Method Community

So trying to figure out the best way to configure method with our Quickbooks setup.

We have a server running windows server 2008 that hosts our main company file, then have 6 computers with quickbooks installed that access that company file on the server in multi user mode. We dont want other users have administrator privaledges. From my understanding the integration engine needs qbs to have admin rights to be able to sync?

So currently we have method on the windows server doing changes sync then a full sync every evening. We run Quickbooks in admin mode on the server as well to make sure everything is getting synced.

We have noticed Qbs has slowed down considerably since we did this, and also people are unable to access certain screens in qbs, they are locked I believe. I will have them do screen grabs when they get the locked message and put them up here. But I am told it was the following ..."I was unable to modify a vendor, because "someone else was modifying the List" no one was."

Am I doing something wrong?

thanks

Hi Ben,

Your setup is not outside of the norm. One thing you need to keep in mind is that Method requests your data from QuickBooks (via the QB SDK) during a sync, so the larger the QB file, the more data it needs to handle. This may be part of the reason you're seeing a decrease in speed. Keep an eye on the amount of resources (CPU % and RAM) being used during the sync, as well as any other running processes/tasks. If the computer resources aren't spiking or at a very high usage rate then the fact is that QuickBooks is taking time to provide the requested data, which we may be able to alleviate. One more thing to consider would be your network speed, if there's a bottleneck somewhere then that may potentially be the cause of the issue.

In regard to users not being able to access certain screens in QuickBooks, I've never seen this unless it had something to do with a record being edited somewhere else. So if Method is syncing a change over to a particular record and one of your users is accessing that same record in QuickBooks they may receive a message along those lines. It would be very helpful to have a screenshot of the message you're referring to so please email it to me when you have it. Below are some questions which will help if we had the answers to:

1. Does this happen only during the syncing process or even when Method is not connected?
2. Are you absolutely sure there aren't two users accessing the same record in QB when this message appears?
3. Do those users have adequate access to view those records?
4. Can they access other records?

I'm heading to the office tomorrow to see if I can figure out whats going on. thanks for info I'll check against all you mentioned.

Method_Ashur:

Hi Ben,

Your setup is not outside of the norm. One thing you need to keep in mind is that Method requests your data from QuickBooks (via the QB SDK) during a sync, so the larger the QB file, the more data it needs to handle. This may be part of the reason you're seeing a decrease in speed. Keep an eye on the amount of resources (CPU % and RAM) being used during the sync, as well as any other running processes/tasks. If the computer resources aren't spiking or at a very high usage rate then the fact is that QuickBooks is taking time to provide the requested data, which we may be able to alleviate. One more thing to consider would be your network speed, if there's a bottleneck somewhere then that may potentially be the cause of the issue.

In regard to users not being able to access certain screens in QuickBooks, I've never seen this unless it had something to do with a record being edited somewhere else. So if Method is syncing a change over to a particular record and one of your users is accessing that same record in QuickBooks they may receive a message along those lines. It would be very helpful to have a screenshot of the message you're referring to so please email it to me when you have it. Below are some questions which will help if we had the answers to:

1. Does this happen only during the syncing process or even when Method is not connected?
2. Are you absolutely sure there aren't two users accessing the same record in QB when this message appears?
3. Do those users have adequate access to view those records?
4. Can they access other records?

- Ashur

Answers to your questions:

1. It happens during syncing process. However, even if I stop Method from syncing it has not released the tables nor has QuickBooks regained normal functionality (it still runs very slow & the spinning windows wheel).

2. Absolutely sure there are not 2 users accessing the file.

3. Yes the users have access. I am the accountant and have full access and it would not allow me to edit or create a new vendor, employee, or customer.

4. You can view but not edit or create any other records. It does not seem to effect creating invoices or other types of trannsactions but the actual profiles seemed to be locked.

basically we cannot run method engine when people are using qbs. also whenever we do full sync at night both method and qbs have crashed in the morning. not good obvioualy. what can we do? i also emailrd you a picture of mesaage accountants get when methid is syncing

Not sure exactly why this message is coming up as I've never seen nor heard of it before. I did some searching online and found that a possible cause may be corrupt data in your QuickBooks file. Here are a few of the links I found:

http://community.intuit.com/posts/multiple-users-name-list-messages
http://community.intuit.com/posts/can-you-disable-list-data-has-changed-warning
http://community.intuit.com/posts/list-data-has-changed
http://community.intuit.com/posts/list-data-has-changed-2
http://www.softwareshelf.ca/022-Quickbooks-Other.File.Repair.asp

The first one mentions this happens when one user is in AR and another in AP. Not sure if this is what you're experiencing as well but it's worth looking into.

1) That's very strange as Method is no longer requesting data so therefor should not be "locking" these records. I received the screenshot from Ben and if infact the records are being locked as you described, then that message is very misleading. It's just a notification adivising that a change has been made and to see if the screen you're working on has changed.

2) From my research it doesn't seem to be specific to users accessing the same record, the message can display if completely different records are being accessed.

3) Are the you using an Accountant's Copy? Users should see (Accountant's Changes Pending) next to the company file name on the QuickBooks application header, click here to see what I'm talking about. If so then I'm wondering if this has anything to do with it. I created an Accountants Copy, then switched back to Multi-User mode and received this message. I wouldn't think it would restrict adding/editing Customer records but if this is the case then you can try selecting the option to remove this restriction. You'll need to click File > Accountant's Copy > Remove Restrictions... Take heed of the warning as it will make for a lot of manual work on your part, as the changes to the Accountant's Copy will not update the main company file users are accessing. I personally wouldn't suggest this option unless you have no other choice, but prior to making a decision, I recommend you speak with a QuickBooks ProAdvisor/Method Solution Provider as they may know of a better solution.

4) By profiles I'm assuming you mean Customer records correct? Not sure why only these types of records are being "locked". It really doesn't make sense especially when Method is not connected and syncing. Does the file return to normal after you close and re-open QB?

Additionally, did Ben happen to check out the main syncing computers resources being used? It would be helpful to know what his findings are. Especially when Method is running vs when only QB is running.

- Ashur

Ben,

Please enable the MethodSupport user and let me know when you, or someone else at the office, can start a screen sharing session on the main syncing computer/server. Go to Customize > Users > scroll down to the bottom of the screen and ensure there's a checkmark in the Active box for the MethodSupport user. If you're not available today within an hour or so then we can schedule something tomorrow.

- Ashur

will have to be tomorrow accounting is busy today. can we do 12.30 eastern tomorrow? ill turn on the  method login though. by the way your forums dont work on iphones. am at sea world today having to login to home computer to be able to post this. ;)

ok you should have access in case you need to check anything before tomorrow

Thank you, I'll reach out to you tomorrow at 12:30pm.

- Ashur