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CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Should the FilePath value in the .ND file on the server be from the perspective of the server or the workstation?

In other words, which of the following is correct?:

  1. FilePath=D:\QuickBooks\CompanyFile.QBW
  2. FilePath=\\Server\Share\CompanyFile.QBW

I've seen it both ways. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Solved
Best answer April 09, 2020

Best Answers
IamjuViel
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Hello, @CDU.

 

When using QuickBooks on a multi-user mode, you should only have one computer acting as the server or host. With that, you should only have one .ND file for each QuickBooks Company file that you manage.

 

Here are the possible reasons why your file path was changed:

  • Hosting features were turned on by another computer or device in your network.
  • The .QBW file was moved or saved in a different location.
  • The.ND file is damaged or corrupted.

Let's first create a backup of your company file. Once completed, let's make sure that your QuickBooks software is updated to the latest version.

 

Now, let's view the details of each file path. If you see different ServerIP and server Engine Name, the hosting feature may have been turned on or enabled by another computer or user. Here's how to turn it off:

  1. Go to the Files menu.
  2. Choose Utilities.
  3. Select Turn - off Host Multi-User Access.
  4. Click Yes to confirm.

If there are no other users that can access your company file, you can perform the following:

  1. Suppress your QuickBooks Desktop
  2. Open a sample company file
  3. Run reboot.bat
  4. Troubleshoot the QuickBooks Desktop Application
  5. Create a new Windows Administrator

You can refer to these articles for more detailed instructions:

Just a heads-up, every time you use the Database Server Manager to rescan the folders on your computer, it will create a new company file. It will be created in the same folder.

 

Keep me posted if you have other questions. I'm just a few posts away.

View solution in original post

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Thanks @JasroV, but phone support knew less than I do about the situation. They stated so to me. (I'm not offended by them admitting that, either. I much prefer them to be honest like that, than to continue putting me through more unnecessary work, just to appear to know what to do.)

 

So, I finally resolved it by writing a script (like I did for the other client) that runs every 5 minutes to check the .ND file for incorrect info, and correct it as needed.

 

Looks like I'll be doing this from now on. I just thought that maybe the QB software would be smarter about it's own settings. ;)

 

View solution in original post

17 Comments 17
Tori B
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Hey there, @CDU

 

I hope you're having a wonderful day so far. 

 

The .ND file is the network data file that is located where the company file is. Based on the two file paths you have listed above, it appears your .ND file would be located at D:\QuickBooks\CompanyFile.QBW because the D drive is local, whereas the \\server is not. 

 

For more details about the .ND file, check out: .ND files in QuickBooks Desktop.

 

Please let me know if you have further questions or concerns. I'll be here to help guide you every step of the way. You can always reach out to the Community or me anytime you have questions or concerns. Take care and have a great rest or your day! 

john-pero
Community Champion

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath


@Tori B wrote:

Hey there, @CDU

 

I hope you're having a wonderful day so far. 

 

The .ND file is the network data file that is located where the company file is. Based on the two file paths you have listed above, it appears your .ND file would be located at D:\QuickBooks\CompanyFile.QBW because the D drive is local, whereas the \\server is not. 

 

For more details about the .ND file, check out: .ND files in QuickBooks Desktop.

 

Please let me know if you have further questions or concerns. I'll be here to help guide you every step of the way. You can always reach out to the Community or me anytime you have questions or concerns. Take care and have a great rest or your day! 


 Direct from the about ND link

 

"An .ND file is created in the same folder as the company file and is identified with an .ND file extension:"

 

I would think that both address are correct and that only one ND file exists (or should) Easy enough to change any existing ND files to NDOLD and then restart QuickBooks and a new ND file will be created in proper place. 

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Thanks for the reply, but it doesn't really answer my question. You seem to be telling me where the file is located. Obviously, I know that if I opened it (it's on the server, btw). I already read the page you linked to, before I started this thread, and it doesn't answer my question either.

 

My confusion is this...

If ".ND files include the information QuickBooks needs to communicate with the server" as stated in the ".ND files in QuickBooks Desktop" page, and the FilePath value inside that file has the server's C: drive, isn't the workstation going to try to look for the file on its own C: drive? Wouldn't the workstation need to know to look at the server's shared folder, instead?

 

john-pero
Community Champion

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

When multi-user access is on and you access a company file from a connected workstation you browse for the *QBW file on the server. If the C drive on the server contains the company file then the path to the file from the workstation is through the server and the server C as well as Company Files folder and possibly other parent folders on the server must be set to offer full sharing on the local network.

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Sorry John. My reply was directed to Tori.

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Still looking for some answers.

 

Yesterday, QuickBooks connectivity was broken again. When I checked the .ND file, it contained the network path like this:

  • FilePath=\\Server\Share\CompanyFile.QBW

I used QuickBooks Database Server Manager to re-scan, and it changed the .ND file back to this, and it now works again:

  • FilePath=D:\QuickBooks\CompanyFile.QBW

I guess that answers the question in my original post on which one is correct. But, why or how did it end up with the first one above, if the second one is the correct one? I didn't change the file, so QuickBooks Database Server Manager must have set it both ways. What would cause it to change it to the wrong value?

