Category: Peachtree/Sage 50

You can streamline certain input screens in Peachtree, such as Sales/Invoicing by creating a template that only shows the fields you need. To do so, click the Template button the toolbar and then assign a template ID, such as My Template. You can then click on any field not marked as required to toggle the Show or Hide setting. Select Set Template as Default to make this be the standard input screen.

Get a graphical view of your outstanding receivables and payables by choosing Analysis, and then either Collection Manager or Payment Manager. You can toggle between numeric and graph views. Double-clicking on a number or a graph allows you to drill down all the way to the individual transaction level.

This is generally the result of a user posting a journal entry to the accounts receivable account, or coding a Sales Invoice or Cash Receipt to the accounts receivable account. To identify the problem, run a general ledger for your accounts receivable account. Any transaction that doesn't have SJ or CRJ transaction types should be corrected to post to another account. If you're still off, run a Sales Journal or Cash Receipts Journal and look for transactions that debit and credit accounts receivable.

Regardless of your other back-up methods, it's a good idea to make frequent back-ups of your Peachtree data on your hard drive. To do so, choose File | Back Up, and then click Back Up Now. Select a folder on your hard drive to store the backups, and then accept the default file name. Click the Save button, then click OK when Peachtree informs you of the back-up size. This generally only takes a couple minutes to carry out. Make sure to also continue your usual back-ups onto removable media such as floppy disks, CD-R, or tape. Having additional back-ups on your hard drive gives you additional options in case something unexpected happens.

It's possible to post a transaction into a prior month without changing the accounting period. To do so, enter the transaction in the current period and save it. Next, edit the transaction and then change the date to the desired date, and then click Save (or Post). Click Yes when the warning prompt appears.

Get the most out of your version of Peachtree Accounting with our Peachtree Crash Course! This one-on-one format can be presented in our office, your office, or via the Internet. Our classes focus on what users should know, but often don't, about software packages. Learn more at www.acctadv.com/go.mv?id=pcwcrash.

Quickly determine how many customers, vendors, or inventory items you have by choosing Help, File Statistics (sometimes hidden under Customer Support and Service). The Number of Records column provides the item counts.

You can e-mail reports directly from Peachtree 2005 or later by clicking on the E-Mail button that appears on the toolbar of any report that you've previewed to the screen. This automatically generates an e-mail with the report attached in PDF format.

Save time entering dates in Peachtree by just entering the two digit month and day, e.g. 0415 for April 15. Peachtree will automatically add the current year.

Need to add a new customer, vendor, inventory item, or account? Press the + sign on your number pad (or double-click on the field with your mouse) to access the corresponding Maintain screen from within any of Peachtree's transaction screens.

If you're using Peachtree 8.0 or later, pressing F3 provides instant access to the Find dialog box available on the Edit menu. The Find feature is a great way to locate transactions through through selecting specific criteria.

By default, Peachtree presents a startup screen that shows recently used companies. If you only work with one Peachtree company, you really don't need to see this screen, which you can turn off by choosing Options and View Startup Screen. Turn this feature back on by making the same selection.

You've probably noticed that when you're paying numerous invoices that Peachtree will sometimes consume additional checks in order to list all of the invoice numbers. If this frustrates you, download and install this free 50 check format for Peachtree/Sage 50 that enables you to list up to 50 invoices on a single check stub.

To omit the accounts with a zero balance from your income statement, unclick the “Show Zero Amounts: field when you first run the report. To make this change permanent, set this option, then preview the report to the screen. Click the Save button, then assign a name of your choice to the report.

Peachtree software recently sent out a somewhat cryptic mailing that has confused some users. You probably received this letter if you're using Peachtree 2003. In essence, Peachtree has changed the calculation method for employees that wish to have additional state income taxes withheld from their paychecks. If you don't have any employees that request additional STATE withholding, you can disregard this mailing. However, if you need assistance configure payroll, or any other aspect of Peachtree, consider our technical support options.