Network Save is reached by selecting FILE >> NETWORK SAVE.  It's used to move file data from memory to disk so all computers on a network can access it.  It is particularly useful when you create a new invoice.

In a networking situation, each of the computers on the network access AnyOrder's data files from the Common Data Directory.  In order to speed processing times, data is temporarily stored in memory buffers on each of the computers.  This helps speed processing times.  If a computer had to constantly get all of its file data through the network wires, things would be very slow.

That's the upside.  The downside is that if changes are made on one computer, they may not immediately show up on the others.  In the case of a new invoice, the computer with the new invoice thinks there are 1001 records in the file, but all the other computers in the network think there are 1000 records.

The situation stays like that until you page to another invoice and the computer memory is saved to the disk.  The process of moving an invoice from memory to the disk is known as flushing.  As soon as the memory is flushed, all of the other computers now know that there is indeed a new member of the family and there are now 1001 invoices.

It's the time before flushing that the database is most vulnerable.  If something like a filter shows up from another computer on the network (who actually knocks on the bedroom door of every invoice) then, there can be confusion.  Other conflicts can occur with kinds of processes.

It all boils down to this: you should never create a new invoice and just leave it sitting there. After creating a new invoice, you should either move to another invoice to flush it from memory.  Or, even better yet, use the Network Save function (reached by selecting FILE >> NETWORK SAVE.  The Network Save function flushes all the primary database files, and just to make sure the disk has the proper information, it moves the previous invoice.

Get in the habit using Network Save.  Here are times when you'll want to use it:

1. Use it when you've entered a new invoice and you might have to leave it sitting there for a while.

2. Use it when you've entered a new product to the Item Area and you might have to leave it sitting there for a while.  (The product doesn't necessarily have to be added to the last invoice.  Any time you add a product Item Area whether it's in the middle of your invoice file or at the end, it is vulnerable.)

3. Use it on the last invoice after entering a series of new invoices.

4. Use it when you make a number of changes on one computer, and then move to another computer to print or do some additional work.

5. Use it whenever you make changes and you want double assurance that your work will be accessible to the other computers on the network.

One other safety procedure that we want to remind you about is this:  exit from AnyOrder on any computer on the network whenever the program will be sitting idle. For example, exit from the program if you are going to lunch.  Exit from AnyOrder if you will be working on another program for a while.  Exit from AnyOrder if you'll be catching up on your email correspondence.

While AnyOrder certainly can be used for hours at time, you will minimize potential problems that can occur by exiting the program during periods of inactivity.