QuickBooks Frequently Asked Questions

In the Pay Bills window, discounts are showing negative amounts from previous bill payment cheques.
When I try to reprint a bill payment cheque, I get an error message then QuickBooks shuts down.
In the Unpaid Bills Detail report, discounts are showing as negative amounts.

How do I fix this issue?

What happens to report templates I've created and saved in my current version?

How does Remote Access work?

I worry about unauthorized people getting into my files. Is Remote Access secure?

Can the Business Plan feature tell me if I qualify for a loan?

How do I Enter Bills in QuickBooks?

Peachtree Capabilities:
I have a contracting business. Can I use QuickBooks to track my projects?

Should I use QuickBooks for my payroll?

Should I use QuickBooks to track inventory?

Can QuickBooks help me with payroll?

Is QuickBooks 2003 compatible with Microsoft� Windows� 95?

After updating my data file to QuickBooks 2003, the GST Business Registration Number and/or the GST and Subtotals are no longer printing on my invoices or other sales forms.

Does QuickBooks run on a network?

What can I import or export in QuickBooks?

Can QuickBooks handle my manufacturing inventory?

Can I export/import QuickBooks data?

How do I get help with using QuickBooks?

Can Statements be formatted into columns for departments?

What method does QuickBooks support?

Error Messages:
Error message appears when I try to print, use printer setup, or change printers.

I get an error message when I try to install QuickBooks. How can I install it correctly?

I get an error message about a "call to undefined dynalink" while installing QuickBooks 5.0

Enter the bill
Pay the bill
Print the check.

Return to Top

How do I set up new users?

After opening QuickBooks, click on the Company tab of the QuickBooks navigator.
Then click on Setup Users and Passwords or the image of the two people and a key.
Before you can make a new account you first must either make or already have a QuickBooks administrator.
After either clicking the button or making an administrator you then come to the user list which shows a list of current accounts. From their, you click the add user button.
Then you will be able to enter the user name and an optional password for the new user. Then click next.
Then you will be asked if you want your new account to have full access or to customize his access.
You can limit your new account's access to the following items:
- Sales and accounts receivable
- Purchases and accounts payable
- Checking and credit cards
- Inventory
- Time Tracking
- Payroll
- Sensitive accounting activities
- Sensitive financial reporting
- Changing or deleting transactions
From that window you can grant full access to that area have no access or specify certain abilities.
At any time you can end the process by clicking the finish button.

Return to Top

How do I Enter Bills in QuickBooks?

To enter bills in QuickBooks, follow these steps:

Bring up QuickBooks and load your company information.
First you need to click the Enter bills button under the purchases and vendors tab.
From the new screen you need to choose a vendor either by selecting one from the dropdown menu or by typing one in manually.
Depending on what you choose from the drop down list you may automatically get a value in the amount due part of the check otherwise you will need to put this in manually.
The Memo, terms, and reference number fields are optional and can be used, as you require.
QuickBooks requires that you use either the Expense tab or Items tab to specify what the bill is for, this allows QuickBooks to put the bill in the proper accounts.
In the expense tab you can either type in an expense account or select one from a drop down menu.
You also then can type in the value for the Amount column.
The Memo and Customer: job columns are optional and can be used as required.
On the items tab you are required to enter data into the item, Qty, and cost columns others maybe used as required.
In the items column you can either type in the item you are paying for or select one from the drop down menu.
In the Qty column you enter the number of items you are paying for and in the cost column enter the price of each individual item.
Then when finished press ok and QuickBooks will put the data in the correct accounts for you.

Return to Top

We regularly use credit cards to pay for operating expenses and inventory items. What is the best way to handle these transactions?

It depends on the degree of control you wish to place over credit card purchases.

Return to Top

My staff person does OK with paying bills and getting out customer invoices but journal entries are a problem.

