Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about WISDOM. Click on the question to jump to the answer. If your answer isn't here, click here to email us your question.

General

What are the hardware and software requirements for WISDOM?
What are the laptop requirements for seminars?
How do I install WISDOM on my network?
I am getting an error when starting the WISDOM software.
How do I move my installation from my local PC to the network?
How do I move WISDOM to my new PC from my old PC?
How do I tell what version of WISDOM I have?
How do I know where my WISDOM software is installed, (on the network or the local PC)?

ALM

How do I create a budget?
Is there something I can do in my G/L system to help with ALM?
How do I add a month of data in WISDOM?

Investments

Do you have a quick quide to using the WISDOM Investment System?

Accounting Suite

What are the Accounting Suite Year End Procedures?

Answers to frequently asked questions

What are the hardware and software requirements for WISDOM?
WISDOM will run on any PC running Microsoft Windows™ 98,NT,2000, or XP. Older PCs may require you to install the Microsoft DCOM update. If you receive a windows error message while installing the software on an Windows 98 PC, try running the DCOM update. As backing up your data is important for any application, the PC should have some means of saving your data external to the PC, either a floppy disk, ZIP disk, USB flash drive or connection to a network shared drive. To make training and support easier, WISDOM utilizes WebEx™ which allows us to connect directly to your PC, see what you see on your screen, and transfer files between your PC and WISDOM support.

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What are the laptop requirements for seminars?
Seminar attendees are required to bring a laptop with the WISDOM software installed and their data. The requirements for this laptop are the same as described above. In order to install the WISDOM software, the laptop will need to have either a CD-ROM drive, be connected to a network with access to the installation file, or have access to the internet to download the installation file from our web site. Once the WISDOM software is installed on the laptop, your data must be restored. Again, the laptop will need to have access to the backup created. After the seminar, most users want to restore the data they modified at the seminar to their system back home, therefore, your laptop should have some means of saving your data external to the PC as described above.

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How do I install WISDOM on my network?
To install WISDOM on your network, you DO NOT need to run the installation from the server. Simply run the WISDOM installation from one of the workstations that will be using WISDOM. During the installation, you should be logged into the server with the same user id that will be used when using the WISDOM software. In the installation process, you will be prompted for the WISDOM Installation Location. The default will be the C: drive if the installation program cannot find any prior installation of WISDOM. If a prior installation of WISDOM is found, then that will be the default. Change this location to the drive letter on the network where you want WISDOM installed. Make sure you have network write-access rights to that location, or the installation will fail. Repeat this process, running the installation program from each workstation that will be using WISDOM. In each case, make sure you point to the same installation location. The installation will not overwrite your existing data.

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I am getting an error when starting the WISDOM software.
If you get the message "Directory is controlled by another .NET file" or "Table does not exist", then the problem is most likely with the Borland Database Engine (BDE) configuration. The BDE is the program that controls access to the data. The BDE configuration can be modified by other software on the PC that uses it, such as WordPerfect™ or any number of other software packages. Try these steps to resolve the problem.
First try this:
Run the WBDEFIX.EXE utility. This program can be found in the X:\Minerva\prog32 folder where X: is the drive letter where WISDOM is installed. Before running the utility, make sure no users are accessing any of the WISDOM applications. Run the utility, check both boxes at the bottom of the screen, and press the Update button on the bottom.
If the problem persists, try this:
Re-install the WISDOM software on that workstation. Make sure to specify the correct "WISDOM Installation Location" when prompted during the installation. This will not overwrite your existing data.
If the problem persists, try this:
· If WISDOM is installed on a network, and you are on version 12.1 or later, uninstall WISDOM from the workstation, then reinstall it. To uninstall WISDOM, go to Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs. Select WISDOM Financial Management Suite 12.1 and click on the Change/Remove button. The Uninstall WISDOM software window will appear. Select the "This PC Only" option and check the box "Remove BDE from this PC". Then click on the Remove button. Once complete, reinstall WISDOM on the workstation.
· If WISDOM is installed on the local PC, then call WISDOM support for assistance in backing up your data before uninstalling and reinstalling the WISDOM software.
If the problem persists, contact WISDOM support for assistance.

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How do I move my installation from my local PC to the network?
First, ensure you are on the latest version of the WISDOM software. Then, backup all of your wisdom data on your local PC to a location on the network, using the Configuration, Archive, All WISDOM files option. This will create a file called WALL.ZIP. Next, uninstall the WISDOM software from the workstation using add/remove programs. Then reinstall the WISDOM software on the workstation, this time using the network drive when prompted for the WISDOM Installation Location. Then restore the backup taken before. You can now run the installation on the additional workstations you wish to have access to WISDOM.

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How do I move WISDOM to my new PC from my old PC?
· If WISDOM is installed on the network, you can simply connect your new PC to the network and run the WISDOM installation, specifying the correct network drive location when prompted for the WISDOM Installation Location.
· If WISDOM is installed on the local PC, first, ensure you are on the latest version of the WISDOM software. Then, backup all of your wisdom data on your local PC using the Configuration, Archive, All WISDOM files option. Then plug in your new PC and run the WISDOM installation. Finally, restore the backup you did earlier.

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How do I tell what version of WISDOM I have?
Start the WISDOM program, enter your password if necessary, then click on the Help, About menu item. This will display your current version, for example, 12.1.0.9. Each WISDOM application will have it's own Help, About menu item and it's own version number.

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How do I know where my WISDOM software is installed, (on the network or the local PC)?
Start the WISDOM program, then click on the Archive menu item. At the top of the Archive Selection window you will see the label "Directory:" followed by a path such as X:\MINERVA. This path is the location of the WISDOM software. If the path starts with the letter C, then WISDOM is installed on the local PC. From your desktop, double click on the "My Computer" icon. This will list all the drive letters your PC has access to. It should also display whether each drive is a local or network drive.

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How do I create a budget?
Click here for the "Steps for Creating a WISDOM Budget" document.

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Is there something I can do in my G/L system to help with ALM?
Yes! By making sure you have both balance sheet and corresponding income statement G/L numbers for the loan, investment, and share titles used in your Wisdom system, you can greatly enhance the accuracy of ALM information.

Begin by identifying the loan, investment and share types used in your WISDOM system. At a minimum, you should have individual balance sheet and income statement G/L numbers for each type. In other words, each loan and investment type should have individual balance sheet G/L numbers and income G/Ls. Each share type should have a balance sheet G/L and a dividend expense G/L. For example, if you track new vehicle loans in WISDOM, you should have a 701400 - New Vehicle Loans balance sheet G/L and a 111400 - Income from New Vehicle Loans income statement G/L.
This simple method allows you to easily identify the income or interest expense associated with each balance sheet line item. It is always OK to be more detailed in your G/L system than in WISDOM, but never less than the minimum outlined here. Remember, when making changes to your G/L, coordinate with your data processor so that loan and share types post to the proper G/L.

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How do I add a month of data in WISDOM?
Click here for the "Adding a Month of Data" document.

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Do you have a quick quide to using the WISDOM Investment System?
Click here for the "The ABCs of using the WISDOM Investment System" document.

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What are the Accounting Suite Year End Procedures?
Click here for the "Accounting Suite Year End Procedures?" document.

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