Knowledge Base

PowerChurch Software Newsletter - Fall 2014


Welcome to the Fall 2014 edition of the PowerChurch Software newsletter. In this issue, we will cover more about setting up scheduled tasks in Windows, keeping up to date with maintenance release updates, and compatible products and services.

 

Using the Task Scheduler in Windows

In a previous issue, we reached out asking for suggestions for what features you would like to see in the spotlight in future newsletters. By far, the number one request was for more in-depth explanations in using the Windows Task Scheduler to automate different processes in the program.

Back in the Spring 2012 issue of this newsletter, we published a list of all of the different processes in PowerChurch Plus that can be automated. Setting up automated tasks will free up some of your work day by eliminating those repetitive chores. This feature is available to PowerChurch Plus desktop users only. Unfortunately, PowerChurch Online users aren't able to remotely schedule tasks on our servers.

The process to set up a scheduled task varies from one Windows version to the next. Below are links to articles on the Microsoft web site with instructions for each Windows version:

Windows Vista, Server 2008, 7
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP
Windows 2000

There are no Microsoft articles that we were able to find with specific instructions for using the Task Scheduler in Windows 8/8.1/Server 2012, so here is a quick tutorial, showing the scheduling of the PowerChurch Plus backup routine for Version 11.5:

  1. On the tiled Start screen, type "schedule task". In the App Search results, click on the Task Scheduler item.



  2. In the Actions pane on the right, click Create Basic Task. This opens the Create Basic Task wizard.



  3. Enter a name and description for the new scheduled task. For example, "PowerChurch Backup" and "Nightly backup of PowerChurch Plus database". Click Next.



  4. Select a trigger. This will control the frequency with which the scheduled task occurs. You can trigger it on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, monthly, or trigger it on events, such as when the computer starts up or shuts down. In this example, we'll choose Daily. Click Next.



  5. Enter a start date and time. This will be the date and time of the first occurrence, such as tonight at midnight. Set it to recur every 1 days. Click Next.



  6. On the Action step, choose Start a Program and click Next.



  7. Click the Browse button found Next to the Program/Script field and browse to the PowerChurch Plus program directory (by default C:\PowerChurch\PCPLUS115\). Find and select the PCBackup115.exe program file.
  8. Enter or copy the program directory path (C:\PowerChurch\PCPLUS115) into the Start In field and then click Next. Click Finish.

The task is now scheduled. If setting up the backup routine as we have done here, be sure to specify where the backup is to be saved in PowerChurch Plus.

To do this, go to File > Preferences > System Setup Options. Click on the Backup tab. Click the ellipsis (…) button to browse to the location you would like the backup to be saved. If browsing to an external drive or mapped network location, it must be connected and available when the scheduled task runs.

You can also set e-mail notifications to be sent every time the backup is completed or only if there is a problem. The e-mail notifications require that you have entered the e-mail setup options on the E-mail tab of the System Setup Options screen.

 

Keeping Up to Date with Maintenance Releases

Maintenance Releases are updates to your existing version of PowerChurch Plus which provide bug fixes and minor feature tweaks. Updated tax forms and other requirements are also distributed via Maintenance Release, so it is important for various reasons to keep the program up to date.

For users of Version 9 and prior of PowerChurch Plus, Maintenance Releases are available as a manual download and install process on our web site at www.powerchurch.com/mr. Version 10 of PowerChurch Plus added notifications in the program, letting you know that a new Maintenance Release was available, though it was still a manual process to download and install the update. Starting with Version 11, the program checks for an available update weekly, then offers to download and install the update for you automatically.

In a network installation of PowerChurch Plus, you only need to install the update on the server/host computer. Each workstation will be updated automatically.

PowerChurch Online users don't need to worry about maintenance updates. Our administrators always keep the PowerChurch Online servers up to date with the latest Maintenance Releases.

To view the full Maintenance Release FAQ, which includes download and installation instruction, visit www.powerchurch.com/support/60/1/maintenance-release-faq

 

Compatible Products

Visit the Compatible Products page on our web site to view a list of products and services that can be used in conjunction with PowerChurch Software products. There are hardware items like the MICR Check Reader, Bar Code Wand, as well as the compatible Check In hardware, such as printers, labels, and bar code scanners. Online contributions are available through Vanco Services, background checks from Protect My Ministry, and bulk e-mail using Constant Contact.

Visit www.powerchurch.com/products/compatible.php to view the full list and get more information.

 

Forum Q&A

The Support Forum on our web site is a very active online community of our users and Tech Support staff members. There you can browse through thousands of questions and answers, or post your own.

From PowerChurch Online:
Q. We've recently purchased a new laptop with Windows 8.1. Unfortunately the UI of PowerChurch Online becomes distorted and unusable. When we produce a report and try to scroll down, the image becomes distorted, also navigating through the menu creates issues.
A. To correct this, right click on the IDS.exe file located in C:\Program Files (x86)\IDS LLC\IDS\Client\, go to Properties, and on the Compatibility tab, check "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings".

From General:
Q. When I restore the backup, an error pops up: Dynazip Unzip Error: Error creating output file.
A. The backup is a zip file. Copy it to another drive then extract it with the Windows file dialog to see if it extracts OK. If you get an error, then the file is corrupted.

From Accounting:
Q. In one of the past newsletters I read the following "usually transfer accounts close to the unrestricted equity account". What would be an example of a transfer account closing to a temp restricted equity account?
A. If the money that you are transferring is not currently restricted and you are transferring into a restricted account, then you would want the "Transfer In" account to close directly to the restricted equity account, and the "Transfer Out" account to close to unrestricted equity. On the other hand, if the money is being transferred from a specific restriction, then you would want the "Transfer Out" account to close to the particular restricted equity account.


Created: 10/22/2014
Last updated: 07/25/2021