Use "Memorized Transactions" - this is a great timesaver but one that is not well documented. You simply bring up the memorized journal entry, change the date and amounts, post it and you're done. It can also be configured to remind you when it's time to do the entry. A non-accountant can be taught how to do this with a one-page user guide

Return to Top

What are "Classes" and should I be using them?

Classes are one of QuickBooks most powerful features and one that is often under-utilized. Classes offer a straight forward means of segregating your business activities by Profit Center or Department. Thus, operating statements can be generated for individual segments of your business.

Return to Top

My QuickBooks date format is US date format. How can I change it to dd/mm/yy?

Make sure you have the right International settings for Windows. This needs to be set to English Singapore. Also check the Register Options within Quicken to make sure you have the correct date format set.

Return to Top

How can I track different areas of my company separately by department or location?

You can track the income and expenses of different departments or locations within your company separately by using classes. You can use classes to track the following:

Individual department's payroll, overtime, income and expenses, etc. as well as the total for all departments.
Totals for separate locations as well as the cumulative total for all locations.
Different properties you own.
Any other meaningful breakdown of the business you do.
An example: You own more than one fitness centre and want to track the income and expenses for each of the centres separately, plus you want to know the total income and expenses for the entire business. You set up a separate class for each fitness centre. Each month, you run a separate report for each fitness centre, and then run a report that shows totals for all your centres. Note: You can track classes for income/expense accounts (such as sales, advertising, phone, etc.), but you cannot track classes for most balance sheet accounts (such as cheque, accounts receivable, etc.).

To turn class tracking on

From the File menu, choose Preferences. (In versions prior to 8.0, just choose Preferences from the menu bar, select Transactions and skip step 2.)
Select Accounting in the scroll box.
Select the "Use class tracking" checkbox.
Click OK.

To create a list of classes:

From the Lists menu, choose Classes (Classes may also be in the Other List menu).
In the Class List window, choose New from the Class menu button.
Enter the class name in the Class Name field.
(Optional) If this is a subclass of another class, select the "Subclass of" checkbox and choose the higher-level, or parent, class from the drop-down list.
Click Next to enter another new class, or click OK to close the window.

For more information on working with classes, refer to the QuickBooks User's Guide.

To add a Class column to a form:
When you add a Class column to your form, you can assign classes to individual line items on the form. (for version 8.0 only).

Open the form you want to modify.
From the open form, choose Customize from the Template drop-down list.
Select a template from the list.
Click Edit to edit the template or click New to create a new template.
Enter a name for the template.
On the Columns tab, select the Class column.
Make any other necessary changes, then click OK.

Return to Top

How do I edit the opening balance for an income or expense account?

The balances for income and expense accounts come from transactions you enter, such as cheques, bills, or invoices. To edit the opening balance of these accounts, edit the transactions that created them.

From Lists Menu, choose Chart of Accounts.
Select the income or expense account you want to edit.
Click the Reports menu button (versions earlier than 8.0 skip this step)
Click QuickReport.
Change the date on the report to your start date. If you are unsure of the start date, choose All for Dates and then search the report for the correct transaction, typically among your first transactions.
QuickZoom on the transaction (move the mouse pointer over the transaction until a magnifying glass appears and double click).
Make the needed changes. If the change to be made affects a journal entry, remember that a General Journal Entry transaction requires that total debits equal total credits.
Click OK.

Return to Top

Why is my FWH and SWH calculation incorrect?

Tax calculations in QuickBooks are different from wage-bracket tax tables.

You may notice small differences between QuickBooks calculations and printed wage bracket tax tables. QuickBooks uses the more accurate percentage method and annualized tables (rather than weekly, biweekly, or monthly) to calculate its figures. The discrepancies may be up to $0.50 for any single state or local tax and up to $1.00 for federal tax. The difference can even be a few dollars if the paycheck is monthly.

Don't worry about these small discrepancies. They are due to the difference in calculation methods. Both methods are correct and acceptable. For larger discrepancies, check the common causes listed below.

QuickBooks rounds to the nearest whole dollar for FWH.

Payroll Tax Tables are incorrect for your state or for the year.

