Let Us Break it Down for You

The functions explained

=SCOTT. DESC    returns GL account description

=SCOTT.GL        returns GL account balance

=SCOTT.RANGE  returns sum of account balances

=SCOTT.XTRACK returns GL account balance for a Xero tracking category and option

=SCOTT.XTRACKR returns sum of account balances for a Xero tracking category and option

=SCOTT.XTRACKM returns GL account balance for two Xero tracking categories and options

=SCOTT.QCLASS Returns GL account balance filtered by a QuickBooks class

=SCOTT.QCLASSR Returns GL account balance for a range of accounts filtered by a QuickBooks class

=SCOTT.QDEPT Returns GL account balance filtered by a QuickBooks department

=SCOTT.QDEPTR Returns GL account balance for a range of accounts filtered by a QuickBooks department

=SCOTT.QCLASS_DEPT Returns GL account balance filtered by a class and a department

=SCOTT.QCUSTOMER Returns GL account balance filtered by a QuickBooks customer

=SCOTT.QBUDGET Returns the budget for an QuickBooks account

=SCOTT.QBUDGETALL Returns the budget filtered by a QuickBooks class, a department and a customer

Q. What version of Excel do I need to use Scott’s Add-Ins?

A. Scott’s Add-ins is developed to work with desktop and online versions of Excel.  You will need a current Office 365 subscription to use the add-in.

Q. What’s an add-in?

A. An add-in for Excel™, is additional functionality that is added to your “out of the box” Excel™. In this case, you will be adding the custom functions that we have developed, such as =GL, =DESC, =RANGE.

Q: What happens when I connect the add-in for the first time to a new QuickBooks or Xero organisation?

A: The add-in does an initial data build of the organisation’s journal data. This could take a few seconds or a few minutes, depending on the volume of transactions for the organisation. You will receive an email, alerting you that build has finished, and you can begin to use the add-in.  Note: this is a onetime process. Subsequent recalculations of the sheet do not require another “build”. These recalculations will happen very quickly.

Q. I am on a company network, and having trouble installing the add-in.

A. Some company IT departments control which add-ins can be installed to Excel.  We recommend you check with your IT team to verify this is the case.  These are called “managed add-ins”.  More here.

Q. Can I turn off recalculation while I am building my sheets?

A.  Yes.  This is an Excel feature.  Please go to Excel Preferences / Calculation, and choose “Manual”

Q: Does the add-in recalculate and pull fresh accounting data when I add a new, non-Scott’s function to a cell, such as =SUM?

A: No. The data from your accounting system is only refreshed when you click the Recalc button in the add-in.

Q: Does Scott’s Add-Ins write-back, or update the QuickBooks or Xero database?

A: No. Data only flows one way, from your accounting system to Excel.

Q. Can I use multiple QuickBooks or Xero organisations with the add-in?

A. Yes! Scott’s Add-Ins subscriptions are per organisation. Just be sure to purchase a subscription for each QuickBooks or Xero organisation you wish to attach to Excel.  Multiple organisations can be accessed from within the same Excel workbook.

Q. How can I see the transactions that comprise the balance I am seeing in a cell?

Transaction detail may be accessed by clicking on the drill icon, found in the add-in task pane.

Here’s a 20 second video showing the process.

Q. How do I add more users to my subscription?

A. Unlimited users are included with your subscription.  Additional Xero users just need to install the add-in, then connect to Xero. Here’s a 40 second video showing the process.

Additional QuickBooks users, please see this blog post.

Q.  Can I share my Excel workbook with others who do not have access to my accounting system?

A. If you save the sheet while it is connected to your accounting system, the sheet should retain the connection and allow a user to recalc the sheet. However, at some point the  token that relates to the sheet will expire, preventing a recalc. You can experiment with this by sending the sheet to yourself, and opening it . The token should remain in place for 30 days and possibly longer.

Q.  How do I update my subscription payment details and subscription type?

A. Here’s a 20 second video showing the process.

Q. I am seeing a #VALUE error in one or more cells in my spreadsheet.

A. #VALUE errors result when Excel cannot interpret the data in your formula.  Be sure that you are using cell references (ex. B1,C3) for your formula, NOT actual values (ex. 4000, 01/10/2020).

Another common reason for #VALUE errors is from misspelled Tracking Categories / Options that are referenced by =SCOTT functions.

Q. I am seeing a #NAME or _xlduf in one or more of my cells.

A.Excel loads the add-in in two parts, the Taskpane and the Custom Functions.
Getting an _xldudf_ in your formula indicates Excel is not able to link the names to the custom functions.  Most commonly, the source of this problem is the custom functions portion is not loaded correctly.

There are a couple of troubleshooting steps to try when this happens:
Firstly, load up a new, empty document, login to Scott’s Add-ins and see if you can run a custom function.
If that works, then go back to your sheet and manually change _xldudf_SCOTT_DESC to SCOTT.DESC.
Excel should do this automatically, but it appears it is not.

If you cannot run a custom function in a new sheet, then the installation is not working.  We advise removing the add-in, restarting Excel, then re-installing the add-in.  This should clear out any caching issues, and hopefully get you working again.

Q. I am seeing a #BUSY error in one or more of my cells.

A. #BUSY tells the user that Excel is currently recalculating the spreadsheet. Recalculation times are a function of spreadsheet complexity, the amount of =SCOTT functions used in the sheet, and Internet bandwidth. The functions that work the hardest, and take the most time to process, are RANGE functions.  Please use these judiciously.

 

Q. How do I pull in balances for my Bank accounts?

A. First, be sure that you have assigned an account code to your Bank account.  Then be sure to use a Start Date equal to or earlier than the date of your first transaction in your accounting system.  Bank accounts are Balance Sheet accounts which calculate their balances by summing transactions from the beginning of time.  You can read more here.

Q. I am using QuickBooks sub-accounts and getting #VALUE

A. When specifying a QuickBooks sub-account using the Account Name (not an account number), and having multiple sub-accounts that have the same name, use this format that begins with the main account, then sub_account1, sub_account 2, etc.

 Services:Job Materials:Decks and Patios.

Example:  =SCOTT.GL(OrgID, Services:Job Materials:Decks and Patios, Beg Date, End Date)

Please note that this rule only applies when constructing formulas using the Account Name, not the Account Number.