New QB 2021 install and setup in multi-user mode

Thanks, Tori.

I was able to get this setup correctly after understanding I needed to create the Company File on another computer.

hi @ahelton , @Tori B 

I have a similar case, I understand that I have to create a company file on a workstation, then copy that file to the server (on the server I only install QB database server manager, not QB Desktop Software), is that correct?
So what files do I have to copy (in case of creating a new company file or I already have an existing file)? Please help to show me these files with the QuickBook 2021.

Thank so much for your support

Hi thongnt, 

Thanks for joining us here! Let me continue in assisting you setting up the new QuickBook Desktop 2021.

There should be one computer called the server computer that hosts the company file. The server should have both QuickBooks Desktop and Database Server Manager installed. 

The company file should be saved on the host computer/server. If you created it on the workstation, the computer that doesn't host the file, you'll need to transfer it. That way, all other workstations can access and use the file at the same time.

Here are some of the articles for your reference:

• Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop
• Create a QuickBooks Desktop company file

Let me know if you need more clarifications by leaving a comment again. Have a great day!

Hi @AlexV  

Thanks for your reply,
I bought a QB pro plus license package for 3 users. According to my company's security requirements, I need to install the Database Server Manager on a Virtual Server to store the company file (redundancy and confidentiality). So I wonder:

 - How many workstations can I use 3 licenses?

 - Could I just use the server to save the company file as "select I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer..." 
I see this guide at link https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/configure-for-multiple-users/set-up-and-install-a-...

Thanks for keeping us posted, thongnt.

You can install 3 licenses to 3 work stations your members can work simultaneously. On the other hand, if you only use one license, you can install it to multiple work stations it's just that they can't work at the same time.

You can select the I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer... option if you only want the station you're currently installing QuickBooks Desktop to be the server computer to host your files. 

I'll add this article for more information: General info about hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop.

Let me know if there's anything else that you need. Take care and have a great day!

Hi @Catherine_B ,

Thanks for your reply,
I chose the "I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer..." option when installing on the virtual server, but as such it will only install "Database Server Manager", excluding QuickBooks Desktop. So how can I get a company file on this server to share with another user? Do I have to transfer this file from another workstation? So what files do I have to transfer?

Thanks for coming back, thongnt.

I appreciate you for performing the recommended solutions provided by my colleagues. To get a company file on this server to share with another user, we can set up a multi-user network. Wherein one computer hosts your company files (this is your server computer). All other computers connected to your network that don't host your company files are called workstations. Here's how:

1. If you haven't already, follow the steps to download and then install QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer.
2. Select Custom and Network install for the install type.
3. Choose I'll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, AND I'll be storing... if you want the full version of QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer. If you just want your server computer to host your files, select I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer...
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the install.

We recommend to keep your company files on your server computer's local hard drive. This makes it easier to share them over your network. Follow the steps to map the drive if you want to keep your files on a mapped network drive. Once done, follow Step 2 to Step 7 in the Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop article to finish the process. To learn more about hosting your file, see Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop for more details. 

If you need further assistance about this one, please contact our Technical Support Team. They'll pull up your account in a secure environment and guide you with the step by step process of your concern. You may send a message via chat, call us at a time convenient to you, or we’ll get in touch with you instead. To ensure we address your concern, our representatives are available from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Saturdays, PST. See our support hours and types for more details about this one. Here's how to reach them:

1. Click the Help icon on the top menu. 
2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop Help. 
3. Tap Contact us.
4. Select Search for something else and enter your concern in the Tell us more about your question: field. 
5. Tap Search. 
6. Choose Start a Message or Get Phone Number to connect with our support. 

Feel free to visit our Install, upgrade, and register page for more insights about installing, upgrading, activating, and registering Intuit products.

I'll be right here to continue helping if you have any other concerns or questions about QuickBooks. Assistance is just a post away. Have a great day ahead. 

I was under the impression from this thread that an expert could connect remotely to my computer to complete the installation of multi user correctly. 

---

@RCV wrote:

Thanks for coming back, thongnt.

