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C
CDU
March 24, 2020
Solved

QuickBooks .ND file FilePath

  • March 24, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 0 views

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.

 

Best answer by IamjuViel

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.

2 replies

Tori B
Tori BQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
March 24, 2020

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
john-pero
Level 12
March 24, 2020
@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. 

C
CDUAuthor
March 26, 2020

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
IamjuVielAnswer
Level 8
March 26, 2020

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.

    C
    CDUAuthor
    March 31, 2020

    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!


    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.

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