Just to keep you folks well informed, Microsoft has realeased their first patch for SBA 2006. One of the major improvements added by the patch is support for memorized transactions. While the function is not as powerful as the one found in QB (automatic entry, set number of recurring entires) it is good to see this feature and will probably meet many users needs.
I like SBA. It is simple to use and has a great user interface and a good feature set. Excellent product for the end user with limited needs. SBA is still a work in progress and I expect to see more patches for version 1.0 that not only address any problems, but add new features.
One thing for certain, Microsoft is comitted to this project.
SBA will need quite some time until it catches up with QB functionality , then again Intuit is not about to stand still. Botton line, SBA will end up making QB a better product.
What makes it really difficult comparing the two is being able to define what features belong in a small business accounting program. In all honestly I don't know that answer. Perhaps there is no answer.
Thanks maybe by the time there is an Australian version it will have caught up. By the way my accountant said yesterday that the reason she doesnt like QB, is the reason that I like it...The delete button.
SBA uses a void button. The record stays but is displayed as VOID. There is also an audit feature but unlike QB the audit trail can be purged up to a user specified date.
Entering data is pretty much a given. If they can't figure out what accounting or bookkeeping features they should include they can just get a copy of QB and implement everything they see *the right way*.
However, reporting is where more than 50% of the importance of such a program is. The data have no value to noone unless they can be pulled out in a sensible manner *the way the user needs to see them*.
Relational databases are now part of Nature and reporting should be a simple and flexible feature and not like the inadequate insanity in QB. M$ can certainly do it unless they hire ignorants too who have no idea or no interest whatsoever about what a SB user would need from such a program.
I hope the data file can be accessible from Access directly without conversions and in real time. If this can be done I'm switching 3 companies tomorrow.
Q: How are a Billy Graham revival and a Nebraska Cornhusker's home game alike? A: Both have 70,000 people jumping to their feet yelling "Jesus Christ!"
The QB un-developers can't grasp the concept after 10 years (?) of QB on the market. The best they came up with after all this time was moronic Customer Centers and Vendor Centers and similar bloat and nonsense that are of no use to nobody - except maybe a very select few of their customers who happen to issue up to 5 invoices per month and do 5 bill payments per month.
I'm quite sure if you asked Bamboo man he would say that lot tracking belongs in a small business accounting program.
You see I'm not as self centered as you and would never think that my needs should become the defacto features of any program.
Yes the database in Small Business Accounting is linked to Access. You can create new reports by using the Report Wizard or Design View in Acccess which can then be added to the SBA Analysis Tools list . You can also edit existing reports in the Analysis Tools list.
My personal view is that the average SBA 2006 user will never use this feature and is not willing to invest the time needed to learn the skills required to create reports on their own.
That said, over time new prewritten reports will become available that can simply be added the to SBA Analysis Tools list.
Cut the crap Mr Cheerleader. I'll excuse this errand and senseless behavior this time.
That's music to my ears!
Of course. But the capability should be there for those who can take advantage of it. Not bury the data under ancient convoluted messed up file structures where it's torture to get it out.
And this is where my next Lexus will be coming from, the pre written reports.
Thank Haronga!
(That's a Polynesian god - just to avoid a judeo-christian slant)
Are you sure of this? I have not been able to get SBA to import transactions only balances. After looking through the SBA newsgroup it would seem that they have transaction import listed as a future target. Although I have not read the most current news messages there yet, so something may have changed. If it has please enlighten me.
The future is now. Microsoft released SP1 and the new migration tool. When you open up the company file the Spotlight frame should display a notice about the update.
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