Robb, my personal recommendation is that you should upgrade but the process will not be without issues.

To upgrade you will need an iwzip file (step 5, export project without preview or backups), but this iwzip cannot be directly read into the latest version (someone here will need to assist upgrading it to an interim version).

Your existing header and menus can be replicated but they are handled far differently in the latest versions and there are many more options. It is likely some of the techniques used in v9 are no longer acceptable in todays web browsers so some features may need to be recreated. Most importantly the upgrade will enable responsive design allowing you to optimise the site for mobile and tablet view and with this comes a whole new set of features to learn including improved SEO.

On the upside, WX5 v9 and WX5 v2019 can happily co-exist so the existing site can be managed and maintained whilst the upgraded site is in re-development.

Hello.You may also find this information useful.

Hi Robb, 

thank you for getting in touch. 

Unfortunately, a direct import of your project from version 9 into the new 2019.3 would not be possible. Though we can of course convert the project file for you, it is very likely that some parts may get lost during the process, so that you would have to go back and work at your project so to adapt it to the WebSite X5 2019.3. 

I personally suggest you to consider recreating your website instead: the new version includes more than 100 templates which are basically models of full websites which you just need to customize with your own contents. The final result, in this way, would surely look better and more professional, because instead of trying to adapt an old website to new structures, you would be working with a project which is already conceived for the new version. 

Please let me know if I can be of further help. Kind regards.