Flat iMac / MacBook / AirportExpress / Quickbooks / Ugh

I have a simple wireless set up with an AirportExpress connected directly to my dsl modem and two Macs wirelessly connected to the AirportExpress. One Mac is a Flat iMac and the other is a MacBook. Both are connected wirelessly to the AirportExpress. Both have Quickbooks Pro 2005 (aka version 7.0F1). I understand that Quickbooks is not 'networkable' in the sense that two users can not use the same data at the same time, however I am told that I should be able to put the 'company' data file in a public folder where is can be used by either of the two computers one at a time. I moved the data into a public folder and was able to see it from the other machine but i could not open the file - Quickbooks gave an error message about the file being in use, or the path having an invalid character, or a permissions problem. When I discovered that I could only read and drop files to the public folder I looked at 'show info' on the public folder and added 'read/write' for the group and was then able to delete files in the public folder as well as drop them and read them... but the error persists. What are the likely things to be at fault here? Do I need to enable file sharing on the computer that I am only reading from (and not just the computer that is sharing the file)? Do I need to have exactly the same level OS on both machines (both OSX but different versions). Do I need to have Quickbooks Service Pack 2 installed (I only have 1). Any insight or suggestion is greatly appreciated. I have looked all over and only find an occasional complain like mine that end up unanswered... Thank you!

Reply to
somebody
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As long as both versions of QB are the same, with the same patches applied, you should be fine.

I have a Mini running 10.4.7, an iBook running 10.3.9 and a handful of Windows XP computers networked wirelessly. I'm not using an Airport Express but a Belkin wireless router.

I have Personal File Sharing and Windows File Sharing enabled on both Macs, obviously OS version isn't an issue.

BTW, I don't use "public" folders. I mount the other computer through the network, open QB on the computer I'm using, choose Open Company, navigate to the user folder on the mounted disk the file is located in and it opens.

-- Tara

Reply to
scfundogs

Two computers - programs (with the same updates) installed on both computers - two licenses.

Cat

somebody wrote:

Reply to
catrick

Tara, Thank you for your reply. QuickBooks is the same revision level on both machines. I only have Personal File Sharing active on one machine (so I will change that to see if it helps). I attached to the other machine by browsing to the user\publicfolder via the finder and was challenged for username/password. I then tried to open the file from Open Company from within Quickbooks... but I get this dreaded QuickBooks error about file in use/bad character in filename/permissions. What do you mean by "mount the other computer through the network"? Is that the same as me looking in the finder, then network, then browsing for the other machine, selecting the user, then public folder... or is it something different? Thanks again.

Reply to
somebody

Make sure QB isn't running on the other computer.

Yes, just make sure you've selected the other computer and logged onto it like you described above.

-- Tara

Reply to
scfundogs

Two licenses aren't needed as long as its the same registered user on both machines.

-- Tara

Reply to
scfundogs

No. One license per simultaneous user. You can legally install one license on as many machines as you want. At least that's the way it works in the PC world.

Reply to
HeyBub

i appreciate the information that it should work given the identical license on the two machines. that was a question in my mind. i know that legally there should be a unique license for each machine, and we don't want to cheat intuit out of what is due them, but if we can't get it working (with the same license) i certainly don't want to pay for the second. their support for mac has been so awful that they don't deserve a penny more than what they are due.

Reply to
somebody

well that is good news. now if it only worked (which it doesn't).

ps. just looked at the specs for quickbooks 2007 that is on sale pre-release... and still no multi-user network support on macs. sounds like an opportunity for microsoft to take the mac market away from intuit with a multi-user version of money...

Reply to
somebody

No, that is definately NOT the case. From the FAQ's "Only certain configurations involving shared company data files are allowed (not share software), and you must still have separate valid licensed copies of QuickBooks for each user on your business's network"

Single user, single license.

This is not the group that would help you with that. What you are asking is for help with a legitimate setup.

Reply to
L

Did you even read what I wrote? Obviously not. I am happy to buy a second copy if it worked, but it doesn't. This is just another example of Intuit treating Mac users like a redheaded stepchild. If you had suggestions on how to make it work that would be helpful, but your arrogant holier than thou comment is just obnoxious and shows how incompetent a reader you are.

Reply to
somebody

Hmm, some more troubleshooting:

  1. Make sure Read & Write permissions are granted for ownership via the Get Info contextual menu.

  1. Repair permissions on each Mac should the above not work.

-- Tara

Reply to
scfundogs

Tara, Thanks again. That repair permissions thing sounds very interesting and may well be the solution to my problem. I will try it early next week and report back. Once again, I really appreciate your insight and assistance. Regards,

Reply to
somebody

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