System Requirements <Top>
In order for BusinessMaster software to work, certain minimum system requirements must be met. Most computers in use today are adequate for running BusinessMaster. However, if problems are experienced during installation or configuration, please review the following hardware and software pages to ensure the minimum requirements have been met.
***BusinessMaster is not currently compatible with Apple/Macintosh systems, or any Unix/Linux systems.
BusinessMaster was designed using Microsoft Access, a component of the Microsoft Office Software Suite of products. BusinessMaster will work as a multi-user application on all Windows desktops and standard Windows/Novel networks.
Software Requirements:
Microsoft Access
Any computer currently running Microsoft Office 2000/2002/2003 will run BusinessMaster.
Note: If you don't know which version of Microsoft Access is installed on the computer you want to install BusinessMaster on, then open Microsoft Access, and click on the Help Menu, and click on the link that says "About Microsoft Access":
The first line on the "About" screen that pops up indicates the version. In the example below, it indicates that the version of Access is 2003:
QuickBooks Link Requirements:
To use the QuickBooks link, you must have QuickBooks 2002/2003/2004 Pro or above installed on the local machine to run the link. Please consult with your sales rep or the technical support department for specific issues. Generally, you will only need 1 installed user of QuickBooks. QuickBooks does not need to be installed on each computer running BusinessMaster.
Compatible Operating Systems:
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows 98/98SE
Microsoft Windows ME
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 (Workstation or Server)
Microsoft Windows 2000 (Workstation or Server)
Microsoft Windows XP (Home, Professional or Server)
Hardware Requirements:
1. A Microsoft Windows compatible computer.
2. We recommend a minimum CPU speed of 300MHz.
3. We recommend a minimum of 128MB of Ram.
4. A minimum of 50 MB of free hard disk space is necessary. This database will continue to grow as data is added. (Please note it is not uncommon for databases to grow and require more than 100 MB of space in small business environments, so be sure to plan accordingly.)
5. A 15" monitor at 1024 x 786 resolution is the recommended minimum for general use. A 17" or larger screen is suggested when doing considerable data entry or reporting.
Note: Like most software applications, the more powerful your computers and network is, the faster and more effectively BusinessMaster will run.
Download Program <Top>
Generally with a purchase of BusinessMaster, we will schedule a time with you to install the program for you. This method usually works well because we can set you up quickly for using the program on your network, and we can conduct any data import routines if that is part of your purchase and implementation with us. If for whatever reason you prefer to download the program and install it yourself, please contact us and we will provide you with a download link and your unlocking information. Once you have obtained the file, continue with the documentation below to install the program.
Demo Version
If you are looking to demo a copy of BusinessMaster, please contact us and we will assist you. We will go through a simple evaluation process with you and provide you with a download link to download your demo copy.
Installer <Top>
Step 1. Open Installer <Top>
Double-click the previously downloaded installer. (In this example, the name of the installer is setup.exe and the location of the downloaded file is c:\mastersolutions\setup.exe)
Click the Next button on the first screen that comes up:
Step 2. License Agreement <Top>
Please review the license agreement, and click the Next button to proceed to the next installation screen.
Step 3. Customer Info <Top>
Please enter the appropriate User Name and Organization here. If there is only going to be one BusinessMaster user on the system that is being installed to, then the "Only for me (one)" option may be selected. Click the Next button to proceed to the next installation screen.
Step 4. Ready to Install <Top>
This screen shows you the Destination Folder where BusinessMaster will be installed. Click the Install button to install the program, and then click the the Finish button from the final screen to end the installation procedure.
Opening the Program <Top>
By Default, all Master Solutions programs are installed in the C:\mastersolutions directory. Programs have the .mde extension, and the data files have the .mdb extension. We recommend that this location is used, so that we can easily locate BusinessMaster in support situations.
Open the Folder
There are a number of ways to access the files in C:\mastersolutions. Here is a simple way:
Double click the My Computer icon on the desktop. Expand the (C:) drive directory by double clicking on the (C:) icon, or by left clicking on the "+" symbol next to (C:). Find the "mastersolutions" folder, in the root directory of (C:). Double click the "mastersolutions" folder icon to open and enter that directory. To Open BusinessMaster from here, double-click on BusinessMaster.mde.
Open the Program
By Default, when BusinessMaster is installed via the Installer, a shortcut is installed to the Computer Desktop. This is generally the most convenient way to open the program. Go to the computer desktop and double-click on the BusinessMaster shortcut to open the program.
Gatekeeper <Top>
When first opening the program, you will be asked to provide information regarding your company, and a Gatekeeper Date and Key Code. This information is provided upon purchase of BusinessMaster. If you are demoing the program, you will simply be entering the date and keycode here. If you have purchased the program and are entering your company information, it is very important to remember that spelling and letter case are critical.
After entering your information per the email or fax from Master Solutions LLC, press the Post button. The application will close, and you need to reopen the program. If you see the form again, it means the data you entered in not exactly the same as the license information from Master Solutions, LLC. Double check your input at this point, and if your entered information still does not unlock the program, please Contact Us.
The Gatekeeper Date and Key Code work together, based on your company information, as BusinessMasters security system. This protection was put in place to defeat piracy and unauthorized use of the program.
When you have correctly entered the information, when you reopen the program, you should see the main Switchboard:
Data Import <Top>
Oftentimes the first step in implementing BusinessMaster is to conduct some form of data import. If possible, data import is the most efficient way to get your existing data into BusinessMaster. The import process can be done in different ways. We can look at the format of your existing data, and determine what we can do to import it for you, or we can advise you on exporting it for us into a common format that we can then use to import. We also have excel templates available to assist you, where you can go through a cleanup process and enter your data into import templates. Please Contact Us for more information on importing your existing data into BusinessMaster.
Closing Program <Top>
To quit the application, please be sure to close any form you may be using, by clicking on the Close button on the form. Always use this button to close forms when possible.
Once the forms are closed, simply click the Quit button, located toward the top right of the program. Always use this Quit button link to close BusinessMaster. This ensures that the closing routines that run behind the scenes get executed.
