Glossaries are your most precious asset

You should never have to restart from scratch.

First, make regular backups of your glossary(ies).

When switching from Instant Text 7 to Instant Text 8 or 9 on your computer, the first time you use the new version you will be prompted to import your Instant Text 7 glossaries and settings as shown in the Migration tab of the installation page of Instant Text 8, for example.

If you install Instant Text 8 or 9 on a new computer, you can still import your personal glossary(ies) you have been using in previous versions. Save them to a Temp folder on your new computer. Then in the Instant Text 8 or 9 Glossary Viewer go to File -> Import -> Instant Text 7 Glossary and select the glossary you want to import. Instant Text will convert it into the .xglo format of the new version, and you can directly add it to your Glossary list.