QuickBooks Integration

The purpose of this document is to provide detailed specifications for the baseline integration to QuickBooks accounting software. It is assumed that the client already knows how to use the import/export functions of the QuickBooks accounting software.

This document only describes NetForum baseline integration. Any file layout other than what is described in this document will be considered as customization to the NetForum baseline functionality.

Please note that there are two system options in NetForum with regard to Quickbooks, because the file layout is different:

  1. Quickbooks: this option should be used when the client purchased QuickBooks before 2008.
  2. Quickbooks2008: this option should be used when the client purchased QuickBooks after 2008.

The content of this page refers to the Quickbooks option.

NetForum baseline functionality

  • Abila sends transactions to G/L only.
  • The integration is through an Import/Export file.
  • Client will import the file into the accounting software (QuickBooks).
  • One-way integration to send information into accounting software. No information to write back into NetForum.

Setting Up QuickBooks

Client Tasks

  1. Client needs to have Quickbooks accounting software installed
  2. Client needs to have knowledge about how to import G/L files into Quickbooks

Where posting and export file takes place

A batch can not be exported unless the batch is *closed*. Once the batch is closed, the image for "post batch" will be enabled for the client to click.

The export file is created when a batch in NetForum is "posted".

Navigating to a Batch

  1. From the Accounting module, navigate to the Batch you wish to post (see Finding a Batch for search tips).
  2. Before closing and posting a batch, make sure the "batch total" equals the "control total" and the "batch count" equals the "control count".
  3. Click on "pre-process". This will make "close batch" link accessible, assuming no errors are encountered. Then click on "close batch", assuming no errors are encountered. This will make "post batch" accessible.
  4. Next, click on "post batch" and netFORUM will create the integration file with a CSV extension.
  5. After the batch is posted, go to the "ledger" tab of the batch to review the file.

Saving the integrated file

The file name is a hyperlink and can be saved to the desktop or wherever the destination may be.

Since QuickBooks Software recognizes and compatible only with .IIF format for importing data into QuickBooks; the integration file 'Must' and needs to be saved as type:'Text (Tab delimited)' with an .IIF extension to the filename.

AbilaTasks

Set up the integration parameters (BatchExportFormat to choose QuickBooks and BatchExportMethod to choose Summary or Detail) in NetForum system option area.

Usage and Instructions

The BatchExportMethod system option can be configured by the user to allow NetForum to generate the file by "Summary" or "Detail".

  • Summary:

NetForum will sub-total the transactions amount for transactions that hit the same general ledger account.

For example, if there are 2 entries that hit debit A/R account for $50 and $100 each, NetForum will only write 1 row in the output file to debit A/R for a total of $150.

  • Detail:

NetForum will not sub-total transactions. It will write every single detail transaction that hits the general ledger.

Format information for both Detail and Summary

The first three rows are header information for the file.

Column 1: Column indicator (TRNS line indicates the beginning of the transaction; SPL lines indicate the distributions for TRNS).Column 2: Sequential countColumn 3: GENERAL JOURNAL (fixed text)Column 4: NetForum batch date Column 5:NetForum G/L accountColumn 6: Avectra.NetForum (fixed text)Column 7: NetForum Baseline Project code (If project codes are not used this column will be blank "only available in detail)Column 8: $ amount (positive for debit and negative for credit)Column 9: NetForum batch name.

Tips:

The following system options must be modified to integrate QuickBooks:

  • BatchExportMethod.
  • BatchExportFormat.
  • Quickbooks.