S-L-O-W searches

[minorcan]

I recently moved QB 6 Pro from a peer-to-peer network using a Win98 client/server and a Win ME client, to a LINUX/SAMBA server over a 100mbps TCP/IP LAN utilizing the Windows machines as clients only. The ME client has 128M of RAM and the 98 client has 64M of RAM. Everything works fine (by "everything" I mean QB, file sharing, print services, local & internet e-mail, intranet & internet services, ftp, telnet, etc.), except when searching for invoices, etc. in QB. The search process was slow on the original peer-to-peer network (100mbps TCP/IP also), and has not improved with the addition of the dedicated server. There are less than 2,000 invoices in the database. There seems to be no difference in the search speed on either machine. TCP/IP is the only protocol being used. The only real change is that the QB data files now reside on the server and not on the 98 client.

Does anyone know how to speed up this search process? Is this normal? Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

[SunSoft]

How large is your company file? Having many years of detailed data will slow search functions dramitically. I recently received a Pro 99 backup that had 5 years of uncondensed detailed data - it bogged my computer down like you wouldn't believe!
Tip-before you condense-make a complete copy of your QB data file and rename it to uncondensed to 12/31/XXXX this way if you should find you want to go look at something in detail - it will still be available.

[minorcan]

Thanks for the suggestion. As it turns out the data file is complete from 1998. It's over 38MEGS! Condensing is LONG overdue...

[SunSoft]

No wonder is was s - l - o o o o-w! That is a huge file-you'll be much happier with the performance when you are finished.

[BJAndersen]

I have the same problem with a 99Pro file, and we condensed it, and it showed no improvement. Is there some trick to condensing that I don't know about??

Also - if you go to Intuit's web site, they say that condensing will NOT make the file go faster. Is this true??

They say the only way to make the file move faster is to make it smaller by starting a new company file...

Doesn't make any sence to me...

Any help would be great...

[NancysBL]

The good - depending upon your AR & inventory situation, condensing can help, immensely. It will speed up a file to at point. If you have tons of AR & inventory transactions & the file is more than a few years old, to avoid data integrity & slow search problems a new file is really needed.

Good news, you can export your lists and you just need to re-enter the balance sheet with detail on AR & AP (well, if you're in the middle of a fiscal year, the P&L also).

I've done it with my computer guy (also helped to get rid of customers that hadn't bought in a few years) and it really made a difference