The 1606 release of Aqilla includes a number of features including some significant enhancements to the overall user experience which improves significantly the utility of the Home screen. By way of example, the new “Top N” gadget type allows a user to display the outcome of a saved enquiry profile and display a selected range of columns directly on the Home screen. Users can click directly on an item in the list and drill straight through to the document or account with a single click of the mouse.
The Aqilla home screen now includes a number of new features including the ability to dynamically change the width(and length) of any gadget. For example a customised home screen might include a series of reminders in a SmartEvents gadget; a SharperLight donut style dashboard with drill through; an RSS feed to a currency news service; 3 Top -N Gadgets (Timesheets to Approve, Top 10 Invoices by Value and Latest Bank Transactions); a SmartKPI listing 5 key performance measures, a Twitter feed; a link to an in-house company intranet and a screen wide internet search browser window.
Users will note that there is no longer a restriction to using three columns. Gadgets can span the whole width of the application workspace or, for example, fill the home screen with a single gadget (such a user’s custom SharperLight dashboard with multiple tabs).
To edit the Home screen, a user must first ‘unlock’ the layout using the open padlock icon.
In the subsequent edit mode users may add new gadgets, auto-arrange gadgets, delete all gadgets; abandon any changes made or save any revised layout and content.
To move a gadget, users may drag the header to rearrange the layout as in previous releases. Aqilla will now provide a preview of the location. When in the correct place, release the mouse button and the gadget will auto clip to the grid. To resize a gadget drag the bottom right-hand corner, again releasing the button when the desired result is achieved.
As previously commented now that they are no longer restricted to 1/3 application space, SmartKPI gadgets may now span the whole width and therefore can be configured with more than 3 traffic-lit values.
The dialog boxes (i.e. the small windows that pop up to request additional information or confirm of an action) have been redesigned to make their appearance more consistent and clearer to use.
A list view gadget can be created that is based on any of the enquiry types showing a subset of the columns that would be displayed in the main enquiry. A parameter in the gadget defines how many rows to display. This type of gadget could be used, for instance, to show documents that need approving or posting.
Alternatively, it could be a list of the most recent or highest value documents. If the gadget is based on a document enquiry, an individual line can be selected to drill straight through to the underlying document, which can be modified or promoted subject to the permissions of the user.
Selecting the heading of the gadget will display the underlying enquiry with the same selections. For instance, if the gadget is displaying timesheets, the Timesheet enquiry will be displayed. This gadget type makes use of Enquiry Profiles. The process of creating a new gadget is as follows:
In previous releases, the Debtor and Creditor Accounts included a field called “VAT not Reported” with values Yes or No. If this was set to Yes, the VAT Rate flagged as Not Reported would be automatically set by the invoicing functions. For this feature to work correctly it was assumed that one (and only one) VAT Rate had been defined as Not Reported. From version 1606, the field in the Debtor and Creditor accounts has been renamed to “Not Reported VAT Rate” and the options available are “–Not Set–” (i.e. the same as the previous option “No”) or a selection of VAT Rates that have been flagged as Not Reported.
As well as ensuring that accounts can only be flagged as Not Reported if a Not Reported VAT rate exists, it also enables more than one Not Reported rate to be used in different accounts.
The rules for determining which VAT Rate an invoice line will use are as follows:
Journal Type information has been added to row and column selection options.
A new option has been added that enables invoice journals to be constructed that automatically posts the payment transaction with the invoice and mark the invoice as paid. If this feature is of interest please contract our support (support@aqilla.com), who will be able to explain the feature in more detail and can organise a consultant to reconfigure your system.
The Santander Connect statement upload is now a supported format. If you are using Santander Connect, the downloaded statement is now automatically recognised by the Aqilla Automatic Bank Reconciliation function.
Personnel data may now be maintained through the Excel add-in. Note that this does not include associated user or permission data.
E-book: Dispelling the (five) myths of accounting in the Cloud
Month or year end doesn’t have to be slow or difficult. Here is a best practice guide to the busiest times of the accounting and finance year with 5 tips to facilitate a quicker and more efficient period end.
