Timberline Forum

If you are using Sage Timberline Office versions 9.4.1 or 9.5.0 you will need to upgrade to 9.7 in order to install the year-end update.   If you are using 9.6.0 you will be able to install the year-end update.  We do however, recommend you upgrade so that you can take advantage of the latest performance and productivity enhancements.  I am including a checklist you can use to determine what you need to do in order to have a smooth installation.

We are always glad to help you with your upgrade.  We have expert consultants who specialize in ensuring you have the smoothest upgrade possible. Contact Kimberly Gale at  Kim@LedgerwoodAssociatesUSA.com

9.7.0 Installation Checklist for Sage Timberline Office
Accounting & Management Products 9.7,
Estimating Products 9.7, and Document Management 9.71.     Read Release Notes and Installation Guide for important information regarding this upgrade, including new requirements and detailed installation instructions. You can find these on your DVD in the Documents folder.
2.     Create a complete backup of all Sage Timberline Office data and program files.
3.     Verify that your server and workstations have a DVD drive. The 9.7 Accounting and Management Products and 9.7 Estimating Products are delivered on DVD.
4.     Make sure that you install the appropriate operating system service pack level, that there is sufficient hard disk space available, and that your server and workstations meet all other hardware and software requirements before you install Sage Timberline Office products. For example, Accounting and Management Products require up to 1.1 gigabytes (GB) of available hard disk space. See “System Requirements” inInstallation Guide for more information.
5.     Make sure that you have full control of the necessary folders, files, and registry keys on your file server, terminal server, and workstations that will have Sage Timberline Office installed. For a list of the required folders, files, and registry keys for your operating system, see “Access Rights” in theInstallation Guide.
6.     Quit all programs and services for the duration of the installation. This includes programs that may be running in the background, such as antivirus, e-mail, and backup programs.
7.     If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, elevate your permissions. See “Before You Install” in theInstallation Guide for more information.
8.     To ensure security settings are applied to all instances of the same report or inquiry within an application, rename each instance so it has a unique report or inquiry name. See “Before You Install” in theInstallation Guide for more information.
9.     If you use Estimating, uninstall Estimating Products 9.6.x or earlier.
10.   If you are upgrading from 9.4.x, have already been using security in Sage Timberline Office, and use Document Management, delete inactive Document Management users before upgrading to 9.7. See “Use Document Management” inDocument Management Get Started for more information.
11.    If you use Accounting, install Accounting and Management Products 9.7 on the server. Be aware that the installation process may restart your server several times.
12.   If you installed Accounting, restart the server, log in as the same user that installed the software, open the software, and wait until the configuration process is
completed.
13.   If you installed Accounting, show hidden files and folders. On Windows XP Professional or Windows Server 2003, open Windows Explorer, select Tools > Folder Options, and select View hidden files and folders on the View tab. On Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, open Windows Explorer and select Organize > Folder and Search Options, and then select Show hidden files and folders on the View tab.
14.   The 9.7 installation now automatically creates a shared Timberline Office folder on the server if one does not already exist. Read and write permission are automatically granted to the Everyone group. If the Timberline Office folder is already present and shared, the installation will skip this step. The system will not change any permissions you have already set up.  See “Install to a Server or Stand-Alone Computer” in the Installation Guide for the location of this folder on your operating system.  The 9.7 installation now automatically creates a shared Timberline Office folder on the server if one does not already exist. Read and write permission are automatically granted to the Everyone group. If the Timberline Office folder is already present and shared, the installation will skip this step. The system will not change any permissions you have already set up.  See “Install to a Server or Stand-Alone Computer” in the Installation Guide for the location of this folder on your operating system.
15.   If you use Purchasing, Inventory, or Service Management and your company data folder is inside the Programs Files folder, move your data to a different location. See “After You Install” in the Installation Guide for more information.
16.   If you installed Accounting on the server, map a drive on the workstations to the shared folder Timberline Office that was created in step 14.
17.   If you use Accounting, install Accounting and Management Products 9.7 on the workstations. Be aware that the installation process may restart your workstations several times. If you are upgrading from 9.4x, the location of the Wininst folder has changed. See the Installation Guide for the location of this folder.
18.   If you use Estimating, install Estimating Products 9.7 on the server and/or the workstations as desired. Be aware that the installation process may restart your server and workstations several times.
19.   Restart the workstations, log in as the same user that installed the software, open the software, and wait until the configuration process completes.
20.   If you use Document Management, log on as a Privileged Operator and turn on security (Sage Desktop > Tools > Security Administration). If you do not use Document Management, decide whether to turn on security. After turning on security, modify the Security Settings to meet your company’s requirements. Be aware that it may take you several hours to apply the security settings, depending on the amount of data and number of users. See Document Management Get Started and Security Guide for more information.
21.   If you use Document Management, install Document Management 9.7 on the server and then on the workstations. Be aware that the installation process may restart your server and workstations several times.
22.   Restart all programs and services that you shut down for the installation. 
23.   Open and upgrade your company data folders.
24.   If you are upgrading from 9.4.x and have shortcuts to the Sage Desktop or company data folders on your Windows Desktop, update the shortcuts by right-clicking the shortcut and selecting Properties > Shortcut. Change the Sage Desktop Target field from 1.0 to 2.0 and the company data folder Start in field to the UNC path.
 

