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A Review of Business!
By Sid Singer
Business!, Version 5, is Database Creations, Inc. latest version of its comprehensive, Microsoft Access based accounting system for small and mid-sized business. This product is unique in that it makes no attempt to disguise its Access roots, but rather touts its use of Access as a development tool by giving the user free rein to get into the database window, the underlying source code , and all the tables, forms and queries. Consequently, any developer using Business! has carte blanche to make modifications and customize this software in any manner they see fit for their particular purposes. In my opinion, this feature should be valuable to many Access developers.
Business! provides a rich variety
of options for installation. The user
may choose to install Access 97, Access 2000 or Access 2002 versions of the
application. I chose the Access 2000 version. On examining the source code I
was disappointed to learn that the system used DAO technology rather than
Microsoft’s newer
You have the option of upgrading from a previous version of Business! For a new installation, you may install either a single user with a single workstation system or a multi-user network system. In the former case, both the front end mdb and the back end data file are installed on the same computer. In the latter case, the front end is installed on each client workstation, while the back end data file is installed on a network server.
To give the software a more thorough test, I chose the network installation.
The documentation for each type of installation is very comprehensive, leading the user step by step through the somewhat complex requirements for the network case. In particular, you are required to specify in detail not only a location for the front end file, but also the network path to the back end data. Specific locations for each of the various types of files are thoroughly spelled out in the installation instructions.
In my installation a minor glitch occurred when I first attempted to execute the system. Some temporary files, which are supposed to be stored on the local machine (with the front end), could not be located by the system. However, after being prompted for the path to these files the system ran fine.
In operation, the system is driven by a tabbed main menu, which is illustrated below, using the sample data provided.
This form has eleven tabs, corresponding to the eleven major components of Business! Each component has its own selection of menu options to provide access to its particular functionality. The display above illustrates the options available for the Sales tab.
With this approach of constructing a system comprised of a series of components, Business! provides comprehensive coverage of all the elements of a complete accounting system. The operation of each component is very thoroughly documented in separate User Guides, which provide extensive detail for each component and the interactions between components. This modular design facilitates customization by professional Access developers because it is relatively straightforward to focus on specific functionality requiring revision.
The system contains an excellent “New Company” wizard, accessed from the main menu on the Setup tab. This wizard leads the user through the process of creating a database for a new company. You have the option of copying selected data from a current data file if you so wish.
In the wizard there are three choices for selecting a chart of accounts, including use current chart of accounts, create a blank chart of accounts, or use a predefined chart of accounts. If you elect to use a predefined chart of accounts the system provides sixty types of businesses from which you may choose. When the wizard has completed its tasks it creates a new database file, which is automatically attached to the front end, so you are ready to use the new company data immediately.
In summary, Business! provides a very well designed accounting system, with a multiplicity of features, which should appeal to a broad range of potential users and developers.
Reviewer biography:
Sid Singer contributed this review as a member of the Database Developers Group. He started Singer & Associates in 1983 to
assist clients in using modern information technology as a strategic business
tool. He is an independent consultant,
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