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Browser Wars - Method Strikes Back

With all the new browsers that emerged over the past three weeks, we're happy to announce that today's Method update plays nice with some familiar faces (Internet Explorer and Firefox) and some not-so-familiar faces (Chrome and Safari). 

First some housekeeping

Please turn Compatibility Mode Off - If you are using IE8 (Internet Explorer 8) or IE9 you'll see a change in our recommendations on Method's login page.  Previously, we displayed a recommendation to have Compatibility Mode "on".  With this new update, we are now recommending the opposite!  If you are using IE8 or IE9, please do the following:

  1. Click ALT on your keyboard so that the Tools menu is shown.
  2. Click Tools > Compatibility View Settings.
  3. Select methodintegration.com.
  4. Click Remove.
  5. Click Close.

 

What's in this update?

  1. Chrome Compatibility
    Method QuickBooks Chrome

    Finally, full compatibility with Chrome. This is has been my browser of choice for Method while using it in the "labs" for the past two months.  It kills Internet Explorer and Firefox 3 in terms of performance, and battles with Firefox 4 for the preferred browsers now used by Method staff.  Get it here: www.google.com/chrome

  2. Safari Compatibility
    Safari QuickBooks Method

    Yes, Method now fully supports Safari.  If you are a Mac user, you already have Safari and should be jumping up and down with joy!

  3. IE9 Compatibility
    Method Internet Explorer 9 QuickBooks

    Microsoft announced some great new speed enhancements with their latest browser.  On our tests running Method, IE9 is considerably faster than IE8.  This is especially true with "Compatibility Mode" off (see housekeeping above).  Get it here: http://ie.microsoft.com

  4. Firefox 4 Compatibility
    FireFox Method QuickBooks CRM

    We also applaud Firefox 4's speed enhancements.  The new update is compatible with FF4, and, in my opinion, is well worth the free price tag, and simple download.  Get it here: http://mozilla.com/firefox

  5. Updated Method Report Designer - The updated Method Report Designer now supports HTML in labels.  Here's how you can use it.
    a) Close the Method Report Designer if it is open.
    b) Open the Method Report Designer again. It should download the update automatically. If not, you can install it by visiting: http://www.methodintegration.com/MethodReportDesigner/MethodReportDesigner.application
    c) Drag a Rich Text object onto your report.

            RichText HTML

    d) In the properties of the Rich Text object, find Data Bindings > Html > Binding.

           Rich Text Properties      
    f) Choose the field that contains HTML. This is typically an Activity.Comments field, or Solution.SolutionBody.
    g) Preview your report. You'll see that your text no longer appears with HTML tags in it, and instead shows color, bold, underlined, and all the other HTML formatting you need.

  6. Updated HTML Editor - You'll love the new HTML editor.  It is smoother, faster loading, and has a new Full Screen mode feature.  Try it!



  7. Updated Calendar - You'll also notice a smoother, faster calendar component was introduced.  Yes, we have been busy.

  8. Auto Ref Number - Due to a common request, we have added the capability for Method to do the auto-numbering for invoices, sales orders, sales receipts, purchase orders and estimates.  This means that you no longer need to have QuickBooks open when generating transactions.  To turn this on, go to QuickBooks > Synchronize, and select the Auto Ref Numbers in Method? checkbox.

    QuickBooks Invoice Numbering

  9. Default currency symbol - Under Customize > Display, you'll now be able to specify the default currency symbol that appears in Method screens. 

 

Big thanks to Method_Victor who was in charge of this project, and to the rest of the development team for all their efforts.

I highly recommend upgrading your browser.  It's free, and it takes hardly any time.  Use the comments section below to let us know what your favorite browser is when using Method.

Paul

 

Comments

 

l.brandow said:

Awesome

March 30, 2011 4:03 PM
 

John.Kipe said:

This is a real milestone in my opinion.  

Chrome is by far one of the best browsers out there.  It very fast and I've used it with Method Integration screens quite a bit before this new launch, dealing with glitches here and there.  Really looking forward to working with this latest release!  Thanks for all the hard work.

Cheers,

JK

March 30, 2011 4:19 PM
 

Selwyn van Rooyen said:

That's really great!  Looking forward to using it with everything else in Chrome.

Selwyn.

March 30, 2011 4:57 PM
 

acldemac said:

Thanks all for these important improvements to Method.

Fantastic the prospect to finally use iPad with my Field Teams; great Report Designer improvement with data binding to HTML; sexy HTML editor - can't wait to put my hands on it :-)

But for us, the best was  the auto ref number capability - freedom at last !!! and the Default Currency Symbol deserves Cheers and Applause.. this one really got to our hearts. Finally Method gets seriouslly international.

Can't wait for the next updates... or are we getting too used to get rotten spoiled by the awasome Method Team? Great job!

April 8, 2011 2:40 PM
 

pdirect said:

On that Auto Ref Number feature . . . does Method check QB first before assigning the number?  i.e. will there be conflicts between Method and QB numbers? And will there be uniformity between the two applications and their use of numbers?

May 11, 2011 3:02 PM
 

Method_Paul said:

pdirect - no check is made.  Only turn this feature on if you create transactions in either QuickBooks or Method, but you never create them in both places - otherwise you will get conflicts from time to time.

By default this is turned off so that it lets QuickBooks assign the number - which is safe for general usage.

May 11, 2011 3:34 PM

About Method_Paul

While studying at Queen's School of Business in 1999, Paul founded Alocet Incorporated, developing 'QXpress', which later became the top rated field service scheduling add-on for QuickBooks. Alocet Incorporated later went on to create Method Integration - an innovative small business management platform that allows users to create their own web apps for QuickBooks.

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