QuickBooks Installed on the Point of Sale Server Workstation and Another Network Workstation
QuickBooks Installation Options | About Server/Client Workstations
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Summary of this Configuration
This option can be used if you have only one Point of Sale workstation, which you need to have at the front register but you prefer to use your financial software at another computer (such as in the back office).
This configuration requires a peer-to-peer network with mapped network drives.
You can install this way even with a single license of your QuickBooks financial software.
Once configured, the copy of QuickBooks financial software on the Point of Sale Server workstation can be "silent", i.e., it does not ever have to be opened, but it cannot be uninstalled.
Additional Point of Sale or QuickBooks workstations could be added to the network with proper licensing.
To set up this configuration:
Be sure that the two computers are properly networked in a peer-to-peer configuration. Refer to your Windows documentation or consult a qualified computer technician if you need assistance in mapping network drives or setting a folder to share access as required in this procedure.
For purposes of this procedure we'll refer to the Point of Sale Server Workstation as the "Register" and the QuickBooks financial software computer as the "Office" computer.
Install QuickBooks financial software on the Office computer and set up your financial company file.
On the Office computer, set the folder that contains your QuickBooks company file to "Share" status.
On the Register (Point of Sale Server) computer, map a drive to the QuickBooks company file folder on the Office computer.
Close QuickBooks financial on the Office computer.
Install QuickBooks financial software on the Register computer, using your existing QuickBooks CD and instructions.
This is allowed by a single-user QuickBooks license agreement even though you already have QuickBooks installed on your Office computer, provided that multiple users do not access QuickBooks simultaneously from both computers.
Launch QuickBooks financial software on the Register computer and log on with Administrator rights. Open your QuickBooks company file that is stored on the Office computer from the Register (across the network, do not open QuickBooks on the Office computer).
Optional: Create a new user in your QuickBooks Financial Software with full Administrator rights called "QBPOS User" or similar.
Save your settings and exit QuickBooks on the Register computer.
To conduct Financial Exchanges:
Open QuickBooks financial software and sign in as "Administrator" or as the "QBPOS User" you set up above on the Office computer.
From Point of Sale at the Register, use the Connection Wizard (select Financial Center from the Financial Menu) to connect.
If given the choice during the initial connection, choose the option to "Allow this connection always, even if QuickBooks is not running." If not give this choice during the connection, you can set it up later with these instructions.
From that point on, Point of Sale will silently connect to QuickBooks to conduct Financial Exchanges. You do not have to ever open QuickBooks on the Register computer or have it open in the Office during Financial Exchanges (you cannot be signed in to QuickBooks on the Office computer during exchanges if you have only a single user license).
Your employees cannot access your financial records from the Register (assuming you are using login names and password protection).
Prepare QuickBooks for Financial Exchange
QuickBooks Connection Wizard Overview