we have site called sypensions.org.uk/development 

We host it ourselves on our own web server. The virtual web directory is called 'development'

The site has been under development on our 'live' server, but now we are almost ready to make it live and replace our old and dated site at sypensions.org.uk.

The problem is, all documents and pages are now prefixed with the name 'development', so that when we go live for real, how can we just ditch the '/development' part of it? and make it run from just sypensions.org.uk/  ?

e.g.
this would mean making our existing A-Z page:
http://www.sypensions.org.uk/development/AZ/tabid/250/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
work from this link:
http://www.sypensions.org.uk/AZ/tabid/250/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
- is this possible?

Maybe we have to run some software to change every link ?
or perhaps some kind of URL masking?
or, perhaps if all else fails, just rename development to something more suitable like /site?

version: (DNN 5.1.1   |  SQL Server 2000)

Where are the links?

If you are talking about the menu, then this should automatically update when you put the site into the 'root' instead of running it off a virtual directory.

If they are in the module content then you will have to do a search and replace. Engage has a handy tool called F3 (http://www.engagesoftware.com/Products/Modules/Engage_F3.aspx)  that can do this and it's free.  Elsewhere you would have to use SQL.

One way you can check the changes before going live is by setting up the site in the root of an IIS site using a temporary URL (e.g. newsite.sypensions.org.uk) and once you are ready you just have to add the production URL. Just remember to add the temporary URL before you make the changes otherwise you won't be able to enter it.

HTH

Antony