Moving 21st Century Accounting to a new computer

[Customer Service]

(Note: in the following steps, the \C21 folder refers to the main installation folder name you choose. The default and typical name is \C21.)
Prepare for the move

21st Century Accounting requires Version 10 or higher of Pervasive Database Software, the database engine used by the 21st Century Accounting program, for compatibility reasons. Depending on when you purchased the 21st Century Accounting product, you may need to purchase an upgrade for the Pervasive Software.

Determine Your Status

Start the 21st Century Accounting program on your original computer and go to the Help/About command. If the About window does not show Database: PVSW version 10 or higher, contact 21st Century Accounting about obtaining an upgrade before you continue with your transition.

Install on the new computer

Use the latest full-installation CD you have - the CD must include C21 version 4.0 or higher with Pervasive PSQL V.10 or higher - to install the program. If you do not have a CD, contact us for download links. (Your license must be active to access downloads from our website.)

Follow the installation wizard and choose "Full" when installing new servers or stand-alone computers, or "Client" when you are installing new C21 workstations.

If you do not have CD installation media, do not copy the 21st Century Accounting application files from one computer to another. As with almost all Windows applications, reinstalling from approved media sets the proper registry entries and makes sure all the support files are placed where the application expects to find them. NOTE: If you are not using a CD, and you are installing in parts from links we have provided, please make sure to install each piece before you attempt to open the program or move your data.

If you have used a CD, after reinstalling, download and install the latest cumulative program update from our website or contact us for an updated disk. (Note: Your C21 license must be active to purchase a new CD)

Transferring company information

Networking your old and new computers together, at least for a period of time, will ease the transfer of files and folders during the move. Otherwise, plan to use a CD or some other backup media, to transfer the \C21\data folder and \C21\reports\custom folder (if it exists) from your old computer. If you have custom User-defined payroll taxes, you should make sure to move the "prcustom.cpz" file from the C:/C21 folder

If for some reason you are not able to transfer your current information from these folders, then review and perform the following steps, as applicable:

1. Review user IDs and Access Control settings and create any new ones you need

2. If you have any Payroll user-defined taxes, review them and create any new ones you need. User defined taxes must have the same names that they had in the previous C21 installation. Thus, it is essential that you select and save user defined taxes from your old installation before you select companies for the first time. Company selection can alter user tax names beyond your ability to repair. If necessary, make a temporary copy of your company(s) to review the name(s) used in Payroll/Configure/Taxes. Otherwise, if you have a copy of the \C21\data folder from any point in time, restore it to use as a starting point.

3. If you have a copy of the \C21\reports\custom folder from any point in time, restore that to use as a starting point.

Add-ons and Payroll Tax Updates

If you use the payroll system in C21, install the latest Payroll Tax Update (available on our website), which is cumulative for each year, so you'll be running the current year's Payroll tax calculations.

If you purchased any Add-on products for the 21st Century Accounting program, such as the Tax Form Kit, Direct Deposit, Report Customizer, etc., then you must install those products separately from the CD or installer file you received from us.

Use the Restore Window Defaults command from the System menu to avoid any issues with command window visibility. You can resize and reposition command windows as desired as you use the program.

Review Preferences & reset workstations

1. Run the System/Company/Preferences command. You should review the settings on all tabs in any case. If you have restored custom forms and/or report definitions (see step #3), then especially go to the Forms tab, click on the Refresh button and then set all the form choice selections as needed.

2. You should Preview the form layouts and possibly print test pages to make sure the definitions match your current needs.

3. If you did not have a current copy of the \C21\data folder to restore (see step #3), then carefully review the other tabs, especially the Doc. number formats tab. You want those settings to be correct before you post new transactions

4. The program saves printer selections for each C21 user ID. Each user should run the System/Select Printer and System/Company/Preference : Forms tab commands to make sure the printer selections are appropriate. In the select printer window, verify or select the correct printer and click OK to exit the window whether you changed the selected printer or not, to make sure the selection is registered in the new environment.

5. Workstations that were attached to the original server will still have shortcuts pointing to the old server. Make sure to run the "Client" setup from your installation CD on each workstation computer to establish the link between the workstation and the new server. If you do not have installation media, you can use Windows explorer to create shortcuts manually from the C21/bin/c21.exe file on the server to your workstations.

Deactivate and move the Pervasive/Actian PSQL license

If you already have Pervasive Version 10 or higher, you must deactivate the Pervasive/Actian PSQL license on your existing computer before you can complete the transition to your new computer. When you are ready to finalize the transition, go to the Windows Start/All Programs. Locate the Pervasive menu and open it to the Pervasive(or Actian)/PSQL/Utilities menu. Start the License Administrator, highlight the entry for your current license, and click the Deactivate or Delete button. Enter the license key into the License administrator of the new server computer.

Removal of Old 21st Century Accounting

1. On the old computer, run Start/Settings/Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.
2. Remove 21st Century Accounting and any entries for Pervasive from the old computer
3. Complete network installation if necessary.

If you have other new computers that you will be using as 21st Century workstations, then perform a "Client" installation on those, using an installation CD with Pervasive 10 or higher.