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I cannot find out how to change to multi-user mode. Do I need to buy something else? We have a direct subscription and I have always been the only user, but I now have an assistant and sometimes we both need to be looking at QB at the same time. The QB website and "help", as usual, are useless for giving information and I am scared that I will get charged through the nose if I dare to ring up.

***I think this is only available in pro and Premier***

***** please read my concerns about multiuser mode at the end of the post.

This is not an easy thing to do but can be done. i will give breif instructions and you can ask more questions if you need to.

First do you have a functioning network?

• can you see other computers on the network
• can they see you
• if not you will need to fix or setup your office network

assuming your network is correctly setup (2 or more computers with a switch/router) you are ready to begin.

BACKUP YOUR COMPANY FILE AS WELL AS CUSTOM TEMPLATES LETTERS ETC. PRINT ALL IMPORTANT REPORTS!

On the computer you are hosting the company file from you need to instal/re-install quickbooks with hosting support.

Insert the CD and begin the installation.

In the Welcome to QuickBooks Installation window, click I know which installation I want, so take me to Installation Options.

In the Installation Options window, click either Multi-User Host Installation and then click Begin Installation.

Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.

open qb and then your company file from the file menu go to utilities and "host multi user mode" if it says "Stop multi user mode" your are already hosting the company file.

from a client computer on the network File > open company file > browse the other computers on the network and open the company file on the host computer.

******** My thoughts ********
I strongly recommend you do not do this, i see to many ways this could go wrong and you corrupt your company file or have data problems.

the software is designed to do this, but how well it does it have no idea and seriously doubt it would work without a hitch.

especially if 2 users are working at the same time. for example if one user makes an entry and another user makes an entry that conflicts or contradicts the first at the same time how is this handled.

I would stick with one computer one company file set up user access on that one installation to prevent access to sensitive data. and continue using qb 1 at a time



 

Multi-user is available for Premier and above (simultaneous users that is). If you have Pro you can share the file on a network, but not at the same time.

There is a lot more to setting up file sharing than in the post by XVS - please let me know if you go down this route and I can send you the complete instructions. For example, there are 5 files that have to be given inbound/outbound access by your firewall software - if one is blocked - you won't have the correct sharing permissions for QB to work in multi-user mode.

As for XVS's concerns...

QuickBooks Enterprise is now performing with 30 simultaneous users, and no - data corruption is never an issue.

With multi-usres you will of course be locked out of certain functions whilst another user is performing the same task - such as payroll creation - however this is what eliminates date corruption (or the chance of it I should say).

I don't have an issue with personal opinions on this forum, that is what it is for, however please try to make informed criticisms as it better serves the QB community.


Regards,

Jason.