If you use the RC 3, then yes, that should work with SMF 1.1.7, but you can only go to 1.2, and then upgrade to 1.4. If you were to use the SVN, you could go straight to 1.4, although that's technically still only for testing, so I personally would say use the RC3 and then upgrade to 1.4 after.
I 'assume' it will convert the live database. However, if you make a complete backup of it first, you can revert to that and try again should anything go wrong.
Also, I'll move this across to the merge forum
I 'assume' it will convert the live database. However, if you make a complete backup of it first, you can revert to that and try again should anything go wrong.
Also, I'll move this across to the merge forum