NOTE: This article is for IT professionals.
By default, CISM will start up on login and will run continuously. In many installations, a best practice is to utilize Windows Task Scheduler to automatically shut down QuickBooks and CISM at night and automatically start them in the morning. This process "cleans out" or resets QuickBooks and CISM memory, connections, and potential conflicts with other apps (such as backups).
Crik-IT Support is available to assist in setting this up. If you would like our assistance, please email us at support@crik-it.com to schedule a time.
Steps (modify times to meet your company's requirements):
- Make sure CISM Syncer is set to NOT start up automatically on reboot. CISMConfig.txt on subscriber's CISM machine will look something like the following (this file can be found in "%localappdata%\CISM QB Crik-IT Syncer\" in a folder that starts with "company-"). The second to last True controls if CISM should automatically start up. Change that to False. More info on this.
4,testpw,Hosting Test User 2,C:\Users\user2\AppData\Roaming\Host Test User2.QBW,9/14/2022 9:33:16 PM,True,True
- First, we need to know which version of QBW is running on your machine. So, when you have QB running on the CISM machine, take a look at Task Manager and see if QBW.EXE or QBW32.EXE is what shows. On my test machine, I'm seeing QBW.EXE. But I think QBW32.EXE is what we see on a lot of our subscribers' machines. We'll need this info down below, when setting up a couple of tasks in the Windows task scheduler.
Now, in Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc), create 4 tasks. We're going to shut down CISM and QB (if they are open), then start them back up again... to start with a clean slate.
Task 1) Shut down CISM. Here are screenshots for the General, Triggers, and Actions tabs. You can accept the defaults on the other tabs.
Add a trigger to stop CISM at 6:00 AM
In the Add Arguments textbox, put this: "/f /im Crik-ITSyncer-CISM.exe" (without the quotes)
Task 2) Shut down QBW. Here are screenshots for the General, Triggers, and Actions tabs. You can accept the defaults on the other tabs.
Add a trigger to stop QB at 6:05 AM
Here's you'll only need to put one action, for either QBW.EXE or for QBW32.EXE, based on which version is running on your machine (determined above, when you checked the Task Manager).
Task 3) Start up QBW. Here are screenshots for the General, Triggers, and Actions tabs. You can accept the defaults on the other tabs.
When testing, make sure the QB opens up to the Select Company File window, not to the QB user login page! See more info here.
NOTE: ONLY NEED TO DO THIS IF QB MUST BE OPEN WHEN CISM IS RUNNING!
Add a trigger to start QB at 6:30 AM
Also, add a trigger so that if the CISM machine is rebooted, QB will automatically start up:
In this tab, Browse to the location where the appropriate QBW executable file is located and select that file.
Task 4) Start up CISM. Here are screenshots for the General, Triggers, and Actions tabs. You can accept the defaults on the other tabs.
Add a trigger to start up at 6:45 AM
Also, add a trigger so that if the CISM machine is rebooted, CISM will automatically start up:
Put this in the Program/script textbox: "%localappdata%\CISM QB Crik-IT Syncer\Crik-ITSyncer-CISM.exe" (INCLUDE THE QUOTES!)
IMPORTANT:
When QB is launched, usually the QB login window appears. This is a modal window and it prevents CISM from being able to access the company file. When doing this configuration, launch QB and close that window, now you'll be put to the QB company file selection window. Once you close the login window, that window should not automatically open up again until a user clicks on a company file.