IamjuViel
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Hello, @CDU.

 

When using QuickBooks on a multi-user mode, you should only have one computer acting as the server or host. With that, you should only have one .ND file for each QuickBooks Company file that you manage.

 

Here are the possible reasons why your file path was changed:

  • Hosting features were turned on by another computer or device in your network.
  • The .QBW file was moved or saved in a different location.
  • The.ND file is damaged or corrupted.

Let's first create a backup of your company file. Once completed, let's make sure that your QuickBooks software is updated to the latest version.

 

Now, let's view the details of each file path. If you see different ServerIP and server Engine Name, the hosting feature may have been turned on or enabled by another computer or user. Here's how to turn it off:

  1. Go to the Files menu.
  2. Choose Utilities.
  3. Select Turn - off Host Multi-User Access.
  4. Click Yes to confirm.

If there are no other users that can access your company file, you can perform the following:

  1. Suppress your QuickBooks Desktop
  2. Open a sample company file
  3. Run reboot.bat
  4. Troubleshoot the QuickBooks Desktop Application
  5. Create a new Windows Administrator

You can refer to these articles for more detailed instructions:

Just a heads-up, every time you use the Database Server Manager to rescan the folders on your computer, it will create a new company file. It will be created in the same folder.

 

Keep me posted if you have other questions. I'm just a few posts away.

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Thank you

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

The .ND file was wrong again this morning. It was working fine yesterday, then this morning it was broken.  There are only 3 users, and I've already educated them to never set their QB to do hosting.

 

Any other ideas why the .ND file continues to get changed?  (I think the owner of the company may have left QB open overnight. Can that cause this problem?)

Pabz_L
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Hi, @CDU.
 
Let me share with you an insight regarding your issue. 

 

The Network Data (ND file) are configuration files that permit the QuickBooks software to access the company file in a multi-user environment. 

 

Based on the information that you've shared so far, it looks like this has something to do with your hosting or server configuration. In this case, I'd suggest reaching out to an IT person or the hosting provider so the can double-check why it keeps on changing the location.

 

Please feel free to post if you have further questions. Have a nice day!

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

I am the IT person. This is for a client of mine.

 

I have another client, for who, I had to create a script that would continually fix the "ServerIp=" line within the .ND file because it kept switching to the VPN IP address. The script runs every 5 minutes and resets that line back to the LAN IP address. That client says they stopped having issues after I did that.

 

I'm about create a script for this other client too, except this one will need me to "fix" all of the following lines in the .ND file, since all of these were wrong this morning:

  • ServerIp=
  • EngineName=
  • FilePath=
  • ServerMode=

I'm not the only one having trouble with the QuickBooks Database Server Manager making incorrect choices for the .ND file. I've seen others posting about this too.

JasroV
QuickBooks Team

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Thanks for the clarification, @CDU.

 

Also, I appreciate the details you shared with us. Let me route you to the best support available so this gets addressed right away. I recommend getting in touch with our Support Team.

 

From there, they can securely check your account and investigate the root cause of this. To reach them, you can follow these steps below. 

 

In your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) software:

  1. Go to the Help menu.
  2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
  3. Click Contact Us
  4. Give a brief discussion of your concern and click Continue.
  5. Choose your preferred way to get in touch with them.

I also encourage checking our Help articles page. From there, you can read some great articles that can guide you in your future tasks.

 

Should you have any other concerns or questions, you can always get back to us. We're always around to help. Take care and stay safe.

CDU
Level 3

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

Thanks @JasroV, but phone support knew less than I do about the situation. They stated so to me. (I'm not offended by them admitting that, either. I much prefer them to be honest like that, than to continue putting me through more unnecessary work, just to appear to know what to do.)

 

So, I finally resolved it by writing a script (like I did for the other client) that runs every 5 minutes to check the .ND file for incorrect info, and correct it as needed.

 

Looks like I'll be doing this from now on. I just thought that maybe the QB software would be smarter about it's own settings. ;)

 

Fierfaerie
Level 1

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

CDU, I was wondering if you could provide the script?   I'm having a similar problem, spent 4 hours on the phone with support and they basically stated they didn't know how to prevent it

Fierfaerie
Level 1

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

CDU, I was wondering if you could provide the script you wrote to fix this?  Similar issue.  4 hours yesterday including on hold times, and the top engineer said she couldn't prevent the issue.

Focus NTeam
Level 1

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

FYI, the solution for this that has been working flawlessly, is to first open the file using QuickBooks on the server itself. It seems that from that vantage point it is able to correctly create the ND file, with all the necessary parameters. Then close QuickBooks and modify the ND file's permissions to ensure that all users connecting to the network share cannot modify that one file. Other files should be left modifiable by them. At that point, the problem seems to have gone away.

 

Conclusion: It is QuickBooks itself that is scribbling all over its own ND files and causing this issue. Why? No clue. As long as you prevent it from being able to do so, it would seem that it just moves on and connects as usual.

cleverit
Level 1

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

This workaround appears to no longer work with Quickbooks 2022 in our testing. If you attempt to open the company file locally on the server, it won't open unless Everyone has full control over the ND file.

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