 

I appreciate you for performing the recommended solutions provided by my colleagues. To get a company file on this server to share with another user, we can set up a multi-user network. Wherein one computer hosts your company files (this is your server computer). All other computers connected to your network that don't host your company files are called workstations. Here's how:

 

1. If you haven't already, follow the steps to download and then install QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer.
2. Select Custom and Network install for the install type.
3. Choose I'll be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer, AND I'll be storing... if you want the full version of QuickBooks Desktop on your server computer. If you just want your server computer to host your files, select I will NOT be using QuickBooks Desktop on this computer...
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the install.

We recommend to keep your company files on your server computer's local hard drive. This makes it easier to share them over your network. Follow the steps to map the drive if you want to keep your files on a mapped network drive. Once done, follow Step 2 to Step 7 in the Set up and install a multi-user network for QuickBooks Desktop article to finish the process. To learn more about hosting your file, see Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop for more details. 

 

If you need further assistance about this one, please contact our Technical Support Team. They'll pull up your account in a secure environment and guide you with the step by step process of your concern. You may send a message via chat, call us at a time convenient to you, or we’ll get in touch with you instead. To ensure we address your concern, our representatives are available from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Saturdays, PST. See our support hours and types for more details about this one. Here's how to reach them:

1. Click the Help icon on the top menu. 
2. Choose QuickBooks Desktop Help. 
3. Tap Contact us.
4. Select Search for something else and enter your concern in the Tell us more about your question: field. 
5. Tap Search. 
6. Choose Start a Message or Get Phone Number to connect with our support. 

Feel free to visit our Install, upgrade, and register page for more insights about installing, upgrading, activating, and registering Intuit products.

 

I'll be right here to continue helping if you have any other concerns or questions about QuickBooks. Assistance is just a post away. Have a great day ahead. 

---

I already installed Quickbooks 2021 but did not choose custom network installation. How to change that? Help screens don't function. Phone numbers only get to robots.

Help has arrived, @Skagit.

Thanks for joining the thread. Let me provide instructions so you can set up in multi-user mode properly.

During the installation, you’ll want to select the Custom and Network Options to allow you to install the files over the network. Since your screen unable to function, you’ll want to uninstall Quickbooks Desktop 2021 then reinstall it.

Here are the steps to do it:

1. Open the Windows Start menu. Search for Control Pane, then open.
2. Select Programs and Features or Uninstall a Program.
3. From the list of installed programs, select QuickBooks Desktop 2021.
4. Click Uninstall/Change and then Remove.  
5. Select Next. If you don’t see this option, sign out and sign back into Windows as an admin.

If you want to have additional assistance with our phone supports, you can use this article to contact them. It has details where you’ll be able to message them outside of the product.

Please know that we’re here to help in any way we can. Just let us know or leave us a comment below. Keep safe.                                 

Good evening,

Sorry for jumping on what might be the wrong thread, but I couldn't find another more closely related.

I'm currently running QB 2019 Multi-User on two computers and it's working fine.  However, I upgraded these two computers and want to transfer these files to them.  

Will the migration tool do all the work for me?  Will I need to do any other type of network configs?

Any advice or direction on where to find these answers will be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Rob

Hello there, Rob.

You can share your QuickBooks Desktop for Windows data with multiple users. Just set up a multi-user network to access your company files from other computers. The Migrator Tool helps you reinstall or move QuickBooks Desktop to another computer. 

For the detailed steps on how these features work, you can refer to these links:

• Move or reinstall QuickBooks Desktop to another computer
• Hosting your company data in multi-user mode in QuickBooks Desktop

Keep me posted if there's anything else that you need help with. Take care!

Thank you for the quick response!  I just have two questions (for now).  Thanks for walking me through this.

1.  I'm assuming I need to start the migration process with the host computer, or does it not matter?

2.  Once I get the host computer set up do I need to migrate anything to the work stations?  I'm guessing not since they'll just be reading the file from the Host.  If so I'm guessing I'll need to download the software to the host computers?

Thanks again.

Rob

Let me guide you with the migration process, berto87.

You'll need to set up and install a multi-user network after migrating to another computer. Then, install the database manager so you can turn on the Multi-user Access on your server computer. 

1. In QuickBooks Desktop, go to the File menu and hover over Utilities.
2. Select Host Multi-User Access. Then select Yes to confirm.