QuickBooks uses a tax table file for each state. This file also contains the latest federal tax information. If the incorrect tax table is used, it will calculate taxes for the period it was designed for and may be different from the results given by the latest tables, depending on changes in the tax laws. To verify your tax table:

Start QuickBooks.
From the Help menu, choose About Tax Table.
Note the tax table version and call the toll-free 800 number listed to verify that you have the most current tax table for your state.

The pay period is incorrect.

Although QuickBooks has the ability to prepare payroll at any time, it needs to calculate the taxes based on a specific pay period. This period should be defined on each employee's record. Using the incorrect pay period can cause differences in the taxes withheld.

To check the pay period:

From the Lists menu, choose Employees.
Select the employee�s name, then click the Employee menu button at the bottom of the window.
Select Edit.
Click the Payroll Info tab.
Choose the correct pay period.

"Biweekly" and "Semimonthly" are often confused with each other and this affects how the taxes are calculated. An employee who is paid biweekly receives a check every other week for a total of 26 paychecks per year. An employee who is paid semimonthly receives a check twice a month for a total of 24 paychecks per year.

Individual additions and deductions to payroll are set up incorrectly.

Check that your employees' additions and deductions are set up correctly. A common error when setting up these items is choosing incorrectly between Net Pay or Gross Pay.

Net Pay: Select Net Pay when the addition or deduction should be calculated after taxes are taken out.
Gross Pay: Select Gross Pay when the addition or deduction should be calculated before taxes are taken out.

No FWH or SWH is taken out of an employee's paycheck.

Employees must be paid a certain minimum amount for FWH or SWH to be taken out of their paychecks. The calculation is based on an employee's estimated annual gross wage. If you have verified that all the above items in this document have been set up properly, the employee may not be earning enough wages for FWH or SWH to be withheld.

More information on payroll items can be found in your QuickBooks User's Guide. See "Payroll items: additions, deductions" in the index.

Return to Top

Can I upgrade to QuickBooks Version 8 for Windows from QuickBooks for Dos Version 1.X?

You may upgrade to QuickBooks version 8 for Windows, however you will need to install QuickBooks version 2 for Dos before you do so. QuickBooks version 2 disks are available from Quicken Singapore.

Return to Top

How do I enter or change the opening balances for my customers?

An opening balance is automatically created when you enter the first transaction for a customer.

To change the opening balance for a customer in the customer register:

From the QuickBooks Navigator, click the Customers icon on the Sales and Customers tab.
Select the Customer:Job.
Choose Use Register from the Activities menu button.
Locate the transaction used to create the opening balance for this Customer:Job. This transaction is usually at the top of the register.
Select the transaction and click Edit. On the invoice QuickBooks creates, change the amount in the amount field.
Click OK.

To change the opening balance for a customer in the A/R register:

From the QuickBooks Navigator, click the Chart of Accounts icon on the Company tab.
Select Accounts Receivable.
Choose Use Register from the Activities menu button.
Locate the transaction used to create the opening balance.
Locate the transaction used to create the opening balance.
Click OK.

Return to Top

When I try to select Utilities from the File menu in QuickBooks, it is not highlighted. Why?

All windows need to be closed with in QuickBooks first. Click on Window, Close All.

Return to Top

Can I change the name of the Undeposited Funds account?

Yes. You can change the account name to something that suits you better. The new name will appear in your account register. To change the name of the account:

From the Lists menu, choose Chart of Accounts.
Select the Undeposited Funds account in the Chart of Accounts and choose Edit from the account menu button.
Enter a new name for this account. Some suggestions for new names: Sales income holding account, Payments received, Funds from A/R, or Payments to be Deposited.
Click OK

Return to Top

I worry about unauthorized people getting into my files. Is Remote Access secure?

Remote Access sessions protect your data transmissions with the same security technology used by banks and online trading firms for their online transactions. Data is encoded using state-of-the encryption and transmitted over the secure socket layer (SSL) to prevent interception. Only you and those you authorize can initiate Remote Access sessions using your private password, and you can change your password at any time. So you're always in control of who has access to your data.

