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This article applies to:

  • Product: Accounting CS
  • Subject: Workpapers

Use the Fieldwork Utility

You can use the Fieldwork Utility to access trial balance data and workpapers in the engagement binder while performing audit tasks on a local installation of Accounting CS Workpapers in the field.

Prerequisites

You'll need to do the following before taking your laptop into the field to perform audit fieldwork with access to the Trial Balance.
note
To avoid confusion and potential mistakes, we strongly recommend that you uninstall any network or desktop installations of the application on the laptop prior to performing a local installation.
  1. Install a local installation of Accounting CS on the laptop that will be used in the field.
  2. Download and apply all updates via CS Connect so that the local version of the application matches the networked version of the application at the office.
note
  • A blank FIRM database is installed on the local machine.
  • Be sure that the staff setup on the local laptop matches that of the office workstation to ensure that signoff information is consistent. (For example, staff John Smith – Preparer in the office installation must be set up as John Smith – Preparer on the fieldwork laptop.)

Work in the field

note
Only one staff member who will be working at the client's office needs to complete the following task.
  1. Connect the fieldwork laptop to the firm's network via ethernet connection.
  2. Open Accounting CS, and select
    Help
     then
    Fieldwork Utility
    .
  3. Enter the network server name, instance name, and select
    Update
    .
    note
    You can select
    View available server names and SQL instances
     to list the server names and SQL instances that are available at the client's office. If you're unsure about this process, consult with the firm's network technician.
  4. Select
    OK
     when you're prompted to close and reopen the application.
  5. When you sign back into the application, select
    Setup
     then
    Clients
     to confirm that the correct clients are listed.

Check out the client's data

  1. Select
    File
     then
    Client Data Management Utility
     and choose
    Check out
     from the Action field for the client that you want to work on in the field and copy the backup to a laptop or removable drive that can be easily accessed.
    Switch the SQL instance back to the local machine.
  2. When the backup is complete, select
    Help
     then
    Fieldwork Utility
     and enter the server name and instance name of the
    fieldwork laptop
    .
  3. Select
    OK
     when you're prompted to close and reopen the application.
  4. When you sign back into the application, select
    Setup
     then
    Clients
     to confirm that the correct clients are listed.

Check in the client's data to the fieldwork laptop

elect
File
,
Client Data Management Utility
, then
Check in
 the client to work on while in the field.
Work in the field with a team
  1. After the restore is complete, multiple staff can update the engagement via peer-to-peer network, or workpapers can be disconnected and returned to the laptop version of the application, as needed.
  2. Before updating the client's database back at the office, all audit staff need to return their completed work back into the engagement when it's complete.

Update the client's database back at the office

  1. On the laptop that's returned from the field, select
    File
    , Client
    Data Management Utility
    , then
    Check out
     the updated client data from the client's office.
  2. When the backup is complete, select
    Help
     then
    Fieldwork Utility
    .
  3. Enter the appropriate network server name and instance name for the office configuration, then select
    Update
     to re-attach to the database at the office.
  4. Select
    OK
     when you're prompted to close and reopen the application.
  5. When you sign back into the application, select
    Setup
     then
    Clients
     to confirm that the correct clients are listed.
  6. Select
    File
    ,
    Client Data Management Utility
    , then
    Check in
     the client data that was backed up from the field.

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