Having trouble?  We can help!   We have expert consultants who specialize in ensuring you have the smoothest upgrade possible. Contact Kimberly Gale at  Kim@LedgerwoodAssociatesUSA.com

Spring 2010 Enhancements:  Simplify your day…every day  

The more efficiently your business management system allows your team to locate and act upon key information, the faster and easier they can do their jobs. That’s why we’ve enhanced Sage Timberline Office to provide everyone on your team with a wide range of automation, workflow and process improvements to make it easier to get more done in less time, including:

1. Simplified reporting and data analysis with new tools that are familiar and easy to use.
2. A higher degree of work process automation so your team  has the freedom to focus on other tasks
3. Easier ways to share documents and manage internal approval processes making your entire team (and business) more efficient.

Simplified Installation
Why waste hours of your personal time upgrading workstations?

Laying the groundwork for future updates, the new Sage Installation Manager will make the task of installing and updating accounting workstations much more efficient. Getting your team up and running on the latest software advances for Sage Timberline Office will be quicker and easier than ever. That’s because the process is easily administered from a central location saving you unnecessary legwork and the need to manually install on individual workstations. The result is a dramatic reduction in the time you spend performing workstation installs and updates.

Document Management Rules-based Routing
Now you can ensure documents are reviewed by the right people in the right sequence every time with Document Management Rules-based Routing.

1.  Should all reviewers receive a document simultaneously or should documents be sent to reviewers sequentially?
2.  Would you like to designate an alternate recipient if the original reviewer is unavailable?
3.  Who should be notified when a process is completed?

These are just a few of the processes that Rules-based Routing can automate for you. And, the flexibility doesn’t end there! A number of other conditions are possible including:
1.  Which recipients can approve, reject, or forward documents.
2.  The types of documents recipients can approve (e.g. invoices, purchase orders, . . .).
3.  The dollar amounts (min and max) each recipient is allowed to approve.
4.  How many days are allowed for document routing.
5.  Due dates and alerts for documents.

Document Management Rules-Based Routing
Now you can ensure documents are reviewed by the right people in the right sequence every time with Document Management Rules-based Routing. Rules-based Routing also lets you automate the routing and approval processes that best suit your particular business needs. This means increased productivity and accountability. Avoid unnecessary delays, mistakes, and get paperwork approved faster. The best part is it’s all electronic.

Technology Updates
Keeping current with the latest technology, Sage Timberline Office now supports Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and includes an upgraded Pervasive 10 database. Our goal is to ensure your investment stays current and competitive as well as support the requirements most used by our customers.

More Comprehensive Tax Filing Capabilities & Improved Payroll Management
Now with over 250 additional US State and Federal government forms included, you’ll be able to complete tax filings, new hire reports, and more. Electronic forms are pre-filled using data from your Sage Timberline Office software.  You can then review, edit, or fill-in more completely if desired. And, to automate the process even further, we’ve partnered with Aatrix Software* offering you a number of additional services, including the option to eFile your forms. Of course, you’ll still have the option to print and mail the forms as you always have if you prefer. All new forms are printable as part of your regular service plan.  However, should you choose to take advantage of the eFiling capabilities, those services are offered for a modest fee through our partnership with Aatrix.

