CheckMark Payroll (Win): Set Up
This Solution provides set up information for using CheckMark Payroll (available for both Macintosh and Windows, directly from Big Business Sales) with Big Business. It supplements CheckMark's documentation and provides important tips so that you can easily update your Big Business Company file each payroll period. (3424)
CheckMark Payroll is a complete payroll solution, which works well in conjunction with Big Business. Here are some of the advantages CheckMark Payroll offers:
• Creates exports tailored to Big Business for immediate and complete updating of your Checking and Employee records within Big Business
• Uses the same Deluxe preprinted checks Big Business does
• Available for both Macintosh and Windows, with cross-platform mobility
The keys to setting up CheckMark for use with Big Business are:
• Entering Employee Social Security Numbers in CheckMark's Employee Setup, exactly as they appear in on Employee Cards in Big Business
• Entering Big Business Account Codes into CheckMark's Ledger Setup
• Using the option in CheckMark Payroll to Report in Big Business format and Save As a text file.
• Setting the Payroll Liability Category (on the Employee Prefs card) and the Default Other Expense Category (on the Banking Prefs card) to the same Category in Big Business before importing your payroll.
CheckMark Payroll (Win): Ledger and Employee Setup
Setting up CheckMark Payroll's Ledger and Employee information to work with Big Business requires some initial attention to detail, to assure accounts and employee information match in both programs.
Once set up correctly, you need only process your payroll in CheckMark and export the data for import to Big Business. Remember to get CheckMark's annual updates for payroll changes, and keep backups of you data from both programs. (3451)
Follow CheckMark's documentation to setup your company payroll.
During Ledger Setup:
• Enter Big Business Account Codes. For example, the cash account listed in the picture is Big Business Bank Account, "1020 Checking," so the account code entered is, "1020."
• If your payroll setup requires accounts not currently specified in Big Business, print a Chart of Accounts from Big Business Reports for reference. Create the necessary accounts in Big Business:
-Use the Account Card on the Bookkeeper toolbar for most accounts.
-Use the Bank Card tool on the Banking toolbar to create bank accounts.
Employee Setup:
• Enter Employee Social Security numbers identically into CheckMark and Big Business!
Complete your payroll, following CheckMark's instructions.
• Calculate Payroll and Create Checks
• Print the checks, using Deluxe form # 81013 (same as Big Business).
To Export your payroll information to Big Business:
1. From CheckMark's Reports menu, select Employee Checks.
2. Click the Format radio button and from the pulldown menu select Big Business.
3. Specify the report range, or employees to report, and click Save as Text.
4. Save the export file in a secure location.
The export file from CheckMark contains complete information for updating Big Business, including payees, check amounts, and a variety of payroll-related postings.
CheckMark Payroll: Importing
This Solution provides an overview of setting up Big Business to import information from CheckMark Payroll. (3453)
Before importing your CheckMark payroll information to Big Business:
• Set the Payroll Liability Category (on the Employee Prefs card) and the Default Other Expense Category (on the Banking Prefs card) to the same Category. The selected Category should be your Payroll Liability Account.
To Import Payroll Information from CheckMark:
1. Select the Import tool on the Maintenance toolbar.
2. Open the text export file created from CheckMark.
3. Select CheckMark Payroll from the Import... list and click the OK button.
4. Review the list of Checks and the Balancing Entry.
5. Select an item and click the Posting Information button to see the posting detail.
6. When you are satisfied the import is correct, click the OK button.
The entries created can be found in:
• Employee Cards, on the History tab
• On the Account Cards for various payroll accounts
• On the Bank Card for the cash account
CheckMark Payroll (Mac): Exporting
This Solution provides an overview of exporting information from CheckMark Payroll. (3632)
Complete your payroll, following CheckMark's instructions.
• Calculate Payroll and Create Checks
• Print the checks, using Deluxe form # 81013 (same as Big Business).