Return to Top

It says I need the correct version to convert from DOS QuickBooks. What do I do?

For users of DOS QuickBooks version 1.0, contact Intuit Direct Sales at 1-800-446-8848 for your free convert software. Use this software to convert your data to version 2.0 for DOS. Important: After installing this software, you must open your company file in the updated version (2.0). Only then will your data be ready to convert to QuickBooks for Windows.

Users of version 2.0 or 2.1 for DOS can convert to QuickBooks for Windows using the following procedure:

To convert your DOS QuickBooks data into a QuickBooks for Windows company:

Be sure that QuickBooks for DOS is not running.
Double-click the QuickBooks for Windows icon to run the program. If you are starting QuickBooks for the first time, QuickBooks displays the welcome window. Select the "Convert a QuickBooks for DOS data file" option. Skip step #3.
From the File menu in QuickBooks for Windows, choose Convert From, then choose QuickBooks DOS.
In the Directories field, change to the directory with your DOS QuickBooks data file.
Select the DOS QuickBooks data file you want to convert and click OK.
(Optional) Choose another directory for your new data file.
(For QuickPay users) Answer Yes to convert your QuickPay data if you plan on using QuickBooks for your payroll
Click OK.

QuickBooks for Windows displays messages that it is converting your DOS QuickBooks data. If you have a large data file, this process may take several hours. When a message shows the conversion is 100% successful, you've created a QuickBooks for Windows file with your DOS QuickBooks data. You're ready to enter transactions in your new QuickBooks for Windows company. See related documents below for more detailed information.

Return to Top

Can the Business Plan feature tell me if I qualify for a loan?

No. QuickBooks helps you create a business plan by generating a Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss Statement and Statements of Cash Flow using actual data from your QuickBooks files. It also provides a step-by-step interview that guides you through other questions you need to answer, and it provides sample text to help you understand what's expected for each section. You can modify any of the information manually. QuickBooks saves your plan in a separate file. You can print it from QuickBooks or export it to Microsoft Word�. Then you can use your Business Plan to shop for a loan or other financing. QuickBooks does not manage that process and can't tell you if you qualify.

Return to Top

How does Remote Access work?

Before you use Remote Access for the first time, you need to set up a user ID and password from the computer on which QuickBooks is installed. Click a button in QuickBooks and you will be connected to the Remote Access Web site for this purpose. Then, any time you want to access your data remotely, use the Web browser on your remote PC to go to the QuickBooks Remote Access Web site. Enter your password, and in just seconds, your QuickBooks data is in front of you. That's all there is to it! You don't need a second copy of QuickBooks. Yet, you can do anything you could do if you had QuickBooks and your files on your remote desktop-update information, run reports, print on local printers. The computer housing your QuickBooks software and data files must be turned on and connected to the Internet in order for you to access your information, so you'll need a "persistent" (uninterrupted) connection. But you do not need to have the QuickBooks software or your data files open on your office computer to use Remote Acess.

Return to Top

What happens to report templates I've created and saved in my current version?

QuickBooks automatically converts them for the new version, along with your data.

Return to Top

I get one of the following:

In the Pay Bills window, discounts are showing negative amounts from previous bill payment cheques.

When I try to reprint a bill payment cheque, I get an error message then QuickBooks shuts down.

In the Unpaid Bills Detail report, discounts are showing as negative amounts.

How do I fix this issue?

