Chapter 419 Big Business 14
Big Business 14 uses a new Database and is a Universal application that runs natively on Macs with Apple or Intel chips and runs natively on Intel processors for Windows.
Because of the massive number of optimizations enabled, pre-release versions began testing almost a year before ceritfication of its Database and final release in April 2023.
This Chapter includes the most important changes that are specific to Big Business 14. General changes to Big Business are covered elsewhere.
Big Business 14
Big Business 14 was released on April 19, 2023. This took a bit longer than expected.
Mac-only releases were available starting October 19, 2022 with the first Windows release January 1, 2023. Modern modularity allowed careful conversion of internals.
Big Business 14 includes hundreds of options, allowing you to choose only those that impact your work and extend your ability to offer your unique products and services. All options are complete and many custom options are being converted to mainstays.
Big Business 14 Icon
Big Business 14 gets a new icon more in keeping with new standards. This is literally for appearances' sake, so it looks nice on a macOS Dock and a Windows 11 Desktop.
At heart, Big Business is still a rebel, not purely Windows or Mac, instead being all-in-one and native for either, easily connecting Windows shipping to Server for Mac, or running Windows Server in-house or in the cloud to efficiently connect any and all.
The new shared icon is one way Big Business delivers seamless sameness.
Built-In Database
Big Business includes built-in Database software, which means:
• no additional purchase
• no additional installation
• no additional setup or configuration
You simply install Big Business and start it.
For one user only, there is one piece of software.
For multiple users, there are two pieces of software:
• Server goes on one computer and manages your Data File
• Client goes on all computers you want to connect
For most Updates you only need to update your Server software.
The following Updates change the Database, so you might update Clients, too:
• Big Business 14.142 includes an update for latest fixes
• Big Business 14.61 includes an update for macOS Sonoma
• Big Business 14.34 includes an update for latest fixes
• Big Business 14.19 includes an update for macOS Ventura
• Big Business 14.12 includes an update for latest fixes
Updating Clients is not required but is recommended for the latest security and compatibility
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• no additional purchase
• no additional installation
• no additional setup or configuration
You simply install Big Business and start it.
Put Big Business Server on one computer and Big Business Client on others. Start Server and follow the prompts to open a Data File. Start Client and select Server on the Connect dialog.
There is no additional setup to run Big Business. It does not require any additional installation. It does not require any additional configuration--changes are handled in the user interface. It uses standard networking and includes Unlimited Setup Support.
There are additional options that do require additional purchase, installation and/or setup.
Big Business includes Quick Support, built-in live help, which you can turn on to have these setups done for you.
Apple Silicon
Apple is making new Macs with its own processors, referring to the new chips as Apple Silicon.
Big Business 14 runs natively for Apple Silicon.
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Digital Strategy
Big Business delivers your digital strategy by keeping your accounting automated while bringing your web stores, warehouses, and more, into your growing system.
By automating tasks like reordering, or updating inventory, costs, and pricing, Big Business saves you time and money with each step toward realizing your digital aims.
And by adding newer, better hardware, while keeping your experienced hardware productive, you maximize your return on investment in both old and new computers.
Dark Mode
Big Business 14 is system adaptive and has native support for Dark Mode on macOS.
Making this useable has required numerous changes that alter original coloring schemes. Most windows in Big Business have been updated for automatic colors set by system.
There will be ongoing changes, such as making non-enterable gray areas turn gray again. Hopefully, this will make the transition to support Dark Mode on Windows seamless.
Planned Builds (New)
Planned Builds let you build items from components in steps, Planned and Completed.
Saving new Builds as Planned lets Big Business show what you need to buy for builds.
Planned Builds are new in Big Business 14 and part of Free MRP or Full MRP option. Free MRP works in all Editions setting Allocations of Items to show you planned use.
Full MRP works in Open and Built Editions to show you Released Orders and Builds.
Shopify Setup (New)
Big Business 14 adds new Shopify Connect options to suppport Shopify Versioning, Access Tokens, and Editions starting with their new Summer '23 Edition.
Cloud Server (Update)
Big Business 14 updates Cloud Server, available with Open Edition, to include Setup, new Security, and Support for Windows Server 2022, which is the best used for AWS.
Forms Tool
Big Business 14 updates the Form Tool used for creating and editing custom forms.
Tab Order
Use the Tab key to move to the next field for data entry. Use Shift-Tab to move back.
Big Business 14 updates the Tab Order on many screens to help save you time typing.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts you can run the whole program from the keyboard, always. This includes options such as the iPad button or Units column, chosen for your setup.
Dynamic Windows
Big Business 14 will fix Dynamic Windows with misalignments and incorrect colors.
These do not affect workability and may not be fixed until 2023 when there is a Database update.
Lock Backgrounds
Lock Backgrounds were gray backgrounding for Fields to show they are non-enterable.
Big Business 14 replaces these with automatic settings that support system settings.
Pictured, Ship To shows as gray on white, which inverts automatically in Dark Mode.
Sheet Window
Big Business 14 removes Sheet Window which is a Mac-only feature that is unreliable.
Sheet Window was used only with Auto Zoom to display Dialogs within the window.
Sheet Window had problems with resizing and could get stuck performing Copy/Paste.
macOS Monterey
Big Business 14 supports macOS Monterey as the minimum system for regular use.
Big Business 14 can run on macOS Big Sur, temporarily, to help with your Upgrade. You can put in Big Business 14, then work on replacing computers below Monterey.
Google, Monterey Install, to find it in the App Store to see if it installs on computers. You do not need to put Ventura or Sonoma on older computers for Big Business 14.