To Export your payroll information to Big Business:
1. From CheckMark's Reports menu, select Employee Checks.
2. Click the Format radio button and from the pulldown menu select Big Business.
3. Specify the report range, or employees to report, and click Save as Text.
4. Save the export file in a secure location.
The export file from CheckMark contains complete information for updating Big Business, including payees, check amounts, and a variety of payroll-related postings.
CheckMark Payroll for MacOS
This Solution provides set up information for using CheckMark Payroll (available for both Macintosh and Windows, directly from Big Business Sales) with Big Business. It supplements CheckMark's documentation and provides important tips so that you can easily update your Big Business Company file each payroll period. (5552)
CheckMark Payroll is a complete payroll solution, which works well in conjunction with Big Business. Here are some of the advantages CheckMark Payroll offers:
• Creates exports tailored to Big Business for immediate and complete updating of your Checking and Employee records within Big Business
• Uses the same Deluxe preprinted checks Big Business does
• Available for both Macintosh and Windows, with cross-platform mobility
The keys to setting up CheckMark for use with Big Business are:
• Entering Employee Social Security Numbers in CheckMark's Employee Setup, exactly as they appear in on Employee Cards in Big Business
• Entering Big Business Account Codes into CheckMark's Ledger Setup
• Using the option in CheckMark Payroll to Report in Big Business format and Save As a text file.
• Setting the Payroll Liability Category (on the Employee Prefs card) and the Default Other Expense Category (on the Banking Prefs card) to the same Category in Big Business before importing your payroll.
CheckMark Payroll (Mac): Setup
Setting up CheckMark Payroll's Ledger and Employee information to work with Big Business requires some initial attention to detail, to assure accounts and employee information match in both programs.
Once set up correctly, you need only process your payroll in CheckMark and export the data for import to Big Business. Remember to get CheckMark's annual updates for payroll changes, and keep backups of you data from both programs. (5553)
Follow CheckMark's documentation to setup your company payroll.
During Ledger Setup:
• Enter Big Business Account Codes. For example, the cash account listed in the picture is Big Business Bank Account, "1020 Checking," so the account code entered is, "1020".
• If your payroll setup requires accounts not currently specified in Big Business, print a Chart of Accounts from Big Business Reports for reference. Create the necessary accounts in Big Business:
-Use the Account Card on the Bookkeeper toolbar for most accounts.
-Use the Bank Card tool on the Banking toolbar to create bank accounts.
Employee Setup:
• Enter Employee Social Security numbers identically into CheckMark and Big Business!
Built-In Backup
Big Business Server includes built-in Backup. This feature allows you to set a schedule to automatically back up your Data File without shutting down Big Business Server.
The Solution provides a brief introduction. (6031)
Big Business Server includes built-in Backup. This feature allows you to set a schedule to automatically back up your Data File without shutting down Big Business Server.
For best results:
• Set up Backup after hours
• Carefully apply the recommended settings
• Plan to leave Big Business Server running so it can back up
• Ensure all Clients disconnect before Backup runs
• Check periodically that backups are successful
Backup: Getting Started
Big Business Server includes built-in Backup. This feature allows you to set a schedule to automatically back up your Data File without shutting down Big Business Server.
The Solution provides instructions for getting started with the built-in Backup in Big Business Server. (6032)
Wait to setup Backup until there are no Connected Users using Big Business Server. Backup will write its initial backup file immediately, which it cannot do if Users are in the process of entering data.
To Set Up Backup:
1. From the File menu choose Backup
2. Click Database Settings and complete the entries for:
• Scheduler - choose a time when no one is connected
• Configuration - choose Data File, click button to choose Destination folder, check Use Log File if needed
• Backup and Restore- click Cancel After 5 Attempts, uncheck Restore and Integrate Last Log
3. Click OK to Save
4. Click OK and Backup to commence backiup
Backup: Cancelling
The error, "Waiting for all transactions and indexing to complete." indicates that Backup is trying to run, but waiting for Users who have open windows to save their work. While this error is displayed Users who open a new window are blocked from loading data and get a blank window.