To address this issue, follow these steps below:

You need to update QuickBooks to the latest release. To update QuickBooks, click here.
After applying the update, open QuickBooks. To verify that you have the latest release, press the F2 key on your keyboard to display the Product Information window. On the Product (top) line, it should read QuickBooks.....2003 Release R3. Click OK.
From the File menu, select Utilities, then Verify Data.
If the Verify completes with the message QuickBooks detected no problems with your data, your data is clean.
If the Verify completes with the message QuickBooks has detected there is a problem with your data..., then there is damage in the file, and QuickBooks will display a message with instructions for running the Rebuild utility to attempt to repair the damage. You will be prompted to make a backup as part of the Rebuild process. Make sure that you do not overwrite your existing backup. The Rebuild utility will run as soon as the backup completes, and it should only be run once. When the Rebuild process has finished, close your company file and then reopen it in order to refresh the lists in your data file.
Run the Verify again to ensure that there are no problems with the data file.
From the Reports menu, select Vendors & Payables, then Unpaid Bills Detail. Change the Dates field to All.
Locate one of the Vendors for which you paid and taken a discount on in QuickBooks 2003. You will see that the bill is listed as a negative amount along with a negative discount.
Double-click on the bill - the bill window will appear. Click on Recalculate, then click on "Save & Close" (say Yes to save changes). Repeat this process for all bills that were paid on the bill-pmt cheque(s). (You may need to change the bill date by 1 day to get it to recalculate)
For the same Vendor, double-click on the negative discount amount - this will take you to the Bill-Pmt Cheque window. In the detail section, highlight each bill that was paid and then click on the Discount button. Click OK to reapply the discount. Repeat this process for each bill on the Bill-Pmt cheque. Then click Save & Close.
The negative amounts for both the Bills and the Discounts will now disappear off of the Unpaid Bills Detail Report and will also be cleared from the Pay Bills Window.

Return to Top

After installing and registering QuickBooks 2003, I am still asked for the registration number every time I launch the program.

If you install QuickBooks 2003 on Windows� 2000, NT or XP operating systems, you must be logged into your Windows system as Administrator, in order to register the Software. Please log off and log into Windows� as Administrator then launch QuickBooks and register using the Phone Registration option

Return to Top

Why doesn't QuickBooks show all the invoices for a customer and their jobs when I choose the customer in the Receive Payments window?

The latest release of QuickBooks (Release 3 or higher) will resolve this issue. Intuit strongly suggests that you have Auto Update turned on:

Open QuickBooks and your company file (or the sample file)
From the File menu, select Update QuickBooks
Click on the Options button
Click ON Automatic Update
Click Save to save the changes
Close the Update QuickBooks window

You can also manually update QuickBooks by following these steps:

Open your QuickBooks company file
From the File menu, select Update QuickBooks
Click on the Update button
Click on the Get Updates button
After the update is downloaded, exit from QuickBooks.
Open QuickBooks. You will be prompted to install the update. Click Yes to install the update.

Return to Top

How do I Create a report similar to the GST/PST Summary report from previous versions of QuickBooks?

To create this report, follow these steps:

From the Reports menu, select Vendors & Payables, then GST Liability.
Click the Modify Reports button, type in the range of dates for which you wish to run the report (e.g. December 1st to December 31st, 2002)
Click on the Filters tab
In the Choose Filter selection box, select Paid Through.
Enter the same range of dates for which you wish to run the report (e.g. December 1st to December 31st, 2002)
In the Choose Filter selection box, select Filed.
If you have not processed the transactions for the date range, click on "No". If the transactions have already been processed (filed), then click on "Yes".
Click OK.

Return to Top

When I print my cheques and pay cheques, they are not aligned properly. How do I fix this?

The latest release of QuickBooks (Release 3 or higher) will resolve this issue. Intuit strongly suggests that you have Auto Update turned on:

Open QuickBooks and your company file (or the sample file)
From the File menu, select Update QuickBooks
Click on the Options button
Click ON to turn on Automatic Update
Click Save to save the changes
Close the Update QuickBooks window

You can also manually update QuickBooks by following these steps:

Open your QuickBooks company file
From the File menu, select Update QuickBooks
Click on the Update button
Click on the Get Updates button
After the update is downloaded, exit from QuickBooks.
Open QuickBooks. You will be prompted to install the update. Click Yes to install the update.

Return to Top

How do I get help with using QuickBooks?

