Objective

This article will outline the fundamental differences between running the AutoEntry Deskop Sync App as a Service or a Console application. This is referred to as its start-up type.

Applies To

Sage 50 users
QuickBooks Desktop users

Procedure

It is possible to run the Sync App as either a Windows Service (default) or as a Console application. If your company file is on the same PC as Sage 50 or QuickBooks Desktop, the standard installation generally does not need any alterations.

When running as a Service, the service will run in the background and should restart every time the PC is started. If your company files are stored on a remote server or shared network, you might need to change the service to a console application.

When running as a Console application, you would need to open and log into the Sync App each time you want to publish invoices from AutoEntry to Sage/QuickBooks.

Service Application

For the majority of users, the standard Windows Service install suffices. Once the Sync App has been logged into for the first time, the service will continue to run indefinitely on your PC, allowing AutoEntry to publish your invoice data into your accounts package automatically without any further intervention.

As per the standard installation instructions here, the sync app should be installed in the same place as where the company accounts package files are stored i.e. either on your PC or on your server.

Console Application

With the sync app running as a Console application, a console window will run in the background of your PC. Effectively, it is a separate program that is only running while the Sync App is open and logged in.

You will be able to tell that your Sync App is running as a Console application by checking the top of the window as shown below:

The option of running as a Console application is particularly useful if the company files are shared from a network drive that you have full access rights to; it will inherit the same access rights to the files as you have. In contrast to this, by running the Sync App as a Service, it will not inherit your access rights, and hence may not have the required access to those shared company files (meaning having to contact your IT provider etc).

Additional Information

For instructions on changing your Sync App's start-up type from Service to Console, or vice versa, please click here.
If the sync app’s Service/Console stops for any reason, click here for instructions on how you can restart it.

Last edited:

Mar 29, 2022, 8:59 AM