Hi I've had to move my storage to Google's G Suite today (been a whole day of headaches sorting it out), but I was wondering if anyone can help with this.
I use VT Transaction+ All but one of the files are stored locally. One client wants access to theirs as and when I update it, so I have password protected it and added it to a shared folder on Google Drive. When I open the file, put the password in, it opens fine. But then as soon as I try to do something, like press F4 or F5, post a payment etc, it comes up with "Runtime Error '0'" I previously shared it fine on dropbox, but can't get it to work on Drive. Any suggestions?
How does Google Drive work as part of G Suite? I don't use it, but I have this notion in the back of my mind that it may not necessarily work the same way as Dropbox.
In very simple terms, with the latter, you basically access a location on your hard drive, that Dropbox *also* accesses. It synchronises that location with a copy on their servers - and anything shared with third parties is then synchronised with their computers. They access those things from a location on their hard drive.
I've a sneaking suspicion that with Drive you're accessing stuff remotely - so depending on how it's presented to you/the computer, you may find VT won't like it.
"Access files from your computer without a browser
Drive File Stream gives you access to files directly from your computer, without impacting all of your disk space. Spend less time waiting for files to sync and more time being productive. "
That phrasing suggests very strongly to me that files stored in Drive are stored remotely - so the crucial point is how you set your computer up to access those files. If you're trying to access it via some kind of Drive application, it probably won't work - look for a way (if there is one) to set up your Drive space so that Windows thinks it is another hard drive, and then get VT to talk to its file through that.
(But note that this *might* not work, even if Drive offers that option - I think VT opens its files for random access, keeping them open for reading/writing as you work, so it may be a matter of whether Drive even allows that sort of behaviour.)
You might be better off keeping the file locally, and just copying it into Drive for the client to access whenever you've finished. (I'm assuming the client only accesses it for the purposes of looking at the figures, and doesn't actually update it!)
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
Thanks Vince.
I've downloaded the Drive Streamer so it does appear as an additional drive on my computer. In theory it should sync automatically. I will have another play tomorrow. Been a long day!
Thanks for the reply.
The problem, though, is that magic word: "Streamer" - it gives me doubts that you'll be able to do what you want, and suggests to me that it doesn't "sync" at all; you just access the files directly from Google's storage.
As I said, though, I don't use it, so ICBW.
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
Hi just to let you know it's now working
The file does sync instantly so fingers crossed it will stay like that.
I ended up reinstalling the streamer and then reinstalling the VT software again.
Thanks for your replies.
Ive never really got to grips with G-suite (never really tried neither), although I heard an Accountant the other day mention he uses it a lot, including their excel options.
Im thinking the extra storage is an option if nothing else as Im busting my limit on Dropbox, despite deleting a pile of stuff (too tight to pay for the next level!)
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Changed because of GDPR unfortunately. Still finding my way with it. I had the free Dropbox account which isn't compliant, only their business account. But you have to pay a min 3 user licence which for me was wasted money, but prefer using it.
Interesting - in what way isn't the free Dropbox compliant? I know a company that uses it, primarily internally to pass their invoicing data around.
I have a Dropbox account - and I'm shared in on that invoicing data (not entirely sure why, because I don't use it, and don't even have the right software to access it), but I don't use it for anything else.
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
Same here Vince. I use VT with the free dropbox. No issues.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I was told non of the free accounts for Google, Dropbox etc are compliant because they are designed for individual personal use not business. (Mind you trying to get exact confirmation is a nightmare as everyone says different). Also to do with the DPA's with regard to EU data being stored on servers outside of EU. It's all a bit above my understanding, but what I could find indicated that you need a business account. As a part time one man band I've found it very difficult. Googles G Suite and Google Cloud are 100% compliant (according to them ğ).
Not being a user of Google, or a "proper" user of Dropbox, I can't say for certain - but I'm doubtful that whoever told you that actually knew what they were talking about.
Dropbox's free accounts need to be GDPR compliant in order for people (ordinary folk, not just businesses) in the EU to be able to safely use them - it wouldn't be good enough for Dropbox's terms to say (in effect) "We aren't GDPR compliant, so you waive your protections if you use us."
And as Shaun notes above, he uses it with VT - if Shaun does it it's (probably) okay.
And while I'm not a fan of cloud services, only grudgingly finding storage providers occasionally handy, if I had to use either Google or Dropbox, it'd be Dropbox all the way. I don't trust Google and do my best to limit how much of my OWN data they get - let alone put data involving/about/belonging to other people on their servers!)
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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software
(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)
Dropbox free AND paid for are GDPR compliant and in fact have the extra layer via the privacy shield certification. Had it not had the latter, given the US connection then I would avoid it, just as I old any other cloud company or one retaining personal data, that didn't have the extra layer. ICO themselves do confirm this plus if I recall correctly the legal team for ICAEW and ACCA, although I would need to dig a bit to get to the links to show it (I've do that much blathering reading up on this that my heads been spinning).
In fact Dropbox signed up to privacy shield added protection regulations (enshrined in law if I recal) at least two years prior to gdpr, so they are one step further ahead of the game than some of the accounting software companies that people seem to like to use.
I would say don't ever go by what you are told, unless it's by a legal bod, always investigate for yourself ( which of course means you will ignore what I'm saying )
Privacy shield is an Agreement between EU and US.
edited to correct typo
-- Edited by Cheshire on Friday 8th of June 2018 07:16:23 AM
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
AFAIK Google File Stream has an option to save files locally. If not saved locally they still appear in the file system as if they were saved locally by virtue of a "stub" that looks like a file. When you access the stub it downloads the file from the server. The stubs take up minimal space on your local system.
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