@Laura510 

You have to purchase additional seat of QBD license to work on multiuser mode. Then you may have 2 options:.

1. Deploy a private cloud

https://partners.myquickcloud.com/?pc=fiatlux

2. Put your license and company file(s) on a QB cloud hosting

http://www.apps4rent.com/#a_aid=quickbooks

Are you the only user?  Or will there be someone working in the other State at the SAME time? 

If it's just you.  Then I'd suggest just copying your Company.QBW file to your notebook when you travel.  You can also use a free Dropbox account to Backup your file while you're traveling.  (MS OneDrive or any other cloud or local USB drive, etc. will work too.)   This will give you a Backup and easy access to the file if you need to load it on the other machine in the other State. 

If you need to work in Multi-User mode and have the file always up-to-date in the other State, then you will want to set up the two machines.  But to access it with your notebook, you'll want to use the Windows included Remote Desktop software or one of the many 3rd party options.  I use AnyDesk and I have also used TeamViewer over the years and there are others.  The 3rd party Apps give you a few more bells and whistles than MS Remote Desktop does. 

If you don't have a 2nd Desktop back in the office and need to buy one, you do not need a full size desktop.  You can get a little mini PC (e.g. Lenovo ThinkCentre M Tiny Series).  You don not even need a monitor, mouse or keyboard.  You can borrow the one from your other Desktop for the setup, then start accessing it Remotely from your notebook. 

The Remote access is MUCH faster than trying to VPN into your other network and trying to run QBs remotely as a true 2nd machine via VPN. 

My apologies if this does not fit into this thread... I am having such a difficult time saving my company file to a thumb drive from a remote host (Coaxis)  Can you provide instructions?

@pnap 

Coaxis has to assist you to provide any backup or portable file any time you asked. You should migrate to other cloud service provider if they didn't support you well.

Any suggestions to other cloud providers?

I would suggest  you not try to save to the thumb drive. 

It's much more reliable to save your file on the computer where it usually is stored, then just make a copy of the Company.QBW file to the external drive.  And if for some treason there is an issue with the thumb drive (or the file you tried to store directly too it), you can always go back to the original on the computer. 

If for some reason you're trying to take the file off the computer.  I'd still first store it to the computer.  Then copy it to Thumb Drive #1 and then MOVE it to Thumb Drive #2.

And I know Cloud Storage is all the rage, but I'm NOT a fan other than possibly for Backup.  In some situations you don't have a choice.  But if you don't need simultaneous group access from remote users (Group Calendars, Word Docs, etc.), I'd stick to go old fashion local storage for the primary file.  Too many clients have had Internet issues and have no access to their data. 

Thank you very much.  I unfortunately can not even save to my hard drive with the remote host.  I am so frustrated.

Sorry, I glossed over the issue with Coaxis. 

By now you may have resolved the issue, but if not...   I'm assuming Desktop and if so, go to:

File then Create Copy.  Make sure Backup is selected and then press Next.  Follow the prompts to make a local Backup.  Again, I'd store to the computer, then go to USB Drive.

And again I'll note as I always do, if you do not need multi user access to your file DO NOT use the Cloud.  May work great for weeks, months or years.  But when it causes an issue it is ALWAYS a major one.  Use the Cloud for backup if you want/need off site storage. 

Cloud is also great for shared Calendars, Docs that multiple people either need access to or are contributing to, etc.  There are many uses for the Cloud.  But your financial records are SELDOM one of them.  Your issues are a case in point.

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@pnap wrote:

Any suggestions to other cloud providers?

---

@pnap 

Explore this one

http://www.apps4rent.com/#a_aid=quickbooks

If you are using an outdated version (i.e QBD 2017 or older), consider another one

https://partners.myquickcloud.com/?pc=fiatlux

Hello again.

To be more clear, I would be the only person working on QB wherever I am located.  I'm wondering exactly how to migrate the work I've done on another computer/another state when I go back & forth.  I'm thinking a thumb drive (or my external hard drive) would work just fine, but could you give me exact instructions on how to do it?   At this time, I regularly back up to my desktop & then also put a copy on an external hard drive. This will be the first time going to another state where I would be working on QB & I need to figure this out before I go.  I will be purchasing a laptop to use in the other state & will get it set up here before I go.

Thank You for any further information.

Laura Duffney

Welcome back @Laura510,

Thanks for clarifying what you want to accomplish with your QuickBooks files. Once you have QuickBooks installed on both computers, and since you will be the only one accessing and working in the QuickBooks company file, the best option would be to create a portable file that can be restored.  Here’s the sequence:

1. Update QuickBooks
2. Back up your company file
3. Create a portable company file
4. Open the portable file on the other computer

Here is a link with detailed steps for each action: Create and open portable company files

Take a look and let me know if you have any additional questions about this process or anything else. I’ll be here and just a comment away. Take care and Happy New Year!

Before COVID I was always traveling.  I many have a more robust system than you want, but I'll detail it more below.  But in answer to your question, don't get overloaded by the concept of moving QBs around, it is very simple.

On you Desktop where your current file is now, Press F2.  About 1/4 down on the left side of the box that pops up you'll see:

FILE INFORMATION

Location    (Something like where mine is...    C:\Data\QBData\yourcompany.QBW)

Make note of that location AND know you can move the location if it's in some complex location that will not be easy to get to in the future.

Go to that location and simply copy the YourCompany.QBW file to your USB drive.

Go to your Notebook and copy the YourCompany.QBW to where the QB file is on your Notebook and simply say YES when it asks to overwrite the file.  Open QBs on the Notebook and the latest info should be there.

Reverse the process when you get home. 