There is a �help� feature in QuickBooks which gives you detailed on-screen assistance with most problems you may encounter. You may also call us for telephone assistance toll free at 1-800-259-4213, or fill out an online support request form and we will charge your credit card for support services.

Return to Top

After updating my data file to QuickBooks 2003, the GST Business Registration Number and/or the GST and Subtotals are no longer printing on my invoices or other sales forms.

The latest release of QuickBooks (Release 3 or higher) will resolve this issue. Intuit strongly suggests that you have Auto Update turned on:

Open QuickBooks and your company file (or the sample file)
From the File menu, select Update QuickBooks
Click on the Options button
Click ON Automatic Update
Click Save to save the changes
Close the Update QuickBooks window

You can also manually update QuickBooks by following these steps:

Open your QuickBooks company file
From the File menu, select Update QuickBooks
Click on the Update button
Click on the Get Updates button
After the update is downloaded, exit from QuickBooks.
Open QuickBooks. You will be prompted to install the update. Click Yes to install the update.

Return to Top

I have a contracting business. Can I use QuickBooks to track my projects?

Yes, QuickBooks has a reasonably good project accounting capability but it would probably need to be set up by someone who has done it before. If clerical staff are assigned to entering data, they will need to be well-trained and supervised.

Return to Top

Should I use QuickBooks for my payroll?

Only if you have a staff person who thoroughly understands the numerous payroll tax issues and reporting requirements. In our experience, a payroll service bureau is usually more cost effective although the QuickBooks payroll facility is very comprehensive.

Return to Top

Should I use QuickBooks to track inventory?

No! - unless your requirements are extremely simple. If you transform your inventory by adding labor or combining purchased components into a saleable item, QuickBooks will not provide an effective solution.

Return to Top

Can QuickBooks help me with payroll?

Whether you want the control of "Do-It-Yourself" tools or prefer the time-savings of a full-service, outsourced payroll solution, Intuit Payroll Services offer a range of payroll solutions to meet your needs.3

QuickBooks Do It Yourself Payroll gives you the tools to maintain control of your payroll with the latest tax table updates, so you could reduce the risk of penalties from incorrect withholdings or filings.
QuickBooks Assisted Payroll is the comprehensive payroll solution fully integrated with QuickBooks. You maintain control of your data within QuickBooks and we handle the hassles of payroll, from tax deposits and filings to W-2 preparation.
Complete Payroll is the fully outsourced payroll solution that easily downloads into QuickBooks. You can call, fax or enter your payroll data online and we do the rest, from calculating payroll deductions and processing and filing forms and taxes, to delivering paychecks and industry-leading management reports directly to you!

Return to Top

Is QuickBooks 2003 compatible with Microsoft� Windows� 95?

QuickBooks 2003 is not compatible with Windows� 95. QuickBooks 2003 has been thoroughly tested and is compatible with Windows� 98/ME/NT 4.0 (SP6a)/2000 & XP.

Return to Top

Does QuickBooks run on a network?

QuickBooks is not specifically designed to run on a network. Although QuickBooks usually works on a network, only one user at a time can access a company file. Even if users connected by a network have individual copies of QuickBooks, only one person at a time can access a given company file.

Intuit recommends that you install QuickBooks on each local machine from which people will access the program. Keep in mind the terms of your QuickBooks license: You have the right to make a backup copy of the program for your own use, not to make unlimited copies. In a network environment, each user who uses QuickBooks must own a copy of the program.

The company file can reside on a network drive that is accessible to each user. Each user should have read and write access to the network drive or directory to be able to save new transactions in the company file. The company file should also be flagged as shareable.

Return to Top

What can I import or export in QuickBooks?

This document explains what types of data can be imported and exported in QuickBooks.