The Solution provides instructions for cancelling a backup that is in progress. (6033)
If Backup is prevented from running because Users are Signed In and have open windows, an error window appears on Big Business Server, saying:
"Waiting for all transactions and indexing to complete."
While this error is displayed, Users who open a new window are blocked from loading data and get a blank window. You may want to cancel the Backup in progress without disconnecting all Users.
To Cancel the Backup in progress:
1. From the File menu choose Backup
2. On the Backup dialog click the Backup button
The button changes to Stop
3. On the Backup dialog click the Stop button
The Server Process Window will then display the red error message: "1406 Backup canceled by user," and resume normal operation.
Backup: Configuration
In the Backup Preferences for Configuration are various options for backing up your Data File, parts of the program, designated files and folders, and creating a Log File.
This Solution provides instructions for choosing the appropriate settings for the built-in Backup in Big Business Server. (6034)
In the Backup Preferences for Configuration, there are settings for choosing what to back up, where to save the backup files, and whether to create a Log File.
Use these settings:
• Click the checkbox to back up your Data File only. It is not necessary to back up other Big Business files that can be replaced by reinstalling.
• Choose a Destination Folder that is convenient, has plenty of free space, and/or is included in a system backup.
• Use a Log File if you want to be able to Rollback to to any earlier point (5 minute or 5 hours ago instead of to the last full backup). The Log File should be stored on a fast local drive.
Backup: Scheduler
In the Backup Preferences for Scheduler are various options for backing up hourly, daily, or on designated days of the week.
This Solution provides instructions for choosing the appropriate settings for the built-in Backup in Big Business Server. (6035)
In the Backup Preferences for Scheduler, there are settings for choosing when, or how often, to back up.
For Backup to run successfully, all Users must close all open windows, or preferably disconnect, to ensure there are no open transactions. In other words, Backup will not work during normal operations; it should be scheduled to run after hours.
The best setting, often, is to have it run each night at midnight (0:00:00) or shortly thereafter (2:00:00) when you don't expect Users will still be connected.
Backup: Backup & Restore
In the Backup Preferences for Backup are various options for deleting old backups, making repeated attempts, aborting, and cancelling.
This Solution provides instructions for choosing the appropriate settings for the built-in Backup in Big Business Server. (6036)
In the Backup Preferences for Backup are various options for deleting old backups, making repeated attempts, aborting, and cancelling when Backup in unable to complete.
If any Client remains connected, with an open transaction, the Backup will not commence. Your settings should allow the Backup to Cancel after a reasonable number of attempts.
Keep only the last 3 backup files, protects you from running out of disk space
Backup only if the data file has been modified, won't make redundant copies on the weekend
Delete the oldest backup file [after] backup, is safer than before
Backup: Restore
Big Business Server makes it easy to revert to a backup file when needed. Launch Server and hold the Option key (on the Mac, or the Alt key on the PC) and in the file dialog choose to show All Files and select a backup file to restore.
This Solution provides instructions for Restoring a backup using the built-in Backup in Big Business Server. (6039)
Big Business Server makes it easy to revert to a backup file when needed.
To Restore a Backup File:
1. Quit Big Business Server if running
2. Start Big Business Server and quickly hold down the Option key
3. In the Open dialog change Enable to look for All Files
4. Select a Backup File from your backup folder
Backup files' names are the name of the Data File followed by the backup number in brackets and the exension, .4BK, as in the picture. Use Find File to search for files whose Name Contains .4BK, if needed.
5. Choose a destination folder for the restored Data File
Create or choose a folder other than the folder containing your original Data File or it will be replaced.
6. Click Restore
7. Click OK on the confirmation dialog that the file was restored.
Big Business Server will automatically Quit and open the folder with the restored file.
8. Start Big Business Server and quickly hold down the Option key
9. In the Open dialog choose the restored file and click Open
10. On the Server Process Window check that the Data File entry show your restored Data File.
BizApp8: iPad App
BizApp8 includes an iPad App installed with Big Business Server 8. It connects via the Secure Web Add-On and can be adapted to a variety of uses on iPad, iPhone, iPod, Mac, or Windows.
