Open the Bellwether Garden Supply data files

Open the Bellwether Garden Supply data files

The first place to start is to open Peachtree Complete Accounting 2009. You should see the following window:

The Peachtree initial startup screen

There are two ways you can open the Bellwether Garden Supply data files from this initial startup screen:

No.	Description
	Open an existing company: Click the Open an existing company image. In the Open an Existing Company window that appears, click once on Bellwether Garden Supply to highlight it, and then click OK.
	Explore a sample company: Click the Explore a sample company link. In the Explore a Sample Company window that appears, select Bellwether Garden Supply from the list and click OK.

Can't see the Peachtree initial startup screen above?

If you do not see the Peachtree initial startup screen image it may be because you have already opened Peachtree and have a different company data file open. To open the Bellwether Garden Supply data files, from the File menu, select Open Company... and click OK to confirm that you want to close the current company. The Open Company window then appears. From the list of companies, click once on Bellwether Garden Supply to highlight it, and then click OK.

Illustration of the Peachtree main window

Welcome to the Peachtree main window! No matter which way you opened the data file for Bellwether Garden Supply, you will now be presented with the Peachtree main window. The screenshot below shows an example of the Peachtree main window. Notice that reference numbers are written next to several parts of the window. These are explained in the table that follows.

The Peachtree main window with reference numbers

The following table explains the terms used to describe parts of the Peachtree main window:

No.	Description
	Name of the Peachtree window (Title Bar): The Peachtree main window always starts with Peachtree Accounting followed by the name of the company whose data files are currently open.
	Menu Bar: The menu bar is a horizontal bar that shows Peachtree's main menus.
	Navigation Bar: The Navigation Bar is positioned on the left side of the Peachtree main window. There are seven icons in the Navigation Bar, each corresponding to a different Navigation Center (see point 5 below). Clicking on an icon in the Navigation Bar will open that particular Navigation Center, allowing users to quickly switch between Navigation Centers.
	Selection indicator: The selection indicator shows the name of the Navigation Center that is currently opened, which is Inventory & Services in the above illustration.
	Navigation Center: The Navigation Center is the area to the right of the Navigation Bar. A Navigation Center refers to a group of tasks and information that pertains to a specific area of a business. There are seven Navigation Centers in Peachtree: Business Status Customers & Sales Vendors & Purchases Inventory & Services Employees & Payroll Banking Company Users can only access one Navigation Center at a time by clicking the icons on the Navigation Bar.
	Tasks section: The most frequently used part of the Navigation Center is the Tasks section. The example above shows the Inventory & Services Tasks section. The Tasks section contains icons that represent tasks that can be performed in that section. These tasks are divided into two categories; maintenance tasks and information processing tasks.
	Maintenance task icons: The top part of the Tasks section provides maintenance icons that you will use to enter, change, and store information about companies, inventory items, vendors, customers and so on. It may help to think of these icons as a place where you access the master files of the business for that particular Navigation Center. These icons are often used during the setup process.
	Information processing task icons: The lower part of the Tasks section shows a graphical flow of tasks that relates to a particular business area. This section is used to record and process transactions relating to a particular business cycle.
	Specific task option: When a task icon is clicked, Peachtree often provides a drop-down list that allows users to select the specific task that they want to perform. Selecting an option from this drop-down list will open a Peachtree window where the information related to that task is entered.
	System Date: The System Date button shows the date that will be automatically applied when you open a Peachtree window to record a transaction. That date is not the same as your computer's date so changing the Peachtree's system date will not affect the dates of other programs you are currently running or planning to use in the future.
	Accounting Period: This button shows the current accounting period number followed by the starting date and the end date of that accounting period.

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An example of a Peachtree window

The following illustration is an example of a Peachtree window where information is recorded. Reference numbers have been added to the image below to help you understand the terms used to describe parts common to many Peachtree windows. In this case the Main Inventory Items window is illustrated.

An example of a Peachtree window with reference numbers

The following table explains the terms used to describe parts common to many Peachtree windows:

No.	Description
	Name of the Peachtree window: In this case, the name of the above Peachtree window is Maintain Inventory Items.
	Toolbar buttons: The row of buttons above is often referred to as toolbar buttons. Use the appropriate button to close, save, delete or create a new record.
	Back and Next buttons: Press these arrow buttons to see records preceding or following the one that you are currently viewing.
	Tabs: A Peachtree window may have two or more tabs. Click appropriate tabs to enter or review existing information in a record.