I know VT represents excellent value for money, BUT . . . .
It is becoming increasingly difficult to take the previous year's VT file for any client and use the 'copy comparatives from previous year' button to kick-start the current year. Do this and you have to play around with entering legislative updates etc. at your peril. In short it is quicker, but so slow, to just open a new file for your old client with the updated version and set them up as if they were a new client. That can't be very efficient, can it?
Is it technically impossible for the clever techs at VT to supply macros or whatever which will automatically update a file with the latest legislative format after the copy comparatives button has been pressed?
Sorry, I know I'm writing like a total IT duffer. I'm just a frustrated user.
Andy Partridge
Replies (19)
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It will be possible in future
I was away on holiday and have only just seen this posting.
I am very aware of the issue that has been raised. However, it is a practical impossibility to write a macro that in effect takes selected parts of a new Excel workbook and places them in an existing (and presumable customised) workbook.
As an alternative, we are planning to add data export and import routines that will enable you to export the trial balance and other data from an old workbook and import it into a new one. Starting with the July 2008 edition templates, we have named all cells that contain data with special names beginning with x. This means that data can still be reliably exported/imported even if you have added rows or otherwise customised a workbook. The method will also partially work between workbooks of different types (eg large to small company or vice versa).
The drawbacks of this method are:
* It will only apply to workbooks originally created in the July 2008 edition or later
* User customisations cannot be exported or imported
recommendation
I don't want to be drawn into this argument, but would anyone like to say which alternative product might solve Andy's problem. Hopefully, then I can avoid the same thing.
Hi Adam
I am not suggesting they could not do it - I am equally sure it is technically possible; but I am suggesting that life is to short to wait and there are probably many competing products that do provide this basic functionality out of the box
As a matter of principle I would always recommend buying software that delivers all of your key requirements straight out of the box. Nothing particularly bad tempered about that. Just good old fashioned common sense.
*
This seems an incredibly bad-tempered thread on all parts!
For what it's worth, I would side with Andy. What is wrong with him having a moan about some software which, whilst good as far as it goes, is limited by its inability to do some fairly basic stuff (it used to irritate me too when I used to use VT)? Surely it is the purpose of a forum like this to share moans and ideas? Who knows - there might have been a groundswell of opinion agreeing with Andy which he could have taken to VT?
And whilst I'm nowhere near as computer-savvy as Alastair, I do write Excel VBA procedures and am sure that what Andy is suggesting is eminently feasible if there was a will (which there doesn't appear to be for some strange reason as VT hardly changed over the several years I used it).
Alastair
I think you'll find he just wants to have the last word.
ps. Andy - thanks for the plans.
hmmm
thats a big chip you have on your shoulder. Are you sure you are not in some way related to this company?
agree with anon
i agree with the comments made earlier by anon. i think your first port of call should be your software supplier. if they are unwilling or unable to provide a solution, then i would consider using different software which is more suitable to your requirements.
Andy
they probably do. Its supposed to be a simplistic program - if the basics aren't obvious then it does not sound promising. In my experience it is always better to buy applications that deliver most of what you require. If you buy something incomplete and are waiting for them to deliver the missing bits you will most likely remain disappointed.
I think anon has a point!
albeit inelegantly put.
Of course it is technically possible that VT could make the sofware do what you suggest, but that they haven't (and it sounds so basic)suggests that you would be better with a different application that does do what you require.
There was a July update?!
I check updates every time I start VT, and as yet I've not had an update for months and months. Hmm.
who cares
what utter drivel. if you are not happy with the software either take it up with the vendor or buy something else.