Database Memory
Big Business Server uses a Database that automatically manages its Memory.
You may want to manually adjust Database Memory if, for example:
- you have more than 10 Users
- you have more than 10 years of data
- you process more than 10,000 transactions per month
This Solution provides additional details. (6577)
Big Business Server uses a Database that automatically manages its Memory. Its setting for Calculation of Adaptive Cache optimizes available memory.
To manually adjust Database Memory:
1. Go to Edit, Database Settings
2. Go to Database, Memory
3. Uncheck "Calculation Of Adaptive Cache"
4. Enter a new Size for Cache
5. Click OK to save settings
6. Restart Big Business Server to use the new settings
Enter a Size in MB. For example 4096 MB is 4 GB. Cache is the amount of memory to use for instant access to your Data. 4096MB is a good setting for a Data File that is 2 to 8 GB in size. Cache is not the working memory for the application or operating system. 4096 MB is a safe maximum for a computer with only 8GB of RAM, leaving 4GB of RAM for Windows and Big Business Server.
When you open a tool from your Big Business Client, Big Business presents you with a QuickChoose list. To ensure that this list displays the most recent information available on the server, you can click the “Update List” button.
The “Update List” request from your client causes the server to supply your client with the most recent version of the list that exists at the time.
For example, if you want to obtain the most recent version of the Item List:
1. Click the Update List button in the list box.
2. If the list is up to date, Big Business Server sends the message “This List is up to date”:
3. If the list is not up to date, the server sends the message “Updating List”.
Tip: When you make changes from a client, the server updates immediately. Your client also immediately reflects the changes you make yourself.
See also “Updating Local Lists,” later in this document.
In Use Objects
In-Use Objects (2602)
Big Business allows multiple users to view the same object simultaneously, but only
one user at a time can actually modify the object. For example, many users can view a customer card for A Shop For Gifts And Things at the same time, but only one user can actually edit the card. Once that user closes A Shop For Gifts And Things’s customer card, another user can begin making modifications immediately. Objects displayed in this read- only mode can be viewed and printed by any number of users at a time. User access to objects is managed on a first-come-first-served basis.
Big Business does not display a dialog box when an object will be displayed in read-only mode. Instead the In Use indicator is displayed.
The following is a list of the objects that Big Business displays in read-only mode:
• Customer, Vendor, Item, Contact, Employee, Company Cards
• Quotes, Orders, Invoices
• Receive Money
• Purchase Orders
• Bills
• Make a Payment tool
• Bank, Category, Account Cards
• General Journal
• Transfers
• Access
Single Instance Objects
Single-Instance Objects (2604)
Big Business won’t display certain tools in read-only mode; only one instance of the tool can be open on the network at one time. This means that only one instance of that tool can be open on any one client, as well. Big Business prevents access to certain tools and operations to protect data integrity and prevent event conflicts, such as printing duplicate checks or duplicating deposits. For instance, a user cannot do a bank account reconciliation when another user has already started a reconciliation. Once the first user has completed the reconciliation, the other user may begin one.
Big Business displays the following dialog box when only one instance of the tool can be open at a time.
The following is a list of the tools that can be open in only one instance at a time.
• Prefs (except MyDesk)
• Item Adjustments
• Balance Adjustments
• Reconciliation
• Deposits
• Finance Charges
Check Run/Schedule Payments Tools
Check Run/Schedule Payments Tools (2605)
Check Run and Schedule Payments tools are single-instance if either is in use. Big Business displays a dialog box when users try to use the Check Run and Schedule Payments tools in one of these three circumstances:
• A user has the Check Run tool open and another user tries to launch the Check Run or Schedule Payments tools.
• A user has the Schedule Payments tool open and another user tries to launch the Schedule Payments or Check Run tools.
• A user has either the Check Run or Schedule Payments tools open and the same user tries to launch the other tool.
Multi User Tools
Multi-User Tools (2606)
Big Business allows some objects to be opened and modified by multiple users at the same time. However, if more than one user is logged on to the server under the same login name, these objects are available only to the first user with that login name.
Big Business displays the following dialog box when an object is not available to multiple users with the same login name.
The following is a list of the tools that are available to multiple users (but not to more than one user logged in under the same login name):
• Notes
• Dated Notes
• Filed Notes
• MyDesk Prefs
System Maintenance
System Maintenance (2607)
The Administrator cannot perform maintenance on the system when other users are signed-in. If the Administrator launches the Maintenance Prefs tool when users are signed-in, Big Business displays the dialog box below.
Before doing maintenance on Big Business, wait until all users have signed off the server.
During Maintenance
During Maintenance (5828)
Conversely, users will not be able to log on to the system when the Maintenance Prefs tool is active. Big Business displays the following dialog box when a user tries to sign in and another user is currently performing system maintenance.
Performing a Check Run
Performing a Check Run (5829)
To ensure the accuracy of all checks being printed, Big Business will not let a user perform a check run if one or more of the bills in the check run has been modified or deleted by another user. In such a case, Big Business displays the following dialog box.
Creating an Invoice
Creating an Invoice (5830)
When you open an existing sales order and another user tries to create an invoice for the open sales order, the other user will see the following dialog box.
To ensure the accuracy of all deposits, Big Business will not let a user make a deposit if one or more of the items in the deposit is being modified by another user. In such a case, Big Business displays the following dialog box.