agollum@ukecc.UUCP (04/03/87)
Approx. 2 weeks ago, I requested information on accounting packages. Here's a summary of the responses I received (I wasn't going to post this but two more people have posted the same request). Many thanks to all who responded: -------------------- From: asci!brian@sdcrdcf.uucp I've worked extensively with the Open Systems line of Accounting software, and have a large background in accounting systems. O.S. is good, handles about 75% of the client situations I run up against. BUT, thoroughly research any a.s. you look at. Read all the manuals, spend a day or two going through all the packages. You almost want to be fully trained on the package before you buy something. Accounting, like management style varies heavily from org to org, and its very easy to buy something that looks good, and turns out WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. I know, I sold some before when I first got in the business and didn't know what the hell I was doing. I like O.S. because it runs in an extremely fast interpretive basic, runs under ms-dos and Unix, same source code. Because it comes with s.c. you can modify it, or there are some great company that over 300 standard mods for the package. It works for about 75% of my clients, and fails miserably for the other 25%, but it a good place to start. And I have to say again, be damn sure a package is right for you before you buy it, because once you go with something, it's a real bitch to change over. Good Luck Brian Douglass Applied Systems Consultants, Inc. (ASCI) P.O. Box 13301 Las Vegas, NV 89113 (702) 733-6761 brian@asci.UUCP -------------------- I have a very good experience with Tas Books - it costs $99, COMES WITH SOURCE (!!!), includes a data-base manager program and includes modules for general ledger, A/R, A/P, inventory control and payroll. Other features: uses Neb forms, multi company, passwords, on-line help and more. I think it is a very good package. Since it comes with source and because it is very hard to find an accounting package that is 100% suitable for you, this program is a must. You have 30 days money back guarantee. I have no connection to the makers of Tas Books. Raanan Herrmann (bc-cis!raanan, raanan@bc-cis) -------------------- From: Len Mills <len@elxsi.uucp> The short answer is: Attache! by Attache Software. It works with MSDOS3.2, is not copy-protected, can handle 1000's of accounts, 10,000's of transactions, all of the above plus Inventory, Sales analysis, etc., and best of all, it has GOOD manuals. As I merely helped a neighbor install and set it up for her business, I can't give you approximate costs. But I can tell you it came up quite easily, had a rather good approach to the chart of accounts, and came with a "starter set" of blank forms that allowed her to USE the package for business on DAY ONE. Also, it has an intelligent deferred spooling capability that allows the user to accumulate almost any transaction for later printing (invoices are especially attractive to collect for a week or so). The package HAS NOT HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM in the three months they have been using it. I don't know if this will surprise you, but it sure surprised me. They plan to add a couple of SCSI disks later in the year, as they are retaining all accounting info on line for the full year and are adding a few distribution lines that should double their transaction rate and at least double their customer count. One idiosyncracy of the package, which may not bother you, is that the "customer number" is a fixed length alphanumeric field. [This has been the case with all packages I've seen--KH] Good luck. Happy searching. -------------------- I can add a few comments about some packages: Do Not Buy anything from Peachtree Software. We purchased their "Complete Business Accounting System" and let me tell you, it is a piece of crap! The manuals are the worst--no technical information at all, no file formats, no listing of error messages, etc. They were evidently reorganized after the initial writing, so none of the references to other chapters or appendices are correct. I could go on but why bother? If anyone is considering buying this turkey at some closeout sale let me know so I can talk you out of it :-) We also have the DACeazy (sic) programs (never used them, though). They seem of reasonable quality, though too simple-minded for our use (we have about 300 charge customers and enter about 4000 transactions monthly). Minor experiences with other stuff leads me to the conclusion that if you want good software be prepared to pay for it; we purchased the Peachtree stuff from some ad indicating it was great software being sold out because the company had fallen on hard times (I wasn't fooled for a minute but I didn't have a say in the purchase). Don't look for bargains at the expense of finding a package that works and that you can work with. Kenneth Herron (606) 233-9711 Disclaimer: I have no connection with Peachtree Software (thank God). The above comments are my own opinion, not necessarily that of anyone else.