Excel has many security features. To run Big E-Z Books you will need to complete 3 tasks:

    Watch a 2 Minute Getting Started Demo for:

        Excel 2007 Users              

        Excel 2003 Users

     # 1 Change your EXCEL MACRO SECURITY LEVEL:
        Excel 2003 Go to > Tools > Macro > Macro Security > Medium, then close Excel to save the changes.
        In Excel 2007 Go to > MS Office Button (icon) > Excel Options >Trust Center > Trust Center Settings >         Macro settings> Disable all macros with notification (recommended), then close Excel to save the changes.

Q: How do I change the category titles?

   A: You may change categories in Period 1 (the January file) of the Deposits and Checks worksheets only. Changing    categories in the Checks will also changes Cash&Charges spreadsheet.

Go to Period 1 (the January file) and click > Checks then click any column from Column I to Column AF in Rows 3-5. Do NOT make category change mid-year.

Click Here to watch Change Category Demo

Q: How do I set up budget amounts?

A: Go to the Period 1 (or January) Income&Expenses worksheet and enter monthly amounts under the Budget column. These amounts will show up on all monthly files as you open each monthly file. The Summary will show a total for twelve monthly budget amounts after all 12 months have been opened.

To take this a step further you have the option to change the budget amounts in each month by overwriting the preset formula with your budget amount. Your Summary totals will change accordingly.

Repeating transactions Enter description once in Period 1 (or January) and all months will show the same (on the first 10 rows of the Deposits, Checks and Charges)

Improved bank reconciliations Better way of tracking outstanding checks from 2 or more previous months 

Automatic beginning checkbook balances You no longer need to start your new month with last month’s checkbook balance, it’s fully automatic now 

Account Balance Tracker We’ve included an area to help you keep track of what you own and owe at a quick glance, updated monthly. 

Track Transfers in and out Use the Transfers column to record savings or loan transfers during the month

Set Excel (not Works) as your default program for your XLS files

If our files don't install properly it could be one of many reasons...

1) Your computer is equipped with Microsoft Works not Excel.

2) You are using a trial version of Microsoft Excel.

3) Your computer has both Excel and Works installed and Works is set to be your default spreadsheet program.

4) You installed the files in a location different from the one we instructed. 

Q: How can I limit the number of pages that print?

A: Click on Print Report, Print, under Page Range put the number of the first page you want printed in the From box and the last page you want printed in the To box.

Q: I entered my name and year on the Settings worksheet but it does not print on the forms, why?

A: We ask that you use our pre-programmed Print Report button located next to the Show Help button on top of each worksheet instead of Excel's File and Print commands.

Q: I installed BIG E-Z BOOKS on my VISTA computer and opened it in Excel 2007 but it says the file is “Read-Only”?

A:  It may be you opened the program using a trial version of Excel/Office. One way to tell is if Microsoft prompts you for a 25 digit product code. Big E-Z requires a License Key that is up to nine letters and numbers to make the software a Full-Working copy.

Q: The tabs are missing on the bottom of the worksheet; how can I view them?

A: It is possible that your Big E-Z software has opened in Read-Only view because the Excel security level is set too high.            

Watch a 1 Minute Demo: How to Change Your Security Level in Excel 2003

  Excel has many security features. To run Big E-Z Books you will need to complete 3 tasks:

     # 1 Change your EXCEL MACRO SECURITY LEVEL:
        Excel 2003 Go to > Tools > Macro > Macro Security > Medium, then close Excel to save the changes.
        In Excel 2007 Go to > MS Office Button (icon) > Excel Options >Trust Center > Trust Center Settings >         Macro settings> Disable all macros with notification (recommended), then close Excel to save the changes.

                        or... 

Are the worksheets hidden? (Format > Sheet > Unhide...)
           
Is your workbook maximized within the Excel window, or is part of it off the screen? (ie, can you see the horizontal scroll bar?)

If you can see the horizontal scroll bar and you have view sheets checked in Options, then there should be a small, vertical line/widget to the left of the scroll bar on the edge of your Excel window. If you put your cursor over that widget, the cursor should change into a small double-arrow indicating that you can drag the widget. Drag it to the right to make your scroll bar smaller and make room for the sheet tabs to be displayed.)

Installation

Downloads

Click on the download link you received via email, then click on the exe file under File Download, choose to RUN the program, follow the prompts to install. Do NOT change the installation location. Read and watch the Getting Started - Excel Security Warnings demo (located above) if you have not already done so. Please take a moment to Register for support and future product discounts.

