IAS Visual 2000! Supports Unlimited Number Of Journals

Reprinted by permission © 1999 The CPA Software News
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by David B. Moody, CPA

IAS Visual ADVANCE! 2000 (800-987-4IAS: www.iasadvance.com) was built native to the Windows 98/NT environment using an object-oriented design and a user interface that is both pleasing and functional. It can be used either in a traditional application server configuration or in a SQL-compatible client/server architecture (I reviewed the stand-alone design). As the name implies, this program makes extensive use of visual designs and motifs that provide a functional purpose to the program's effectiveness. Make no mistake though, this software will require a fast computer with adequate resources in ram and disk storage.

The main screen of the program has a standard pull-down menu across the top with a toolbar underneath. These tools are primarily for record navigation and editing. Another toolbar on the right edge of the window provides tools for transactional processing. Custom toolbars can be added by the user and can be integrated into the window or be floating.

The input screens for the basic modules make extensive use of window tabs and pull-down lists as well as lookup buttons (which can also be accessed through function keys). Frankly, sometimes looking at some of the screens with all the visual buttons attached to some of the fields can be a little intimidating when viewed for the first time. But there is a consistency to the design and arrangement of the screen controls that makes the screens both keyboard friendly and efficient. This becomes apparent after just a few transaction entries.

Visual ADVANCE! 2000 gives the user a great deal of flexibility with journals and transaction entries. It can support an unlimited (within the capacity of the machine of course) number of journals. You can also post entries with a future reversing date specified. In addition, it can take future posting of transactions that can be posted to a future period without closing the current period. The audit logs keep track of all transactions like these, though, so there is no confusion as to when items were posted as opposed to their effective transaction date.

The software has the capability to drill down from the account level to the detail transaction basically by clicking down through the hierarchy. Something that also supplements transaction details is its ability to optionally save source document images such as invoices for accounts payable, which are tied to individual transactions.

The reporting features are very complete in this package. A built-in financial report writer using a wizard format can create custom designed reports very quickly, which can be previewed on-screen. All reports can also be made into Excel worksheets through a single mouse click.

IAS brings a few programming tool options to the table not often found in this level of accounting software that provide user customizations. These are called IAS ObjectTalk and IAS SmartTools. Although I did not have time to review these in detail, I can give you a brief overview. IAS ObjectTalk is something strictly for developers. It provides class libraries for software written in Java, SmallTalk and Objective C, so a developer could write a custom program interfacing with IAS Visual ADVANCE! 2000. IAS SmartTools is more of a rapid application development tool (RAD) that can be used to develop custom user screens and basic user tools. An included utility, IAS App Express, is a type of wizard that can help you create a simple module. These can give a great deal of added potential power, but should be used by trained developers.

This is quite an accounting tool. The growing business looking towards future upwards scalability may want to examine this one. However, it could be a little overwhelming for the small business that just wants something a little more substantive than an entry level accounting system. But for growing businesses and those with special needs (especially in inventory and document management), this just may be the ticket.