Installing Specify 6 does not update a Specify 5 installation. When you run the Specify Setup Wizard a new, emptly database will be created for Specify 6; any existing Specify 5 databases will remain untouched. Because we made numerous changes to the Specify 6 data model, Specify 5 databases need to be converted by Specify Software Project staff. We are currently developing a queue and scheduling process for conversions of Specify 5 sites to Specify 6. We will also assist with the customization of data entry forms for Specify 6 (there is no forms editor), and with the development of label and report templates for printed outputs.

If you have very little data you may consider exporting your data from Specify 5 into an Excel spreadsheet and bringing it into Specify 6 through the Specify WorkBench Upload tool.