BIM–Estimating Quantity Takeoff Integration
With this release, estimators can now take full advantage of both 2D and 3D Building Information Models (BIM) when creating estimates. Thanks to our partnership and development work with Autodesk, estimators can enjoy powerful integration between Estimating and Autodesk’s Quantity Takeoff 2010 product. Using Autodesk’s Revit platform for BIM, object quantities and dimensions for items such as doors, windows, and walls can be stored within the Model and then extracted using AutoDesk’s Quantity Takeoff. Then, simply drag and drop items to map the Model objects and their dimensions to the estimating database for a one-time integration setup.

Advanced Assembly Databases
Databases are some of the most complete Estimating databases we’ve ever offered. Are you not yet taking advantage of Sage Timberline Office estimating? Or, are you interested in bidding different types of work outside of the normal types of projects you do? If so, these databases will significantly reduce the amount of time you spend getting your estimating system up and running or bidding new types of projects. The latest versions include a significant increase in the number of items with the ability to price labor in three different ways: turn-key, man-hour, or labor-only unit price. Plus, assembly items are now organized by trade with over 60 trade specific labor costs supported.

Excel-based Reporting—Office Connector Starter for Sage
Do you wish you had an easier way to analyze and report on data in a familiar format? Now you can leverage the benefits of Microsoft Excel to work with your Sage Timberline Office data using Office Connector Starter for Sage, included as part of your maintenance and service update.** Developed by Event 1 Software, Office Connector Starter for Sage is a reporting and analysis tool that allows you to use workbook templates created in Excel to key data housed within Sage Timberline Office. It provides you with a fast and easy way to look at your Sage Timberline Office data in a whole new light. Extract and perform analysis on a wide range of data through six workbook templates, including:

1. Sage Timberline Office Dashboard
View high-level summary totals from different Sage Timberline Office applications on one worksheet. This includes a financial summary, summary of jobs in-progress, summary of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Property Management, and Billing. The Dashboard also allows you to identify a number of un-posted entries by application.

2. Sage Timberline Office Search
This helpful report lets you quickly find items in Sage Timberline Office based on arbitrary pieces of information you may have, such as a fragment of the description, number, date range, or amount. A separate worksheet also shows you the results returned from each application. Sage Timberline Office Spring 2010 Enhancements

3. Account Ledger with Detail
This report provides you with an excellent auditing tool. Identify a specific account, a set of accounts (using an account mask), or report all accounts. Select a desired date range and other criteria, such as whether to include entries associated with closing the fiscal year. And for each account, a summary of information that shows the beginning balance for the date range, net activity, and ending balance for the date range can also be included.

4. Cost To Complete
Simply specify which job, and this useful report lets you quickly produce a cost to complete worksheet that includes the estimate values, commitments, and actual cost to date. A data-entry column is included where you can record your expected cost to complete. And, calculated columns show you the resulting cost at completion and over/under values in real-time.

5. Job List with Maps & Weather
View a simple list of open jobs that can be quickly filtered or searched, which include two columns with hyperlinks. One takes you to Google Maps providing you with a map of the job location; the other takes you to Weather.com so you can easily see weather conditions at the job site.

6. Lease Expiration List
See every lease that’s about to expire within a timeframe that you identify. You can select all properties or a specific property, enter a cut-off date, and number of days until lease expiration. You can also quickly filter and sort the list using auto-filter and sorting features within Excel.  Customers on a current service plan receiving the Office Connector Starter for Sage will also be granted “a 5-day trial access period” to the full version of Office Connector. The full version includes an additional 20 standard reports/templates and the ability to create your own custom reports and templates using the Designer Tool should you decide to upgrade.

Also, as a special bonus, the trial version of Office Connector Starter for Sage also includes a FREE Anytime Learning session offered on Sage University. This short, online presentation describes the products functionality as well as a number of useful tips and tricks.

For more information or details on purchasing the full version of Office Connector, click here.
Download this  information in a printable PDF format.

Expect some great new features this Spring for Sage Timberline Office in the spring.  These additions will make your day-to-day ops smoother.

This spring you’ll get:

1.  Improved electronic routing.
2.  To review and approve documents within the system.
3.  Document Management’s rules-based-routing helps avoid
     unnecessary delays ensuring documents are reviewed by the right
     people, in the right sequence, at the right time–every time!
 4. Comprehensive tax filing capabilities with hundreds of new US
     state and federal government forms for reporting unemployment
     wages and withholding, new hires and more. Tired of printing and
     mailing forms? No problem– eFiling capabilities will be offered as
     well.

These are just a few of the new offerings coming your way!  We’ll have a more detailed list for you in the near future.