Install
The software installation is typical of a Windows application and generally painless. Our software key provided the Lab with a 5-user licence-unlike some other accounting packages, QuickBooks Pro is quite painless to upgrade from single user to multiuser installation. Adding additional users is also very easy.
We did have one minor problem with the installation (bear in mind that the software we received was a pre-release version). During installation QuickBooks installer detected a potential conflict with our network software, Windows 98SE and Novel Netware Client V3.1, and suggested we refrain from clicking on "Browse" to select a different installation directory. Naturally, one of our staff ignored the warning and, to our surprise, the installation proceeded without a problem.
Upon starting QuickBooks for the first time the user is presented with five options. If unfamiliar with the software they can run a simple introduction or open a sample company's data. For the initiated, the options are setup a new company data file, open an existing QuickBooks Pro data file or convert a Quicken data file.
To setup your company's data QuickBooks employs an "interview" technique where you are asked specific questions and your answers effectively input the relevant data-pretty simple and far from intimidating. When it comes to selecting the type of company you are presented with a good list of options-25 in all. Though this is not as extensive as MYOB, it is nevertheless a good deal better than say Sage Instant Accounting 98. But to QuickBooks' credit, when an option is selected a small window displays the accounts that will be created for this option. From the list we were able to select "Consulting" which set up our books with a useful spread of accounts. Initial accounts setup is one of the easy we have seen and includes a prompt to configure QuickBooks for handling Web Connect Data for downloading data from your financial institutions Web site. n Interface The user interfaces of MYOB and Quicken are very similar and while MYOB's have a clean and perhaps less-cluttered look, QuickBooks icons are arguably more personal and friendly.
The user interface is called the QuickBooks Navigator and has tabs down the left to select the broad financial activity, which then dictates the editing buttons along the top row, and the specific financial activities in the flow charts. Whenever an activity is selected the user is presented with a concise help window andalmost every one of the child windows that open include this feature and a "How Do I" button that explains how to setup and use this feature-very user friendly.
At the very base of the Navigator you will find an array of reports that again vary with the currently selected broad activity.
Documentation
The software provided to the Lab was a pre-production sample and did not include the user documentation.
In Use
Each time QuickBooks is started, a small reminder window opens with a list of due dates, account description and the amount complete with the previously mentioned "How Do I" menu to enable quick setup of specific options, for example.
We found manipulation of client and item data to be very simple and the production of invoices was enhanced by a very simple graphical forms editor/designer. It's a very simple matter to alter the standard forms and insert your own fields and logo for instance.
If your bank provides the appropriate on-line facilities, QuickBooks can reconcile your banking over the Internet (however, internal modems are not supported and an external modem is required).
Generation of reports is quite straightforward with the added benefit that if you are unsure of say an item in your profit/loss report double clicking on the item will provide a detailed breakdown. GST can also be tracked and one of the reports summarises sales and purchase GST and then reports the amount owed.
Assets are handled reasonably well but as with most of the packages we looked at depreciation must be manually calculated, there is no option to simply input a percentage and have the package calculate it for you.
A job estimate can be quickly created in QuickBooks and with the daily/weekly activity time sheets QuickBooks provides project time and cost tracking that allows the user to compare actual costs to estimates and hone future quotes. QuickBooks also enables the user to compare the profitability of various projects. Although not exactly swimming in graphical reports QuickBooks does include a fair set with the likes of Income & Expenses, Sales and Accounts receivable represented in clear bar or pie charts.
Conclusion
For the vast majority of accounting tasks that a SOHO might need QuickBooks Pro 7 is extremely simple to use with one of the best user interfaces we have seen.
Inside this feature:
| MYOB FirstAccounts | MYOB Accounting Plus |
| QuickBooks Pro 7 | Sage Instant Accounting 98 |
3%
2%
