Mac Server
Big Business Mac Server is software you run on one computer to connect many users.
Big Business Client is software each user runs to connect to share data and add entries. Mac Client and Windows Client can both be used from a variety of current computers.
This chapter describes the setup and benefits of this design and control it gives you.
Big Business Server is the multi-user version of Big Business, the integrated business management tool from bigbusiness.com. Big Business Server is based on a client/ server architecture that supports multiple simultaneous users— all your employees can access current information from the server.
Client / server architecture divides data processing between the client and the server. The division of labor between these two parts is transparent to users. The client part is located on the user computers. Its responsibility is to display the Big Business interface and to query the server in response to user actions.
The server part is located on a designated server computer. Its responsibility is to store and manage data and provide services to the client computers across a network. To search for a set of customers, for example, users ask the client to locate certain customer cards. The client sends the request to the server, which executes the search on the server machine and returns the resulting customer cards to the client.
The benefits of client/ server architecture are increased efficiency and speed. Work is divided between the clients and the server and is intelligently managed to reduce the amount of network passes. The less network traffic, the faster the entire system works. Because all data is stored on the server, each client has immediate access to up-to-the-minute data.
Mac Server Requirements
Big Business Mac Server needs a current computer to run efficiently. Minimums of 16GB of Memory and 4 Cores are recommended. Any new computer will meet these.
Big Business Mac Client and Windows Client can connect to Big Business Mac Server. Each client computer needs any current system and 8GB of Memory and 2 Cores.
Mac Server Getting Started
Getting started with Big Business Server is easy. Installation takes just a few minutes. You use simple dialog boxes to set up the program with your company data. If you choose, Big Business Server can automatically set up almost everything. You can also import data from other programs.
This chapter explains how to install and set up the software. After you finish this chapter, you’ll be ready to start working with Big Business.
Mac Server Install
Mac Server is easily to install. Download Mac Server from bigbusiness.com/download/
and open the disk image, pictured, and drag the Big Business Server to Applications.
Hold the Shift key while starting Big Business Server to select a different Data File.
Mac Server Installing Clients
Installing Clients to connect to your Mac Server is as simple as possible.
Windows Server
Big Business Windows Server is software you run on one computer to connect many users.
Big Business Client is software each user runs to connect to share data and add entries. Windows Client and Mac Client can both be used from a variety of current computers.
This chapter describes the setup and benefits of this design and control it gives you.
Windows Server Introduction
Windows Server is the multi-user version of Big Business™, the integrated business management tool from bigbusiness.com. Windows Server is based on a client/ server architecture that supports multiple simultaneous users— all your employees can access current information from the server.
Client/ server architecture divides data processing between the client and the server. The division of labor between these two parts is transparent to users. The client part is located on the user computers. Its responsibility is to display the Big Business interface and to query the server in response to user actions.
The server part is located on a designated server computer. Its responsibility is to store and manage data and provide services to the client computers across a network. To search for a set of customers, for example, users ask the client to locate certain customer cards. The client sends the request to the server, which executes the search on the server machine and returns the resulting customer cards to the client.
The benefits of client/ server architecture are increased efficiency and speed. Work is divided between the clients and the server and is intelligently managed to reduce the amount of network passes. The less network traffic, the faster the entire system works. Because all data is stored on the server, each client has immediate access to up-to-the-minute data.
Windows Server Getting Started
Getting started with Big Business Server is easy. Installation takes just a few minutes. You use simple dialog boxes to set up the program with your company data. If you choose, Big Business Server can automatically set up almost everything. You can also import data from other programs.
This chapter explains how to install and set up the software. After you finish this chapter, you’ll be ready to start working with Big Business.
Windows Server Requirements
Big Business Mac Server needs a current computer to run efficiently. Minimums of 16GB of Memory and 4 Cores are recommended. Any new computer will meet these.
Big Business Windows Client and Mac Client can connect to Big Business Windows Server. Each client computer needs any current system and 8GB of Memory and 2 Cores.
Windows Server Install
Windows Server is easily to install. download Server from bigbusiness.com/download/
and run the installer by choosing options to Keep, and for More Info, Run Anyway.
Hold the Shift key while starting Big Business Server to select a different Data File.
