Frequently asked questions and instructor notes
Topic A: Classroom setup
All our courses assume that each student has a personal computer to
use during the class. Our hands-on approach to learning requires that they do.
This topic gives information on how to set up the classroom to teach this
course.
Hardware requirements
Each student’s personal computer should have:
· A keyboard and a mouse
· At least 2 GHz Pentium 4 processor (2.4 GHz
recommended)
· At least 1 GB RAM
· At least 3 GB of hard-disk space
· A CD-ROM drive
· A monitor with at least 1,280×800 resolution
and 24-bit color
Software requirements
You will need the following software:
· Windows 7
· QuickBooks 2012 Pro or QuickBooks 2012
Premier
· A printer driver (An actual printer is not
required, but if a printer driver is not installed, students will not be able
to complete the printing and previewing activities in the units called “Working
with business forms,” “Banking and billing activities,” and “Reporting and
budgeting.”)
Network requirements
The following network components and connectivity are also required
for this course:
· Internet access, for the following purposes:
– Downloading the latest
critical updates and service packs
– Completing the payroll
service activity in the unit titled “Banking and billing activities”
– Downloading the student data
files from www.axzopress.com
(if necessary)
Classroom setup instructions
Before you teach this course, you will need to perform the
following steps to set up each student computer.
1 Install Windows on an NTFS
partition according to the software publisher’s instructions. After
installation is complete, if the student machines have Internet access, use
Windows Update to install any critical updates and Service Packs.
Note: You can also use Windows
Vista, but the screenshots in this course were taken in Windows 7, so students’
screens might look somewhat different.
2 With flat-panel displays,
we recommend using the panel’s native resolution for best results. Color
depth/quality should be set to High (24 bit) or higher.
3 Install the printer driver
of your choice.
4 Change the system date to February 15, 2012. The student data for
this course is date-sensitive, so performing this step correctly is critical.
Here’s what you do:
a On the taskbar, click the
clock to open a window that displays the current date and time. Click the
“Change date and time settings” link to open the Date and Time dialog box.
b On the Date and Time tab,
click “Change date and time” to open the Date and Time Settings dialog box.
c Under Date, use the
scroll arrows to select February, 2012. In the calendar, select 15.
d Click OK to return to the
Date and Time dialog box.
e Click the Internet Time
tab and click Change settings to open the Internet Time Settings dialog box.
f Clear “Synchronize with
an Internet time server.” This will prevent the clock from resetting
automatically.
g Click OK twice.
5 Install QuickBooks 2012 Pro
or Premier Edition according to the software manufacturer’s instructions. You
can download updates when you are prompted, or wait until the next step to
update.
6 You need to turn off the
Automatic Update feature to avoid having QuickBooks update your software in the
background. Here’s how:
a Start QuickBooks.
b Choose Help, Update
QuickBooks to open the Update QuickBooks window.
c Manually update
QuickBooks by clicking Update Now.
d When the update is
finished, click the Options tab. For the Automatic Update option, select No.
e Click Save and then click
Close.
f Close and restart QuickBooks.
Note: If necessary, open Internet Explorer and
display the Internet Options dialog box. On the Advanced tab, clear Check for
publisher's certificate revocation and Check for server certificate revocation*.
7 Register QuickBooks.
(Choose Help, Register QuickBooks, and follow the on-screen instructions.) You
can use QuickBooks 2012 for a limited time without registering.
8 Close QuickBooks.
9 Mute speakers on all computers.
10 If you have the data disc
that came with this manual, locate the Student Data folder on it and copy it to
the desktop of each student computer.
If you don’t have the
data disc, you can download the student data files for the course:
a Connect to
www.axzopress.com.
b Under Downloads, click
Instructor-Led Training.
c Browse the subject
categories to locate your course. Then click the course title to display a list
of available downloads. (You can also access these downloads through our
Catalog listings.)
d Click the link(s) for
downloading the student data files. You can download the files directly to
student machines or to a central location on your own network.
e Create a folder named
Student Data on the desktop of each student computer.
f Double-click the
downloaded zip file(s) and drag the contents into the Student Data folder.
Cautionary notes
When you’re preparing for and teaching this course, it’s important
that you keep the following information in mind.
Software updates
|
|
This course should work without your installing the latest
updates and patches to the QuickBooks software. If you choose to update the
software, be aware that the process might take several minutes. Also, when
you open data files that were created in a slightly different version of the
software, you might get a message to that effect, though you should be able
to open any data file created in any version of QuickBooks 2012. |
Date-sensitive data
|
|
We designed this course to be completed in one day. As
indicated in the classroom setup instructions, it’s critical that you set
each student computer’s system date to February 15, 2012 before starting the
activities. If you choose to teach this class over two or more days, be sure
to set every computer to the specified date at the beginning of each day. Also, before you start the class, it would be a good idea to
tell your students about this special date setting. We also suggest providing
periodic reminders throughout the day. |
Topic B: Frequently asked questions
There are no frequently asked questions for this course at this time.
Topic C: Course notes
There are no notes for this course at this time.
Topic D: Additional information
There is no additional information for this course at this time.