This Solution provides a brief description. (6108)
BizApp8 for iPad includes:
• Customers
• Products
• Invoices
Depending on Server settings, tapping the + button will:
• Get Invoices sent to iPad
• Get Customers for Invoices
• Get Products assigned to iPad
• Post your changes to a Customer
• Post your changes to an Invoice
Setting up MySQL on OS X
MySQL is a popular database platform with connectivity options for many programming languages such as PHP, Perl, Python, TCL, C, Java etc. This means you can easily access this data from a variety of applications written in a variety of programming languages.
The Middleware Add-On is an option that allows Big Business to synchronize data with an external data source (MySQL) where it can be more readily accessed and copied to another system. This Solution describes installing MySQL for Mac OS X. (6168)
Here are the basic steps.
1. Download an installer .dmg from mysql.com.
2. Install mysql, its startup item, and preference pane.
3. Start mysql using the preference pane
4. Set a password (Copy and Paste the following line into Terminal):
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysqladmin -u root password "newpassword"
Then backspace and replace newpassword and closing double-quote
5. Set access (Copy and Paste each line into Terminal):
/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql -u root -p
grant all on *.* to "root"@"%";
set password for 'root'@'%' =password('newpassword');
6. Check the results and exit Terminal with:
select user, host, password from mysql.user;
exit
exit
Middleware Connection Settings
The Middleware Add-On is an option that allows Big Business to synchronize data with an external data source (MySQL) where it can be more readily accessed and copied to another system. This Solution describes its connection settings (6172).
Connection Settings for the Middleware Add-On include:
• Host - enter "localhost" or an IP Address
• User - enter a user name with adequate privileges
• Password - enter the user's password
• Database - enter the name of the database you want populated
• Port (optional) - leave blank for default (3306) or enter 8889 for MAMP
• Socket - using "localhost" which is faster may require specifiying the Socket file for different distributions such as OS X Server or MAMP.
Setting up MySQL on Windows
MySQL is a popular database platform with connectivity options for many programming languages such as PHP, Perl, Python, TCL, C, Java etc. This means you can easily access this data from a variety of applications written in a variety of programming languages.
The Middleware Add-On is an option that allow Big Business Server to synchronize data with an external data source (MySQL) where it can be more readily accessed or copied to another system. This Solution describes installing MySQL for Windows. (6179)
Here are the basic steps.
1. Download an installer from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads
- click on Community Server for the free edition
- click Download for an installer
- click No Thanks to skip user registration
2. Run the installer and select a Typical installation and keep the option to Launch the MySQL Instance Configuration Wizard
3. In the Configuration Wizard:
- select a Standard Configuration
- select Install As Windows Service
- opt to Modify Security Settings
+ assigning a new root password
+ enable root access from remote machines
Lightning Web / Mobile
Lightning is an Add-On for Big Business that provides a web interface to your data. This Solution provides an overview. (6274)
Lightning is a component for Big Business that provides a web interface to your data, providing a Web 2.0 application for remote and mobile users needing fast access.
It can be customized to allow adding, editing, or review of entries such as Customers, Quotes, and Orders, from standard a web browser (Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Internet Exporer).
On mobile devices Lightning leverages appropriate technologies, such as jQuery, to provice a rich mobile experience.
To save on download times, Lightning is not usually pre-installed with Big Business.
BizApp8: iPad Setup
Big Business lets you use an iPad:
• connect the Device to an Employee Card
• edit its Name (to show whose or which)
• put it in Print Options ("Send To Camerons-iPad")
• give it All Access (to post changes to Invoices, Customers, etc.)
This Solution describes the iPad Settings that appear on the Mobile App tab of an Employee Card when Secure Web is turned On. (6275)
Token - Enter a unique password to allow a device to connect, or click Random to have Big Business create one for you, then click OK to save. Enter the Token on the device when connecting.
Device ID - Captured when the device connects, Device ID prevents another device from using the connection. Click Delete to disconnect the current device and allow another to connect.
