Creating a New Company Data File

Knowledge Base · Getting Started

Applies to: All Supported Versions  |  Platform: macOS, Windows, Connected on Demand

ARTICLE CONTENTS

1. Overview
2. Creating the Company Data File
3. Setting Up General Company Information
4. Related Articles
5. Reference Links

1. Overview

When first starting with Connected, a data file (also known as a Company File) will need to be created. This is your company's data file. If a company data file wasn't already created for you as part of a data migration, one will need to be created.

2. Creating the Company Data File

To create a new company data file:

1. Double-click on the Connected app icon to launch the program. If opening Connected for the first time, the Open Connected Company Data File window appears.

   NOTE If you have been using Connected previously, the last company you were working on will open automatically. Click Cancel at the logon window when asked for a Log On Name and Password.

2. Select New Company from the File menu, as shown below.
   
3. Enter a company name in the space provided and choose a destination to save the new file. The New Company File window is shown below for both macOS and PC platforms.

   macOS:

   

   PC (Windows 11):

   
4. After selecting the folder/destination and entering the File Name, click Save to create the new file.
5. The Connected Log On window will appear if your file was created successfully. Enter MASTER in the Log On Name field and CONNECTED in the Password field. The fields are case sensitive and the default name and password are all uppercase.
   

   TIP The software is shipped with the default log on name MASTER and password CONNECTED, and this should be changed. Reference: Introduction to Passwords, User Accounts, and Access Privileges

Once successfully logged in to the new company data file, you will see this message.

3. Setting Up General Company Information

The General Company Information is required before any other settings can be accessed. The required information to proceed is the company name/address and the Fiscal Year.

1. Select File → Company Setup → General Setup.
   
2. In the Company Setup window, add the Company Name and Address under the Company Details tab.
   
3. Next, click the Accounting Periods tab to define the fiscal year. For example, if you're using a calendar fiscal year for 2026, add 01/01/26 into the first cell and press tab to complete the other periods.
   
4. Press ENTER or click Save to update the information.

The Connected Desktop can now be opened by clicking My Places/Show Connected Desktop, or by pressing CMD+1 (macOS) or CTRL+1 (Windows PC).

The "Setting Up the General Ledger" section, in the General Ledger chapter of the User Guide, has detailed information on how to continue setting up the company. Access this information as shown in the following screen.

4. Related Articles

• Get Help - Intro to Connected Support
• Transaction Record Info
• Introduction to Passwords, User Accounts, and Access Privileges
• Creating a Manual Backup with the Connected ODB Admin Server App
• Closing an Accounting Year in Connected

5. Reference Links

• Introduction to Passwords, User Accounts, and Access Privileges