The installer puts a Shortcut on the Desktop that you can double-click to start.
Images Trial
Images Trial lets you turn on Images Controls to set preferences for image handling. This option is not needed unless you request custom formats for your company uses.
Images are optimized versions of pictures of your items that display on the Item Card, Items Search, and printouts like, Quote with Images, while saving the original in Docs.
This option is designated for customization if you company needs specific formats for conversions to send images to services, in email, or upload to web store or ecommerce.
Inventory Sales Report
Big Business includes the Inventory Sales Analysis Report which Saves To Disk and includes extensive information about inventory and sales, including quantities as of a beginning and end date, costs, adjustments, sales, margin, and turnover.
This Solution describes the Sales Analysis Report. (5968)
The Inventory Sales Analysis Report is included in the Reports tool under Items. Because it contains so much information, it only Saves To Disk, and may take a while to run as it calculates stock levels as of its beginning and end dates and summarizes all transactions in the date range.
The Inventory Sales Analysis Report contains:
• Item Code
• Description1
• Description2
• Beginning Quantity
• Beginning Total Cost
• Buy Quantity
• Buy Total Cost
• Buy Average Cost
• Adjusted Quantity
• Adjusted Total Cost
• Sell Quantity
• Sell Total Price
• Sell Average Price
• Sell Total Cost
• Sell Average Cost
• Gross Margin Percentage
• Ending Quantity
• Ending Total Cost
• Actual Turns
• Annual Turns
The Report starts with an Item Search, so can be run for any group of resulting Items. Often, it will make the most sense to select the Search:
"Inventory Item Is Yes"
to run it for active Inventoried Items, but you may also run it for a particular Item Type, those with a Last Sold Date beyond a certain date, and so on.
To open the resulting export in Excel, launch Excel, go File, Open, and choose the file. On the Text Import Wizard click Finish.
Inventory Sales by Warehouse Report
Big Business includes the Inventory Sales Analysis Report which Saves To Disk and includes extensive information about inventory and sales, including quantities as of a beginning and end date, costs, adjustments, sales, margin, and turnover.
This Solution describes the Sales Analysis Report. (5968)
The Inventory Sales Analysis Report is included in the Reports tool under Items. Because it contains so much information, it only Saves To Disk, and may take a while to run as it calculates stock levels as of its beginning and end dates and summarizes all transactions in the date range.
The Inventory Sales Analysis Report contains:
• Item Code
• Description1
• Description2
• Beginning Quantity
• Beginning Total Cost
• Buy Quantity
• Buy Total Cost
• Buy Average Cost
• Adjusted Quantity
• Adjusted Total Cost
• Sell Quantity
• Sell Total Price
• Sell Average Price
• Sell Total Cost
• Sell Average Cost
• Gross Margin Percentage
• Ending Quantity
• Ending Total Cost
• Actual Turns
• Annual Turns
The Report starts with an Item Search, so can be run for any group of resulting Items. Often, it will make the most sense to select the Search:
"Inventory Item Is Yes"
to run it for active Inventoried Items, but you may also run it for a particular Item Type, those with a Last Sold Date beyond a certain date, and so on.
To open the resulting export in Excel, launch Excel, go File, Open, and choose the file. On the Text Import Wizard click Finish.
Retired Reporting
Reporting is updated and improved, often, but old reports are kept in case you need.
New Inventory Sales reports replace Inventory Sales Analysis reports, now retired.
Retired Show-All-Reports
Show All Reports was an Employee Access setting for Hide/Show meant to allow most users to run without see too many reports, which seemed to limit choice.
Seeing all the options is a feature that helps you consider the alternatives, picking the best for now, and another more simple or more powerful or both in the near future.
Second Companies
Second Companies are started often enough to merit their own Build of Big Business.
Big Business 15-2, for example, is a second Build of Big Business 15 that handles all needs for a second company running on the same computers without conflict.
Then all that's needed is to change the Icon Prefs for one so it is easy to distinguish. Users can connect to both at the same time on the same computer and tell them apart.
Retired Intervention
Intervention was added to Orders to diasable automatic actions but deemed excessive.
Intervention let a shipping clerk flag a partial shipment to halt automatic processing. Instead, Freight Manual is added to stop Auto-Charge replacement of Other Charges.