Checking and installing network protocols

As we discussed, special network protocols must be enabled to ensure that the programs you run on the network—including AccountEdge—are able to communicate messages among the computers on the network. Your computers must be using either the AppleTalk or the TCP/IP protocol.

When you create a data file in AccountEdge and when you begin each session in AccountEdge, you’ll have the opportunity to specify which protocol you wish to use in multi-user mode—depending, of course, upon whether you have more than one protocol installed on your computer.

The first step in setting up your network software is to check to be sure that these protocols are installed and ready on your computers. If they’re not, you’ll need to install them. To check the protocols on your computers, see Checking and activating network protocols.

Checking and activating network protocols

All Macintosh computers are equipped with the AppleTalk protocol, and most new Macintosh systems include the TCP/IP protocol. However, it’s possible that neither protocol is active on your computer. Choose a topic below to check to see whether the protocol of your choice is active on your computer. In these procedures, we’ll also check to be sure that Ethernet is selected as your LAN technology.

Checking and activating the AppleTalk protocol

Please note: because Macintosh System versions differ, the names of windows and fields may be slightly different than what’s presented in these instructions.

  1. From the Apple menu, choose Control Panels, then open the TCP/IP Control Panel.
  2. Depending upon the System version you’re using, you may see a field labeled Connect via. If you do, be sure that Ethernet is selected for this field. If you don’t see a Connect via field, you may need to open the Network Control Panel to select Ethernet.
  3. This step also depends upon the System version you’re using. If the AppleTalk Control Panel shows only two fields—Connect via and Current zone, choose User Mode from the Edit menu. Then, from the Select user mode list, mark the Advanced selection and click OK. The AppleTalk Control Panel will then expand to display additional fields and buttons.
  4. If the AppleTalk Control Panel has a Make AppleTalk field, be sure the Active selection is marked. (On some AppleTalk Control Panels, you may need to click a button—usually labeled “Options”—to locate the Make AppleTalk field.)
  5. That’s it! This computer is ready to run AccountEdge on a network! Close the AppleTalk Control Panel windows that are open, and don’t forget to check all the computers on your network using these steps.

Checking and activating the TCP/IP protocol

If you wish to use the TCP/IP protocol, each computer on the network that will run MYOB AccountEdge must be assigned an IP address (a set of numbers that identifies each computer on a TCP/IP network). This procedure will help you set up TCP/IP to a certain extent; however, the choices you make for configuring your TCP/IP connection to your network depend upon how your network is set up. If someone else set up your network connection, you probably will need to consult that person for assistance here. You might also want to consider speaking with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to learn how you can receive permanent IP addresses for each of your computers. (Keep in mind that if your computers are assigned IP addresses only when they have an active dial-up connection to the Internet, you won’t be able to run AccountEdge properly—unless those computers are always connected to the Internet while AccountEdge is in use.)

Please note: because Macintosh System versions differ, the names of windows and fields may be slightly different than what’s presented in these instructions.

  1. From the Apple menu, choose Control Panels, then open the TCP/IP Control Panel.
  2. Depending upon the System version you’re using, you may see a field labeled Connect via. If you do, be sure that Ethernet is selected for this field. (You may need to choose an Ethernet icon to make this selection.) If you don’t see a Connect via field, you may need to open the Network Control Panel to select Ethernet.
  3. This step also depends upon the System version you’re using. If the TCP/IP Control Panel shows only one or two fields along the right side of the window (such as Additional search domains), choose User Mode from the Edit menu. Then, from the Select user mode list, mark the Advanced selection and click OK. The right side of the TCP/IP Control Panel will then display additional fields and buttons.
  4. If the AppleTalk Control Panel has a Make TCP/IP field, be sure the Active selection is marked. (On some TCP/IP Control Panels, you may need to click a button—usually labeled “Options”—to locate the Make TCP/IP field.) Feel free to choose the Load only when needed box if you want.
  5. Next, set up the IP address, subnet mask and other identifying features of your computer in the TCP/IP Control Panel. Keep in mind that each computer on your network must have an IP address assigned to it when AccountEdge is running in multi-user mode. If you haven’t been assigned a set of permanent IP addresses for the computers on your network, contact your Internet Service Provider or the person who set up your network.
  6. That’s it! This computer is ready to run AccountEdge on a network! Close the TCP/IP Control Panel windows that are open, and don’t forget to check all the computers on your network using these steps.

Checking and installing network protocols