CDs

Insert the CD, click on the Big E-Z Books Edition you purchased, follow the prompts to install. Do NOT change the installation location. Enable the software to run. Read and watch the Getting Started - Excel Security Warnings demo (located above) if you have not already done so. Please take a moment to Register for support and future product discounts.

Re-Installation

Re-Installation amounts to installing a complete new set of files and un-installing the previous files. It also requires re-entering your data. To get a new set of files you must have a valid license. Licenses expire one year from purchase date.Click here to request a new set of files.

    All Big E-Z Software requires Microsoft Excel on a Windows PC

     If our files don't install properly it could be one of many reasons...

1) Your computer is equipped with Microsoft Works not Excel.

2) You are using a trial version of Microsoft Excel.

3) Your computer has both Excel and Works installed and Works is set to be your default spreadsheet program.

4) You installed the files in a location different from the one we instructed. 

  Excel has many security features. To run Big E-Z Books you will need to complete 3 tasks:

    Watch a 2 Minute Getting Started Demo for:

        Excel 2007 Users              

        Excel 2003 Users 

     # 1 Change your EXCEL MACRO SECURITY LEVEL:
        Excel 2003 Go to > Tools > Macro > Macro Security > Medium, then close Excel to save the changes.
        In Excel 2007 Go to > MS Office Button (icon) > Excel Options >Trust Center > Trust Center Settings >         Macro settings> Disable all macros with notification (recommended), then close Excel to save the changes.

Q: My checkbook balance doesn't compute. Why is that?

A: A name or description must be entered in column "B" for the checkbook balance to compute.

Q: When entering a date in the date column the cursor jumps down many rows, why?

A: The Caps Lock key might be engaged.  If so, it must be turned off.

Q: Why do I get this message "The cell or chart you are trying to change is protected...?"

A: You will see this message if you click into a formula area. All shaded areas are locked down to keep the programs integrity intact.

To ENTER DATA, use only the blank, white cells.

To CHANGE CATEGORY TITLES, go to Period 1 or the January file and click on the Deposits or Checks tab.

REPEATING TRANSACTIONS and ACCOUNT BALANCE DESCRIPTIONS may be edited in Period 1 (January file) only.

Q: When I was reconciling, in error, I placed an "X" next to a check that hadn't actually cleared. I realized my mistake and cleared the "X" yet it still shows up as cleared. Why?

A: When clearing this cell make sure you use the backspace buttonto completely clear all characters and spaces; blank spaces are recognized as characters so the cell may look empty but it really is not.

If you experience a RUN-TIME error while opening a file, it may be caused by having too many Excel spreadsheet files open at the same time. You may try clicking on Ctrl, Alt, Delete then Task Manager to End the Process. This will close the Excel program without saving your changes. Or refer to the Excel Help documentation for further remedies.

Important NOTE: You may lose data entered since your previous Save and need to re-enter.

Q: Why do I get this message: "The cell or chart you are trying to change is protected...?"

A: This message will pop up if you click in a formula area that is locked down.

To ENTER DATA, use only the blank, white cells.

To CHANGE CATEGORY TITLES, go to Period 1 or the January file and click on the Deposits or Checks tab.

REPEATING TRANSACTIONS and ACCOUNT BALANCE DESCRIPTIONS may be edited in Period 1 (January file) only.

There is a SHOW HELP/HIDE HELP button located near the top of each page to help answer most of your questions.

Click Here to watch a Show/Hide Help Demo

Q: What if I use follow a Fiscal Calendar?

A: You may change the months to reflect your fiscal accounting periods on the Settings of each monthly file. This is true for all editions of Big E-Z Books.

   I just installed BIG E-Z BOOKS. How can I access my files?

   Your files will be in a folder on your Desktop called Big E-Z or you can click on Start > All Programs > Big E-Z > the Big E-Z edition > Data > 20XX, then click the month you want to use.

   Can I place BIG E-Z BOOKS files in a different location than the one you advise?

   No. The links will break if you install the files in a different location.

Click Here to watch a Where are my Files Demo

New in Excel 2007 is a Compatibility Checker. You may get a "Minor loss of fidelity" error. (Your program should function properly in spite of this message) This will occur the first time you save each monthly file.

To Disable it...kindly remove the checkmark where it says "Check compatibility when saving this workbook" then click > Continue. Or to Ignore it...Click > Cancel. Do NOT click on “Copy to New Sheet” button.

 

     

           To Disable it . . . kindly remove the checkmark where it says "Check

            compatibility when saving this workbook" then click > Continue.