Then, you can now host your company files over your network. If you want to access your multi-user network, you can sign in as a user with admin rights on your server computer and workstations. You might try to consider following the process according to how it was written in the article to prevent any issues with the process. 

For more available resources, visit these help articles for your reference.

Fill me in if you have any other concerns with the migration. I'll be here to help. 

Good morning,

I apologize if this comment comes up twice, the session timed out before I could confirm it was submitted.

Thank you for that information, it will be helpful when I get the new host computer set up.  I was wondering though, instead of using the migration tool can I just download the QB software from the CD to the new computer.  Then all I would have to do is transfer the files using a flash drive, correct?

I'm a little nervous about using the migration tool because of a bad experience with Quicken using a similar transfer method.

Thanks.

Rob

Good morning, @berto87.

How is your day going so far? I hope all is well. Thank you for reaching out to the Community for support. I'm happy to provide additional insight into moving your company data. 

You're correct with your thinking. You don't have to use the migration tool. The migration tool is designed to make this process easier, but it's not necessary to use. You can install QuickBooks from your disk as you've mentioned above. Or you can follow the link I've included below that contains the direct download and use it on your new computer. 

• Install QuickBooks Desktop

Once you've installed QuickBooks, you can transfer your files over with no hassle. Please be sure to create a local backup of the company file before moving it. Check out Move your company files to another computer to see further details about this process. 

Let me know if you have additional questions or concerns. I'll be here every step of the way. You can reach out to the Community at any time. Take care and have a great day! 

Update:

Well I'm happy to say that it appears that the new systems are up and running!  There were some problems that required deleting and starting over, but eventually it worked.  Thank you for your help!!

The only problem that occurred was that none of my attachments (which are MANY) seemed to have made the transfer.  We scan all of our receipts to the transaction for tax purposes.  Is there a fix for this?

Thanks again!

Rob

Hello, berto87. 

Thank you for getting back to us. Some data may not be successfully transfer due to Intuit Data Protect. Please visit Intuit App Center for more info about your Intuit Data Protect subscriptions. 

1. Follow the steps to create a backup of your company file on your original computer.
2. Sign in to Intuit Data Protect on your new computer.
3. Follow the steps to restore the backup file with Intuit Data Protect. 

Also, the following files are transferred and restored:

Files inside QuickBooks data folder: 

• Logos and images files
• Transaction log (.tlg) files
• Network data (.nd) files
• Cash Flow Projector (.cfp) files
• Loan Manager (.lmr) files
• Business Planner (.bpw) files (QuickBooks Desktop Premier and Enterprise only)

Files (and add-ons) from other locations: 

• QuickBooks letters and templates
• Spell checker
• Fixed Asset Manager
• Printer setting (These files can be recreated by QuickBooks)
• QuickBooks Statement Writer (Premier Accountant and Enterprise only) 

If the same thing happens, you can always reach out to our customer support team. They have the tools to navigate your computer and look moreover there to rectify the issue. Contact QuickBooks Desktop support and time available. 

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'll be around to help. Have a great day and stay safe!  

I am running QB 2019 Enterprise Desktop with 11 users in 3 locations.  I understand I have to upgrade to QB 2021 before May 31, 2022.  What is the most efficient way to upgrade all 11 licensees at the same time with minimal interruption? Thanks.

@Glenhoff 

For your reference

https:// quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/install/silent-install-sccm/00/209132

These instructions say the printer settings are located somewhere else. Where?

Thanks for joining in this conversation, @arctric1. 

You can go to the printer set up section to set up a default one. Here's how:

1. Go to the File menu, then choose Printer Setup.
2. Click the Form Name drop-down arrow, then select a transaction.
3. Click the Printer name drop-down arrow, then select a printer, then click OK.

Continue the steps to assign each transaction a default printer.

For additional solutions, you can open each article:

• Troubleshoot PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop
• Resolve printing issues

Get back here if you have more questions. We're always around to help. 

Guess my question was unclear. We are moving QB to another computer. The instructions above list items that will not be moved when we move the company file. One of those items is our saved printer settings. Where is the file kept that we need to move to the new computer that holds our saved printer settings? Everything else has already been moved to the new computer and is working fine. Thanks.