- Created by admin, last modified by AdrianC on Mar 27, 2017
This information applies to MYOB AccountRight version 19. For later versions, see our help centre.
https://help.myob.com/wiki/x/nAGc
ANSWER ID:9189
If you use M-Powered Superannuation, your software stores valuable information in the M-Powered Services Centre data file (.box file). This file is used in conjunction with your company file and these two files must always be kept together. This support note explains what Synchronisation is, what the Synchronisation error message means, and the options that are available.
For additional information, refer to M-Powered Service Centre Box File (Australia only).
What is Synchronisation?
If you use an M-Powered Service such as M-Powered superannuation, the software stores valuable information in the M-Powered Services Centre data file. Whenever you open the company file, the M-Powered Services Centre data file is being checked as well. There is an internal counter held within the M-Powered Services Centre data file and the company file that increments when the data files are opened. This counter is used as an internal check that both files have been used in conjunction with each other. If they have not been used in conjunction with each other, the software will identify this and display the Synchronisation error. You could potentially lose information from either the company file or M-Powered Services Centre data file, or both so it is important to choose the correct option if you receive the Synchronisation error message.
How do the files become unsynchronised?
A very brief explanation is that one file has been opened without the other, in other words the company file has been opened without the required M-Powered Services Centre data file or vice versa. A more detailed example of how your files can become unsynchronized is provided below:
Example
You may have moved the company file to another computer and either created a new M-Powered Services Centre data file or restored an old one. You may have entered transactions to the company file and then moved the company file back to the original location with the original M-Powered Services Centre data file. When you open the company file, the software recognises that one of the files has been opened more than the other and you will receive the Synchronisation error.
You can receive the following Synchronisation error when opening or closing the company file.
The message indicates that the restoration of a backup is recommended, but there are two options available: Yes and No.
Yes: You would like to restore a backup of the M-Powered Services Centre data file only. You should choose this option if you have entered transactions to the company file that impact on the M-Powered Services Centre. This is because the transactions were updated to an incorrect M-Powered Services Centre data file and may need to be re-entered to the service. If you select Yes, the software will display a file restore window and prompt you to restore a backup. This should not be confused with restoring a back up of your company file. Only the M-Powered Services Centre data file will be restored. See 'To restore a backup of the M-Powered Services Centre data file only' below. No: You will not restore a backup of the M-Powered Services Centre data file. You can choose this option if transactions were entered that do not impact on the M-Powered Service you subscribe to. Selecting No will update the internal counter and force the software to ignore the differences between the two files.
- If you choose No, the internal counters are reset, ensuring the internal counters are the same in both data files.
- If you choose No and the counters are reset, there are no additional checks made in the software for any actual differences between the two files, for example, transactions entered into one that are not in the other.
- If you choose No, you may not be able to easily identify any differences between the two files.
- If you choose No, you may lose transactions that had originally been posted to either data file.
Resolving the synchronisation error
If you receive the synchronisation error, you can resolve the issue by restoring a backup of the M-Powered Services Centre data file.
Select Yes to the synchronisation window shown above. The Select File to Restore window will be displayed.
- By following these steps you are restoring a copy of the M-Powered Services Centre data file ONLY. The company file will remain the same.
- The software will display the last location used to open a file. This is a feature of Windows, the last used location is displayed.
- If your backups are held in a different location on your computer, you can select this as required by navigating to the applicable location.
Select the backup file you want to restore by highlighting it with your mouse. You may then click Open. The software will automatically display the following message.
This message tells you what the restored M-Powered Services Centre data file will be named and the location in which it will be saved. The M-Powered Services will be saved with the same name and in the same location as the company file.
Click OK. If the correct M-Powered Services Centre data file has been restored, the command centre will now be displayed.
The restored M-Powered Services Centre data file
When you perform the restoration of the M-Powered Services Centre data file, the software renames the old M-Powered Services Centre data file extension from .box to .osc. The restored M-Powered Services Centre data file is saved in this location with a file extension of .box.
It is important that you remember to treat the company file and the M-Powered Services Centre data file as one to prevent these errors being received and safeguard against losing data.
If you are unsure that you are restoring the correct M-Powered Services Centre data file, we would recommend that you perform a standard restoration of your company file and M-Powered Services Centre data file. This will ensure that a company file and M-Powered Services Centre data file are restored.
FAQs
The software checks that the M-Powered Services data file is the same name as the company file when it is restored. If the files are not the same, the restoration will not continue and you will be prompted to select an alternative back up to restore.
It is possible that if you restore an older M-Powered Services Centre data file, you will receive another Synchronisation error. If you receive this error again, as noted earlier, you can choose Cancel if you feel it is appropriate. Alternatively, you may follow the prompts to restore an alternative back up of the M-Powered Services Centre data file.
If you feel unconfident in resetting the internal counters by selecting Cancel and are unsure if you have a current copy of the M-Powered Services Centre data file, you may prefer to restore a back up of your company file and M-Powered Services data file.
For more information on restoring a backup of the company file and M-Powered Services Centre data file, press F1 while using your software to access the Help Centre.