Operating System Issues

Microsoft Small Business Server

Microsoft's Small Business Server does not work well as a host for AccountEdge Pro in a multi-user networking environment. The same breadth of features that makes SBS appeal to small businesses consume valuable bandwidth that AccountEdge needs to run at an optimal speed. That one server is handling many jobs at once doesn't leave AccountEdge with the resources it needs, and performance generally suffers as a result. For this reason, we do not recommend or support running AccountEdge in a multi-user configuration on a Microsoft Small Business Server.

Click here for more information about using AccountEdge and Microsoft's Small Business Server.

AccountEdge Company File Factors

Data File Size

Many of AccountEdge's operations (running reports, bringing up lists, etc) look through vast portions of your data file or even the entire file. The size of your Data File directly impacts how long it takes to run these processes.

A normal file size is between 80-100 MBs. While it is possible to use AccountEdge and have a larger file size - anything larger can contribute to a drop in performance. There are several tools in AccountEdge that can be used to reduce the size of your company file.

Click here for more information on how to streamline and declutter your company file to reduce the size of your data file.

Data Location

AccountEdge needs access to certain resources such as reports, custom forms, spreadsheets, etc. to properly function. When it is accessing those resources it adds time to processing input from the user. You go to open a report, AccountEdge has to locate that reports folder, access the report you are looking for, then load its parameters into the program to compare your data and produce a report for you. This process is hampered when AccountEdge needs to poll across a network to access those resources.

If running AccountEdge in a networked environment you want to make sure as much of AccountEdge's resources and assets are accessible locally to keep that delay as minimal as possible.

• AccountEdge should be installed locally on each client running the program not run from a server.
• Custom Forms, Custom Reports, and other Assets should be stored locally on each client not in one central location
• The Company Data File itself should be stored on the fastest computer in a central location (Especially important if running on a wireless network)

Optimizing the Company File

As AccountEdge is used day-to-day, data is constantly being written and rewritten to various parts of the data file. Sometimes data is not written optimally as a result of circumstances within the program. While this is not bad or threatening to the integrity of the data, it can complicate when the program searches for data which can cause performance to drop.

To combat the effects of this occurrence, AccountEdge includes a tool (the Company File Optimizer) that operates in a similar way to defragmenting a hard drive. (i.e., it rebuilds a fresh copy of the AccountEdge database with your data in the most efficient and streamlined file structure possible.) This can help reduce file size and increase performance with large company files. The optimizer should always be run after purging data or Starting a New Fiscal Year.

Click here for more information on Optimizing your company file.

AccountEdge Limitations

AccountEdge is software designed for small to medium businesses. As your company grows it is possible to outgrow AccountEdge as accounting software. Below are listed some generally suggested limitations. These are not by any means hard limits - for instance, if you only have 10 items but 10,000 cards, that could be entirely reasonable. The only actual hard limit is that the data file cannot be larger than 2 GB.

When running into speed problems you want to make certain considerations:

1. How many users are using AccountEdge? Five to ten users is generally a reasonable amount, but more than that, especially when combined with different large lists, might mean that it's time to look towards enterprise-level software.
2. How large are your lists? How many items do you inventory? How many cards do you have? How many jobs do you track? Generally, AccountEdge functions well at a limit of about 6,500; more than this and you will most likely see performance problems.
3. How many transactions are you doing in the course of the day? If you are doing hundreds of transactions every single day, you may need to look for a software package that is designed to manage this sort of volume.

If you feel you have outgrown AccountEdge Click here for additional software options.

Network Factors

Wired vs. Wireless

We recommend using a wired network for both Mac and Windows environments planning to utilize AccountEdge's networking capabilities. Wired networks perform orders of magnitude faster than even the most current wireless technologies. They also are far more stable and can help minimize network drops and keep your business running more reliably.

If you are running AccountEdge in a wireless networked environment and are experiencing latency or reliability issues, looking into your options to switch to a wired configuration is your first and best step.

Network Speed

Countless factors contribute to the speed at which AccountEdge performs in a networked environment. Everything from the cables used to wire the network to the hardware in each individual computer can affect network performance for all participants. A network is only as fast as its slowest link.

Click Here for More Networking Tips & Tricks

Hardware Factors

Generally, hardware factors should be the last thing you consider. Hardware upgrades are expensive and while you do need to meet the minimum system requirements we suggest tackling the problems addressed earlier in this article before going out and buying an expensive server.

Click here to see the System Requirements for the latest version of AccountEdge.

SSD Drives vs Standard Hard Drive

Computers have been using Hard Disk Drives almost exclusively for the last (few) decades; however, SSD's or Solid State Dives, have become available in recent years. Solid State Drives can access and write data simultaneously at speeds incomparable to all but the fastest specialized Hard Disk Drives.

Upgrading your computer from an HDD to an SSD or if you already have one moving your Company File to the SSD can be a big factor in speeding up AccountEdge in a Network Environment.

Wiring Consistency

If using a wired network to run AccountEdge in a network configuration, the actual wires used play a large role in performance. If all the wires in a network are brand new CAT6 cables but even one segment is still an old CAT5 the entire network can be hampered by that outdated cable.

If you recently upgraded your network hardware, but are not seeing any increase in performance, ensure there are no bottlenecks holding you back.