You can import:

QuickBooks company lists that you have exported from QuickBooks--chart of accounts, inventory items, customer and vendor lists, etc. This is a convenient way to copy lists from one company file to another. (QuickBooks Pro only) Job information such as job description, job type, start date, projected end date, and end date is imported with your Customer:Job list.
Estimates
Paychecks
Transactions - the data must be in a text file that conforms to QuickBooks import file format (IIF file)
(QuickBooks Pro only) Purchase information (purchase description, cost, expense account, and preferred vendor) for the following items:
Service items which have "This is performed by a subcontractor" checked.
Non-inventory parts which have "This is purchased for a specific customer:job" checked.
Other charges which have "This is a reimbursable charge" checked.
Timer data (once it has been exported from the Timer into an IIF file)

You can export:

QuickBooks company lists. (QuickBooks Pro only) Job information such as job description, job type, start date, projected end date, and end date is imported with your Customer:Job list.
(QuickBooks Pro only) Purchase information (purchase description, cost, expense account, and preferred vendor) for the following items:
Service items which have "This is performed by a subcontractor" checked
Non-inventory parts which have "This is purchased for a specific customer:job" checked
Other charges which have "This is a reimbursable charge" checked

You cannot import or export:

Transactions from an existing company data file. However, you can create a report based on transactions and print the report to a file that can be read by a spreadsheet, database, or word processor program.
(QuickBooks Pro only) Timesheets

Other capabilities and limitations of importing and exporting:

Creating an IIF file from scratch or changing data from another accounting program into an IIF file is technically complex and is not recommended for those who do not have programming experience.
Unless you have a very large customer database or more than 200 transactions, it may be less time-consuming and easier to enter the data directly into QuickBooks.

Return to Top

Can I export/import QuickBooks data?

To export/import QuickBooks data, follow these steps:

To move an entire data file from one computer to another, you can back your data file to floppy disk(s) and restore it to another computer. To do this, click on File, Backup or File, Restore.
All the information contained within any QuickBooks report can be exported to a Text (ASCII), Excel or tab delimited file. To do this, create the required report, then click Print, and choose the required destination and format.
Most information contained within a List can be exported. To do this, click on File, Export and select the required information. To import this information into another datafile, click on File, Import.

Return to Top

Can Statements be formatted into columns for departments?

Yes. The ability of setting up �Classes� for income and expenses will allow you to see activity for different departments within your company.

Return to Top

What method does QuickBooks support?

QuickBooks uses the average cost system for inventory tracking.

Return to Top

Can QuickBooks handle my manufacturing inventory?

This depends on the type of cost accounting you require in your manufacturing operation. QuickBooks Pro is suited for manufacturing businesses that use job order cost systems. Typically these are industries that fill special orders from customers, or who build-to-order. Examples of businesses that use job order costing are special-order printing presses, custom-made tailors, boat-builders, and homebuilders. In these industries, it is important to know the costs associated with each job. You can track these costs in QuickBooks Pro and view the information through various job and project reports. QuickBooks and QuickBooks Pro are not well suited for manufacturing operations that require a process cost system. Typically these are industries that turn raw materials continuously into finished goods, by going through a production process. Examples of small businesses that use process costing are bakeries, canneries, basket-weavers, toys and crafts enterprises. In these industries, it is important to know production quantities and costs at each stage in the manufacturing process, in order to arrive at a cost per unit. QuickBooks and QuickBooks Pro cannot handle work in process (WIP) inventory, and it cannot calculate your cost per unit produced.

Return to Top

Error message appears when I try to print, use printer setup, or change printers.

If you have Release 1 or Release 2 of QuickBooks 5.0 and QuickBooks Pro 5.0 and you try to print or use printer setup, the message tells you that QBW caused a GPF (general protection fault) in module QBWPR.DLL. (In Windows 95 this information is displayed when you click Details in the message window that says "This program has performed an illegal operation�")

If you have Release 3 (or later) and you try to change to a printer that has an incomplete description in your Windows configuration file (WIN.INI), the message tells you the specific line of your WIN.INI file that is causing the problem.

To correct this problem, you must edit your WIN.INI file as follows:

If you have just experienced a GPF, restart Windows.

