windows 7
Windows 7 is the latest operating system from Microsoft.
Our testing with Windows 7 suggests there are no major issues when using TASBooks, FirstBooks. We'll carry out further testing of our current software range with Windows 7, after all third party components used in our software are updated. Until then, our recommended operating systems to use with TAS programs are Windows XP and Windows Vista.
If you are thinking about upgrading your operating system to Windows 7, please contact TAS Software Support to discuss your options.
To make the transition as smooth as possible, we do not recommend that you upgrade your systems to Windows 7 at busy business-critical times, such as payroll year-end.
Using TAS programs on Windows 7
If you need to install a TAS program on Windows 7 (eg you have a new computer with Windows 7 pre-installed), then Windows 7 has some options to help. You can install your TAS program in Windows 7's 'compatibility mode'. See http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IE/windows7/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows for more details.
Most editions of Windows 7 also have 'XP mode', so programs run as if they were on Windows XP - see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/windows-xp-mode.aspx for details.
Known issues
- Generating PDFs - Resolved
We use a component from a third party supplier to generate PDF documents. We have received an updated version of this component, which is stated to be Windows 7 compatible and this is included into TASBooks v1.04 and later, TASPayroll v1.03 an later, FirstBooks v1.05 and later and FirstPayroll v1.05 and later.
Select Help > Check for Updates from the Company Manager or FirstPage to ensure that you have the latest update installed. - Sending emails
Like many programs, TASBooks uses a system called Simple MAPI to enable you to create an email, attach a document and send the email, all from within the program. Simple MAPI is essentially a way for a program to ask Windows if there is an email program installed - and if there is, to ask it to send an email. Simple MAPI was designed so it could be used with pretty much any email program.
Unfortunately Windows 7 no longer supports Simple MAPI, which means TAS can't link to the email program installed, for example, to Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft have a Hotfix available, which will enable you to send emails from TAS – this Hotfix also fixes problems in Microsoft Word caused by Simple MAPI no longer being present. You can view more information about this here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/980681/en-us.