, continue in the open Connect Stores step.

3. Test Connection is optional. If a connection problem is detected, use the pop-up notification and Not connected status to identify the affected platform.

   

4. For the first paid run, Start a new migration is the only selectable migration action.

5. Click Continue to Configuration to open Select Data.

   

Use Connect Your Source and Target Platforms for the exact connection procedure for the selected platform pair.

Configuration

Select Data

1. Review the Data Types available for the active migration path and any dependency notices.

   

2. Select the required Data Types. Use Select All or Clear All when helpful.

   

3. Click Next to continue to Additional Options.

   

Use Select Data for the complete selection guidance.

Additional Options

1. Review the Additional Options available for the active migration.

   

2. Select the options required for the intended result. If none are needed, leave the default settings unchanged.

3. Resolve destructive or high-risk combinations before continuing.

   

4. Click Next to continue to Attribute Mapping.

   

Use Additional Options for option effects and risk guidance.

Attribute Mapping

1. Review the mapping categories displayed for the active migration.

   

2. Keep correct pre-filled values, adjust mappings when required, and use Skip only when the corresponding value should not transfer to the Target Store.

3. Click Next when Add-ons, Custom, or both are included.

4. If neither Add-ons nor Custom is included, click Go to Migration.

   

Use Attribute Mapping for the complete mapping guidance.

Add-ons

When Add-ons is included, configure only the Add-ons provided for the active migration:

• Data Filter
• Data Transformation
• Advanced Data Mapping
• Advanced Database Mapping
• Data Update

The four processing Add-ons follow their fixed sequence; their rules run in the order shown. Data Update runs independently and uses default mappings for selected supported fields on eligible existing records.

For Data Update, enable Continue the previous migration and disable Clear data on your Target Store before the Migration in Additional Options. Follow its guide for field selection and verification.

When configuration is complete, click Next if Custom follows, or Go to Migration when Add-ons is the final Configuration screen.

Custom

1. Review the Custom requirements listed for the active migration.
2. Select the approved Custom options according to the agreement.
3. Click Go to Migration to continue to the Migration step.

Use Custom when the displayed scope needs closer review.

Migration

1. In the Migration step, review the summary and confirm the selected Data Types. The summary does not display the detailed settings from the Configuration step.

   

2. Select Run in Browser or Run in Background.

   

3. Click Start Migration.

   

4. Confirm that the migration starts, then monitor Progress, Success, Failed, and Skipped for each Data Type and review the Total row. Completed means processing finished, not that every record imported successfully.

   

5. Use Download Migration Log to preserve the final status and unexplained failures or skips.

6. Validate representative Target Store records, relationships, changed mappings, and configured enhancements. Follow Validate Full Migration Results before approving the result.

For later paid activity, use Migration Action Options before selecting the next migration action.

Resolve a blocked workflow

• Connection problem: use the notification and Not connected status to identify the affected platform, then follow Troubleshoot Connection Setup.
• Configuration issue: correct the responsible setting before starting and review dependent settings again. Do not substitute an unsupported control.
• Interrupted processing: inspect the same migration’s status and preserve the log before selecting a recovery action. Use Start and Monitor a Migration rather than assuming a new migration action is a resume command.
• Unexpected deletion or unsafe target changes: stop further activity, preserve the migration evidence, and use Support Tickets with the relevant recovery information.

Next Steps

After a Demo Migration, continue with Review Demo Results before purchasing or changing scope. After a Full Migration, continue with Validate Full Migration Results before sign-off.