Device Name - Captured when the device connects, Device Name comes from iPad/iPhone Settings, General, About, Name (e.g. "Cameron's iPad") and can be edited for usability (e.g. "Warehouse iPad").
In Print Options - Include an entry like, Send To Camerons-iPad, in the Print Options by clicking In Print Options. When you save an Invoice send a copy to an iPad for delivery, capturing a signature, or last-minute changes.
All Access - Allow the iPad or iPhone to save changes to Big Business by clicking All Access. Without this setting Save operations from the device will be ignored.
BizApp Server
Big Business Web Server Settings are used to enable BizApp for iOS to connect, and:
• specify a Secure Port
• set Run At Startup
• Start or Stop
This Solution describes the Web Server Settings to connect BizApp for iOS. (6278)
Use Web Server Settings (on the System toolbar in your Big Business Client) to connect BizApp for iOS.
Secure Port - lets you set the Port number you want to use
Run At Startup - starts the Web Server automatically when Big Business Server starts.
BizApp for iOS - enable connection from iPad, iPhone, iPod
Stop the Web Server / Start the Web Server - immediately stops/starts the Web Server.
BizApp8: Received By
BizApp8 is the iPad App installed with Big Business Server 8. It connects via the Secure Web Add-On and can be adapted to a variety of uses on iPad, iPhone, iPod, Mac, or Windows.
The Received By field on the Invoice Detail can capture a Signature, or a picture using the Camera or Photos options, to be included on an emailed PDF.
This Solution provides instructions for use. (6280)
BizApp8: Send To iPad
In Print Options is a checkbox on the Secure App tab of an Employee Card that adds the Name of the device ("Warehouse-iPad") to the Print Options list. Send To it as you would a printer so a copy is available on the iPad
BizApp8 is the iPad app included with Big Business 8. It connects via Secure App Server and can be adapted to a variety of uses on iPad, iPhone, iPod, Mac, or Windows.
This Solution provides instructions for use. (6281)
Big Business API: Line Item Info
Big Business API is an Application Programming Interface that lets you read and write, update and insert, and add or delete data from Big Business using an available connection such as Middleware (MySQL), ODBC, SQL, or Web (HTTP or HTTPS).
Line Item Info is a structure for sending information about Line Items (e.g. items on Invoices) that you can Add or Update in Big Business.
This Solution provides details for Line Item Info. (6283)
UID - Big Business UID, automatically assigned
fUID - Big Business UID, if needed for finding Line Item to update
pUID - Big Business UID, if needed to identify Parent (Invoice) for Line Item
ItemCode - Big Business Item Code
Dsc1 - Description1, if needed to override Item's
Dsc2 - Description2, if needed to override Item's
Qty - Quantity, if needed to override default
Prc - Price, if needed to override Customer's pricing for Item
Taxable - (1 = Taxable), if needed for Sales Tax
Cmt - Line Item Comment, if needed to add to Item's Detail Description
ItemUID - Big Business UID, if needed for identifying Item
LocationCode - Big Business Warehouse Code, if needed for Multi-Warehouse
Disc - Discount percentage (20 = 20% off), if needed
BuildCode - Big Business BuildCode (4 = AutoBuilt), if needed
Action - Big Business Action (addinvli = add invoice line item), if needed
Token - security Token, if needed for authentication
ExtID - external ID, if needed for reference
ExtParentID - external ID for Parent, if needed for reference
Big Business API: Customer Info
Big Business API is an Application Programming Interface that lets you read and write, update and insert, and add or delete data from Big Business using an available connection such as Middleware (MySQL), ODBC, SQL, or Web (HTTP or HTTPS).
Customer Info is a structure for sending information about Customers to Add or Update in Big Business.
This Solution provides details for Customer Info. (6284)
UID - Big Business UID, automatically assigned
Action - Big Business Action, if needed
Token - security Token, if needed for authentication
ExtID - external ID, if needed for reference
fUID - Big Business UID, if needed for finding an existing Customer Card
The rest of the Fields are identical to those found in the Cust Table.