Data corruption on Absolute Tax / Accounting software

Data corruption on Absolute Tax / Accounting...

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After an initial period and a good 6 months or so with Absolute Accounting I have suddenly hit a big issue.

Just recently I have been going in to clients that I have drafted accounts for and that I need to finalise and the data has become corrupted. It is not recognising dates etc. and the trial balance goes. This has meant me having to recreate the initial work.

They are saying it must be a hardware issue; however, my IT provider has checked and is saying no problem there so must be a software issue.

Can any other users inform me whether they have had any such issues?

Replies (13)

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By daveforbes
04th Apr 2012 10:56

When you have one of our data files intermingled with a pdf file it sounds like something outside our software.

 

Perhaps you should get your IT provider to get in touch with me by email first rather than posting on accountingweb. They could be wrong.

 

 

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By daveforbes
04th Apr 2012 11:07

just got the email forwarded from your it guy..

So when you say "my IT provider has checked and is saying no problem there so must be a software issue." all your IT guy actually said was "Hmmm.......not sure about this. I think you need to explain to them that its on a NAS drive and that the drive is ok. No reason why this should be happening, my first instinct would be its a software issue."

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PAH Accounting Devizes Wiltshire
By Phil Hendy
04th Apr 2012 11:09

Just asking for feedback

Hi Dave,

I have tried getting back to you guys - the reason for posting here was to see if any other users had experienced this. If they have then that would help clarify it as a software issue rather than hardware. On the converse if no one has experienced it this is likely to be an issue with my hardware. Therefore fully appreciating that the IT side of it could be wrong.

Unfortunately the Absolute forum is little used and so I can't ask there for feedback. this is the only other place where I know some people use Absolute.

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By User deleted
04th Apr 2012 11:55

Still using it?

I assumed that having 'complained' several times before on AWeb about Absolute (and not very politely) that you'd have stopped using it? I do find it a bit strange that you're the only one who makes a song and dance about it here, particularly given that Dave Forbes seems to bend over backwards to provide answers. Maybe you should try a different software for the next year?

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By Robert Hurn
04th Apr 2012 12:08

No problems at this end

We have used Absolute since it was lauched 2/3 years ago, with no problmes other than minoe teething issues in year one.  We found that it didn't export well to Cute PDF but PDF995 works perfectly and its free.  If youa re not using PDF995 I would switch to it

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PAH Accounting Devizes Wiltshire
By Phil Hendy
04th Apr 2012 12:46

Thanks for feedback

Flash, I did have an issue with the software and customer service but stuck with it as I had paid for a full year. I have also embraced some of the other issues. The customer service etc. has been excellent over the last 6 months and the software, whilst having minor issues, has been very good. I had minimal issues during the December/ January filing period.

This particular issue and the reason for asking here is because it is the only other place where I know there are other users. Absolute have a forum but only have one post on it as nobody uses it. I have mentioned several times that Absolute (and other software providers) should utilise a forum more. User issues can be reported there and get the users to create a support network for each other. It means common issues can be identified and dealt with. It could also save Absolute money, as issues would not be repeated! A good example is KashFlow and IRIS where they have an excellent forum for users to use.

 

Bobhurn - thank you that is exactly the feedback I needed, that you have no corruption issues. This helps to clarify it as more of a hardware issue. I personally use Bullzip PDF as this has a few more options but will try PDF995 and see how that works. 

 

 

 

 

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By macdougall
04th Apr 2012 21:49

No. Absolute is magic.

No, I have had no such issue.   Absolute works beautifully for me.

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By Robert Hurn
05th Apr 2012 13:52

One other option

PhilHendy:  If you talk to support they will get one of their guys to connect remotely (subject to your consent) to try and replicate the problem - I have only asked for this a couple of times and on both occasions they identified a problem at my end - usually me having done something stupid :)

The support staff at Absolute are the very model of how software support should be - a credit to their company

 

 

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Replying to SteveHa:
PAH Accounting Devizes Wiltshire
By Phil Hendy
05th Apr 2012 16:00

support is ok

bobhurn wrote:

PhilHendy:  If you talk to support they will get one of their guys to connect remotely (subject to your consent) to try and replicate the problem - I have only asked for this a couple of times and on both occasions they identified a problem at my end - usually me having done something stupid :)

The support staff at Absolute are the very model of how software support should be - a credit to their company

 

 

Hi Bob, their general support can be quite good and yes I have had the remote support for other things before. 

I think it sometimes depends on who you get. Ashleigh is great but the guy that phoned me back a couple of days ago (Peter, I think) didn't have a clue, he was merely relaying Dave's message but didn't understand the problem and therefore couldn't relay it properly. I note this could be the same with any support team in the land!

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By KBAccounts
24th May 2012 10:35

Absolute

Moved over to Absolute from Iris about a year ago and their software is great. No problems here and the support is excellent, easy to get through to, and queries always solved in a quick and effective manner.  

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By KTS
12th Sep 2012 20:16

outcome?
Hi - can you please let me know if this problem was ever resolved and what the problem was in the end?

Have had a similar problem with the trial balance for the last year having disappeared when we have come to work on this year but being told its not possible to be a problem with the programme and must be something we have done. Also told that this had not happened to anybody else so interested to discover that this isn't the case. At the moment it appears to have affected one client only but I'm obviously concerned to find the cause to ensure it remains that way.

In general we have been singing the praises of Absolute up until this so would like to make it clear that I'm not knocking them just trying to find some answers to the problem.

Many thanks.

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PAH Accounting Devizes Wiltshire
By Phil Hendy
13th Sep 2012 14:58

Few problems since

I have sent a PM in response to your message.

I still think it was a software issue; however, I have not had any problems since. 

Generally, I have not had much cause to contact support over the last few months. The software is regularly updated and does not cause any issues.

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By iaccounts
10th Apr 2013 11:52

Did you change your Client Codes?

I had a similar issue when I changed all my Client codes, missing TB's, Accounts, Returns etc, in most cases I was able to resolve this by hunting for the actual files in the root file and renaming so I actually lost no data in the end.  The answer, don't change Client codes!

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