1   Introduction

Before you begin, take some time to explore the software and find out about the basic features of navigation and transaction entry. This chapter provides an overview of your software and describes the tools, resources and primary features of your ABSS software.

Learning about your ABSS software

ABSS is committed to developing accounting software that is easy to use. To that end, your ABSS software is accompanied by comprehensive information resources to help you learn and to provide support as you set up your records and enter transactions.

User Guide

The User Guide introduces the principal features, functions and capabilities of your ABSS software. It is designed to be used as a reference for everyday transaction entry and periodic tasks, such as issuing invoices, making payments and end-of-period processing.

This guide is intended for use with ABSS Accounting, ABSS Premier and ABSS Premier Plus on the Microsoft Remote App.

If you purchased ABSS Accounting, some of the features in ABSS Premier and ABSS Premier Plus that are described in this guide will not be relevant to you. In this case, you can simply skip these sections.

If you purchased ABSS Premier or ABSS Premier Plus, the term 'ABSS Premier range' refers to features included in both ABSS Premier and ABSS Premier Plus.

This guide covers use of the software in the Asia region, including Malaysia and Singapore, but excluding Hong Kong and China. It uses British English spelling, for example, cheque rather than check, and financial rather than fiscal. See 'Glossary' on page 222 for a list of technical and often-used terms and their definitions.

The User Guide is not intended to be exhaustive. It is complemented by the online help (see 'ABSS Help' below), which covers all the functions of your ABSS software.

Getting Started guide

The Getting Started guide provides information on:

  • creating and activating your company file
  • new features in your ABSS software.

ABSS Help

ABSS Help is a comprehensive online resource that complements the User Guide by addressing all functions and features of your ABSS software. It also includes helpful information for solving common bookkeeping problems.

Where to start

When you start your ABSS software, a window displays the following options:

  • Open your company file'open an existing company file.
  • Create new company file'create a company file for your business. See Chapter 2, 'Setting up your company file' starting on page 11.
  • Explore the sample company'experiment with a sample company's data and learn how to use your ABSS software.
  • What's New in this version'learn about the new features in this version of ABSS software.
  • Exit'close your ABSS software.

Experiment with a sample company's data

Before you create a new company file, we recommend that you experiment with a sample company's data.

To explore the Clearwater company file

  • Start your ABSS software and in the welcome window, click Explore the sample company. A Command Centre window appears.

A command centre window is always displayed on your computer screen when a company file is open. Notice that the name of the sample company, Clearwater, appears at the top of the window.

Now that the Clearwater company file is open, you can browse the software, explore the transactions that have already been entered and enter some transactions yourself.

Exploring your ABSS software

Exploring your ABSS software

You should become familiar with the following tools and aids:

Tool
Command centres
Calendar (date entry)
Calculator
Zoom arrows
Search icons
Select columns
Mouse shortcuts
Spell-check feature

Command centres

There are six command centres in ABSS Accounting, seven in ABSS Premier. The following is an illustration of the Sales command centre in ABSS Premier.

Each command centre contains a row of icons in the top section of the window. These icons allow you to quickly switch between command centres.

The selected icon represents the current command centre, and the flowchart displayed below the icons illustrates the major tasks associated with that command centre.

For example, when the Sales icon is selected, tasks such as Enter Sales and Print/Email Statements'typical tasks you would complete in relation to sales'appear in the command centre's flowchart.

Command centre menus

There are four menus at the bottom of each command centre. The options available from these menus are described below.

There are two ways to select an option from the command centre menus:

  • Click the menu name to display the window relevant to the command centre you are in.
  • Click the down arrow () next to the menu name and select from a list of the available options for all command centres (not just the command centre you are currently in).

Actions Menu

The Actions menu provides shortcut access to a list of tasks. The menu is located in the Cards List window, in each Card Information window and in the Reconcile Accounts and Unmatched Statement Transactions windows. Note that some tasks, which were previously accessed using buttons in these windows, are now accessible from the Actions menu.

When you click Actions in one of these windows, a menu of associated tasks is displayed. For example, if you select a customer card in the Cards List window and click Actions, you can print invoices, create a sale, or view reminder logs.

Calendar (date entry)

The calendar simplifies date entry. For example, suppose you're entering a sale and have promised the goods to the customer on the last Friday of the month. Rather than figure out the date and enter it manually, display the calendar in the Promised Date field and click the date.

To display the calendar, put the cursor in a date field and press either = (equals) or the SPACEBAR on your keyboard.

Select a date by clicking it, or by using the arrow keys on your keyboard and then pressing ENTER. The selected date appears in the date field.

To close the calendar without selecting a date, press ESC.

Calculator

A pop-up calculator is available to simplify calculating and entering numeric data, including money amounts, item quantities and units. The calculator is available from every window where you enter numeric data.

Pressing = (equals) or the SPACEBAR when the cursor is in a numeric data field displays the calculator. In the calculator, enter your calculation and then press ENTER.

The result appears in the numeric data field. Press ESC to close the calculator without entering numeric data.

Zoom arrows

Zoom arrows, displayed next to various fields, allow you to display more detailed information about a specific entry such as a transaction or customer record.

A white zoom arrow indicates that you can display more detailed information about a transaction and make changes to or delete the transaction.

A grey zoom arrow allows you to display more detailed information about a transaction, but the information is read-only (that is, it cannot be changed). If you want to change the information, you need to reverse the transaction and re-enter it (see 'Reversing a transaction'). Alternatively, you can change your security preference selection to make all transactions changeable (see 'Set up preferences').

Search icons displayed next to various fields allow you to open selection lists containing records that you have previously entered, such as customers and delivery methods, or records provided by default.

Select columns

Select columns allow you to select items from a list. Select columns are indicated by a select icon (see left) located at the top of the list column. You select a required item by clicking in the select column next to it. You can select all listed items by clicking the select icon at the top of the list column, and clear all selected items by clicking the select icon again.

Mouse shortcuts

You can right-click in a window to open a shortcut menu with options relevant to the window and to the location of the pointer.

Spell-check feature

When entering sale, purchase or item information, you can check your spelling in the following fields:

You can choose to set a preference to automatically check spelling or manually check spelling.

You can also customise your spelling preferences. For example, you can change the main dictionary language and choose a preference to ignore words that include numbers.

To set spelling preferences

  1. Go to the Setup menu and choose Preferences. The Preferences window appears.
  2. Click the Windows tab.
  3. If you want to automatically check spelling, select the Automatically Check Spelling in Text Fields Before Recording Transactions option.
  4. If you want to customise your spelling preferences, click the Spelling button. The Spell Check Preferences window appears.
  5. Select your preferences and click OK
    • For more information about the spelling feature, see ABSS online help.