QuickBooks 2009 R8 Update

Intuit has released the R8 update for QuickBooks Pro/Premier 2009 and Enterprise 9. If you are set up for automatic updates, you should be getting it, or get the manual update. If you aren’t sure how to determine what release you are using, see my posting on automatic updates. I’ll outline the most important changes here.

You can also view the release notes for details on what has changed.

It is often hard to evaluate the importance of a release. Early in the product cycle, after a new version (year of product) has been released, it is always important to get these releases as soon as possible. These come after Intuit has made a big change in the product that many people have installed, and the “big” problems that were missed in testing start to shake out.

As time goes along the releases tend to get to less common problems (although not always) so the urgency isn’t there. You still want to get the update, you can wait for a convenient time to install it.

The R8 Release

If you are using Online Banking I highly recommend that you get this update. This release has a double benefit – there are a number of significant fixes to the “new” online banking feature, AND you now have the option of using the “pre-2009” online banking method. There has been a huge outcry against the “new” method and many people have asked that the “old” method be brought back. Now you have the option of which method to use (and you can combine them).

If you are not using Online Banking, there isn’t a lot of urgency to move to this update unless you have been having trouble with some of the following:

• Multiple Currency Crashes: If you are using the multiple currency feature there have been a number of situations that would cause the program to crash. This release fixes a number of these problems.
• Database Error Codes: Some users of the 2009 version have been plagued by a variety of database error codes that have been hard to resolve. This release fixes a number of errors that have been hard to pin down; (-6000,-305), (-6xxx,-82), 19233-71018.
• Payroll Fixes: If you are using the payroll feature you want this update. Rounding calculations are improved, and a number of other issues have been addressed

I’ve been running this release for awhile and I’m not seeing any new problems, so I’d say that it is stable.

My recommendation? If you have been running into the problems I list above, update as soon as you can. If you have a stable installation without problems, I’d still think about updating, but pick a time when it is convenient and the update process won’t interfere with your day to day operation. No rush, but it is worthwhile.