In Windows 95, click Start and choose Run. Or, in the Program Manager of Windows 3.1, choose Run from the File menu.
Type SYSEDIT and click OK.
From the Window menu of the System Configuration Editor, choose your WIN.INI file (the path is usually C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI). Then click OK.
From the Search menu of the System Configuration Editor, choose Find, type [Devices] and click Next.
In the [Devices] section of the WIN.INI file, look for the line mentioned in the error message or for any line that ends with an equals sign (=). When you find the line, insert a semi-colon (;) at the beginning of the line so that QuickBooks will ignore the line.
From the File menu, choose Save. Then choose Exit

Return to Top

I get an error message about a "call to undefined dynalink" while installing QuickBooks 5.0

This error message may be caused by one or both of the following:

Other programs running in the background, while installing QuickBooks.
Duplicate versions of certain DLL files (Dynamic Link Library) outside of the system directory in Windows 3.1.

Solution No. 1

Restart Windows.
Press CTRL-ESC to display the task list.
End all open applications except for Program Manager.
Install QuickBooks.
If install fails, move programs temporarily out of the StartUp program group.
Repeat steps 1 to 4.
Once QuickBooks installs successfully, restore StartUp programs.

Solution No. 2
Check whether you have duplicates of the following files outside of your windows system directory. If you do, rename these files and reinstall QuickBooks.

ole2.dll
compobj.dll
storage.dll

Procedure:

Close the windows program.
From the dos prompt, type CD\ and press Enter.
Type dir ole2.dll /s and press Enter. The /S switch means search all subdirectories.
Note location of all files found. If the file exists only in the windows\system directory, proceed to Solution No. 2.
Repeat steps 3 to 4, using the filenames compobj.dll and storage.dll in place of ole2.dll.
From the dos prompt, move to the directory where the duplicate files are. For example, type cd\windows and press Enter.
Rename the file as follows: ren ole2.dll ole2.OLD
Note: rename the file instead of deleting it, so you can restore it after installing QuickBooks.
Repeat step 7, using the filenames compobj.dll and storage.dll in place of ole2.dll.
Restart Windows and install QuickBooks normally.

Return to Top

I get an error message when I try to install QuickBooks. How can I install it correctly?

If you receive any of the following messages while installing QuickBooks, you may have a bad disk, or a drive error that QuickBooks could not resolve:

Error reading from drive (a or b)
Decompression error on a particular disk or file
General Protection Fault (GPF) in LTDEC16.DLL

[Diskette version only] To isolate the problem, try copying the files from the disks to your hard drive, and complete the installation from there. If you receive an error while copying, and the error occurs on only one or some of the disks, then those disks may be damaged. If you purchased your disks from a vendor other than Intuit, ask your vendor to exchange your disks. Otherwise call QuickBooks Support Network at 1-888-222-QBSN for a replacement set.

To copy to and install from your hard drive:

From a DOS prompt, type CD\ and press Enter
Type MD QBTEMP and press Enter
Type CD QBTEMP and press Enter.
Insert the install disk in drive A (or drive B).
Type copy A:\*.* C:\QBTEMP\*.* and press Enter. Use B instead of A, as necessary.
You should get a message that the files were copied. Insert the next disk and repeat this procedure. Tip: Press F3 to repeat the dos command.
If all the disks copy successfully, go back to Windows.
From the Run command, type C:\QBTEMP\INSTALL
Click Ok and proceed normally with the rest of the installation.
When installation completes, you can delete the QBTEMP directory.

If you can copy the disks, but QuickBooks still won't install, please call QuickBooks Support Network for assistance.

Return to Top

Still can’t find the answer you're looking for here? Call us (Allday, C.P.A.) toll free at 1-800-259-4213. Contact the Allday Consulting Group , or you can fill out a QuickBooks help request form for assistance, from a trained QuickBooks expert. Get your QuickBooks problems solved!

[Return to previous page] [Return to top of page]