Blog

To prevent users from accidentally or deliberately changing, moving, or deleting important information from a Microsoft Excel worksheet, yet still giving users the ability to change only certain cells, you might want to try the following tips:

To quickly protect and unprotect worksheets:
- Right click on the Sheet tab and select Protect Sheet
- Select the desired options under All users of this worksheet to
- Once you have protected the worksheet, the Protect Sheet icon changes to Unprotect Sheet
- Select this icon to unprotect the worksheet

To unlock certain cells:
- Select the cells, columns, or rows that you want to allow to be edited by others
- On the Home tab, in the Cells group, select Format
- Note that the Lock Cell icon is highlighted in orange by default, indicating that the cell will be locked when the worksheet protection is activated.

Or, you can also check the locked status:
- Select Format Cells
- Select the heading tab Protection
- If there is a NO tick in the Locked box, it means the cell is not locked
- Select OK

- Grace Chen, Consultant

Physical counts can be one of the most time-consuming and tedious tasks in a warehouse. Counting, recording, and hand-writing long serial or lot numbers for each item is not only slow but can lead to numerous inaccuracies.

Using radio frequency scanners, ACCU-DART improves accuracy and timeliness for updating inventory counts.

When performing physical counts with ACCU-DART, warehouse staff can scan the items, quantities, and serial/lot numbers. Once all items have been scanned, the data is updated in Sage Accpac ERP. By scanning barcodes for the items (and serial/lot numbers), ACCU-DART ensures that the correct information and count is recorded in Accpac. This module can also be used to perform periodic cycle counts.

Scanning items saves countless work hours. One ACCU-DART client went from four days of counting inventory to one day using ACCU-DART!

By performing physical counts with ACCU-DART, you will be able to quickly and accurately manage the inventory in your warehouse.

For more information about ACCU-DART, please contact Rufus Vernon at (214) 647-2611 x115.

- Rufus Vernon, Director of Sales

Visit the Terrell & Terrell Webcast center to view recorded Webcasts or sign up for upcoming live sessions.

Examples of Webcasts include:
- Reporting and Business Intelligence with Sage Accpac Insight
- How Productivity is the Key to Thriving in Down Economic Times
- How CRM Can Help Your Finance Department

- Meredith Gooch, Marketing Manager

The debate over business use of outsourced cloud computing versus on-premise computing has been rising to a higher decibel level. The main advantages of adopting cloud-based software are:

1. Minimal start-up costs in exchange for monthly or annual fees
2. Reduced infrastructure management
3. Web-based deliverability that provides access “anywhere”

On the flip side, the main arguments against cloud computing are the inability of firms to manage system risk and the potential loss of security for proprietary business data. A higher total cost of ownership over longer periods as well as concerns about the difficulty of migrating away from Software as a Service (SaaS) applications present additional roadblocks that prevent accounting from moving to the cloud.

Recently, SaaS options that extend functionality of on-premise accounting systems are beginning to appear. Such hybrid solutions combine the use of both on-premise and cloud-based software. For instance, Indicee, a Web-based application that interacts with reports from on-premise Sage Accpac ERP and other software, provides basic sales analysis and other business intelligence. So far, hybrid solutions do not completely eliminate concerns about data security, but any additional risk extends only to the outsourced applications. Undoubtedly, new software services provided via the cloud will continue to emerge.

- Chris Firra, Sr. Consultant

The contractor built my house from a plan. Toyota built my car from a plan. I’m typing on a computer built from a plan. Why not implement a mid-market ERP system from a plan?

Prospects love this idea until they hear it cannot be free. A good plan cannot be free, otherwise everyone could do it and there would be far more plans than projects. To expect either a smooth, undocumented implementation or a good, free plan is about as likely as driving on an interstate highway that is yet to be mapped out. Without a plan, every quote is just a guess and every Statement of Work is just a prayer. If one is contemplating the acquisition and implementation of a mid-market ERP program from which will come information to guide important future business decisions, then a plan is the right investment.

A good plan displays a company’s human resources and business processes on paper in chart form. The plan could be 75% graphic and 25% narrative and might cost $2,000-$7,500 or even more. However, it might provide the needed insurance against a project gone wild, and, most importantly, it will turn a guess into a quote.

- Brian Terrell, CPA and Managing Partner

Information Manager consists of:
- Info-Explorer: a cost effective and powerful reporting and analysis tool, packed with features including drill down to the source Sage Accpac ERP screens.

- Notes: pop-up notes triggered by Sage Accpac data (Zippy Notes replacement).

- Supplementary Data: gives users the ability to create tables in their Accpac database linked to Accpac views to store additional information in Accpac (for example, Sales targets).

- Report Runner: gives users the ability to create menus and parameters for Crystal and Financial Reports.

- Data Views: gives users the ability to create database views to simplify Crystal Reports on Sage Accpac optional fields.

Join us for a live Webcast on July 15, at 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST. Space is limited, so reserve your seat now at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/261804371

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webcast.

- Meredith Gooch, Marketing Manager

Watch this entertaining and informative video to learn how Sage Accpac ERP and Express Connect can save you time and energy. You will never have to go to the bank again!

Dr. Automation: An Express Connect Movie

- Meredith Gooch, Marketing Manager

Beginning October 1, 2009, customers will need to have a current Software Assurance subscription to purchase additional Sage Accpac ERP modules and LanPaks. Subscribe to this feed to stay updated about this topic.

- Brian Terrell, CPA and Managing Partner