NOTE: It is on you to always make sure you copy the file over to the OTHER computer to make sure you're working with the latest file.  It will mess you up big time if you don't!!!!!

If you want to Relocate where the file is on both or either of the computers, simply copy the latest version of your file to wherever you want it.  You'll note above mine is in a Data\QBdata folder.  It is that way on both machines.  Open QBs and it's okay if it goes right into the file in the old location.  Go to FILE then CLOSE COMPANY.  In the No Company Open box, click on Open or restore an existing company.  Follow the prompts to where you moved the file too.  Open that version of your company.

Once it's open and working, REMOVE the old original file.  Now whenever you open QBs it will go to this new location. 

Now then, the info you may or may not care about....   I have all of my User Data in a "Data" Folder.  This includes not just QBs but my Doc Folder, Downloads, Photos, etc., etc., etc.  It also includes a folder for my Desktop "Desktop Folder" and my Notebook "Desktop Folder" so that those also exist on both machines.  Each computer points to it's own Desktop Folder, but the other one is there in case I left something on my Office Desktop and need it when I'm traveling.

I then use a program called Beyond Compare to sync the two Data folders over my network.  Beyond Compare only copies the folders that are different, so you don't spend the time copying the entire Data folder every time.  The default on each machine is set up to copy to the other machine.  So before I leave, I sync from my Office machine to my Notebook.  When I get back BEFORE I do anything on the Office machine I sync back the other way.  It takes some time to set up all the machines and Beyond Compare, but once it's done, getting set to go on a trip and knowing I have ALL my files with me is a breeze.

(There is also a free Microsoft SyncToy App that works pretty well, but I like Beyond Compare.)

I have Quick Book pro 2018. When I installed on a second computer, it stopped working on the first one.

Let's find out what's causing QuickBooks not to open on the first computer, PHW65.

You can check if the company file or the QuickBooks program itself is causing the issue. Here's are the steps to follow:

1. Open the Windows Start menu.
2. Type “File Explorer” into the search and open File Explorer.
3. Search for and find the QuickBooks.exe file. It’s usually in your QuickBooks folder.
4. Hold down CTRL on your keyboard and double-click QuickBooks.exe. Don’t let go of CTRL until QuickBooks opens.

After QuickBooks opens, open your company file. If you can't, try a second test. Open QuickBooks but don't open your company file. Instead, select Open a sample file.

If QuickBooks or the sample file don't open, or you see an error, the program is causing the issue. Here's how to fix QuickBooks Desktop that doesn't start or won't open.

Let me know how everything turns out by commenting below. I'll be around until QuickBooks opens on the previous computer.

I have a new macbook pro running Catalina...and my desktop has an older OS ... is this sharing still possible if there are two different operating systems?

@ak wonder woman 

Do you need to run in multi user mode or only remoting another machine?

Yes, you should be able to either Screen Share or share a drive/folder if you're trying to run QBs in Multi User Mode. 

Apple is pretty good about keep things like this backwards compatible...  to a point.  Eventually when they make a big jump in how their OS runs, you may loose compatibility with another really old OS.

Well wouldn't be nice if it worked that way. When I run database manager I cannot locate my company file. The ones that show end with QBW.searchindex and do not work for sharing. 

I'm here to help you locate your company file, @Curt S.

Here are the steps you can perform:

1. Go to File then, click Open Recent to open the company file you last used in QuickBooks. 
2. By default, QuickBooks stores your company file in your Documents/QuickBooks folder. So if you can’t find it by opening the most recently used file, you can look there first.
3. If the company file is open, choose Help and select Product Information. You'll see the file location at the bottom of the screen.

For your reference, please see this article: Finding your company file and other file tips. 

I've also added this link for additional info in locating your company file: Company file is missing or cannot be found. 

You might also want to visit this wonderful guide to browse topics that can help you with your QuickBooks tasks. To get started head to the QuickBooks for Mac user's guide. 

Feel free to leave a response below if you have further questions in locating your file. I'll be around to help. Have a great day ahead. 

Oh I can find my company file but NOT with Database Manager which I have to use to set up a slave computer to use multi user.

So on the primary machine you have the set the Share Permissions for the folder with the QB files so that they can be shared across your network?  (Use a WIRED network if at all possible.  QBs Data often has issues over a typical office WiFi.)

Then on the Primary machine you've gone into QBs and set it to Multi User Mode.

Then on the Second machine you've checked to see that you can reach the QBs folder on the Primary machine.  And finally, opened QBs (Multi User Mode) and tried to open the QB Company file...

Let us know which part doesn't work (in the above order) and we'll see what we can do.

I have set up shared files on other computers on a network before however the .QBW file does not show a "sharing" tab when in advanced properties. It does have a "security" tab. I was trying to use the "Database Server Manager" however it does not find the .QBW file, only one that says QBW.Searchindex. Just for background we are using Windows 10 on all machines on a wired network that was working before we replaced the host computer with a new one. We have a multi user license that was working. I backed up the file on the old host computer and restored the file on the new machine. Quickbooks has a migration tool that sounded great but also did not work.

OK solved the problem myself. Loaded quickbooks tool hub and clicked on network problems. When it opened the database manager I drilled down to where my file was and stopped on company file folder. If I opened it the company file wouldn't show...only .QBWsearchindex. Then completed it and closed it. When I went to the slave computer it showed the folder "Company File" and when I opened it the file was there even though it did not show it on the Host.

What a pain.

Thanks.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned QBox.  It is specifically designed for this purpose.  We've been using it to share our company files for two businesses between three computers and it works flawlessly.  It only allows one user at a time to be logged into the company file so conflicted copies are a non-issue.  Easy set-up and at $120/year, it's peace of mind.  I have no affiliation with QBox, just a happy customer of over 3 years.