F9 Financial Reporting
Encyclopedia
F9 is a financial reporting software application that dynamically links general ledger data to Microsoft Excel
through the use of financial cell-based formulas, wizards, and analysis tools to create spreadsheet reports that can be calculated, filtered, and drilled upon. The F9 software is developed, marketed, and support by an organization also called F9, a division of Infor Global Solutions (Canada) Ltd.
which is headquartered in Vancouver
, British Columbia
.
, a subsidiary of Synex International (Symbol SXI, TSX
) and first released in 1988 for Accpac
as a Lotus
1-2-3
Add-in for DOS
and subsequently F9 was developed for the Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
Platform. In 2002, Synex Systems was acquired by privately owned Lasata Software of Perth
, Australia
. In 2005, Lasata was acquired by UK
based Systems Union. In 2007, Systems Union was acquired by privately held Infor Global Solutions
, a U.S.
company that specializes in enterprise software
.
What was Synex Systems Corporation now operates as an independent business unit (IBU) within Infor Global Solutions
called F9 and continues to develop and partner with new and existing ERP
and Accounting Software
solutions. The latest product release (December 2008) is F9 Version 5, includes business intelligence reporting and an optional web reporting module, marketed as F9 Connect.
F9 products have been sold to over 30,000 organizations in more than 146 countries worldwide.
financial report using a spreadsheet that is 'hot-linked' to an accounting system's general ledger. By removing the previously required step of exporting data from the accounting application and then importing data into the spreadsheet or retyping all of the numbers using data entry a great deal of time and effort is saved. Also, if the data in the accounting system changed the spreadsheet could be updated simply by pressing the 'F9' function key (in both 1-2-3 and Excel).
F9 software consists of three modules. The first is the user interface which is an addin installed into the spreadsheet. This part processes the F9 formulas and passes the data to the parser. The second module is the parser which is a program running independent of the spreadsheet and evaluates the data requested (query) by the function and either rejects it as invalid and returns an error message or processes the query into a format used by the accounting application interface (AAI). The AAI is a DLL
that is programmed as a specific interface for the target accounting application.
This three layer design (basically a variation of the standard Model–view–controller
architecture) allows F9 to support different spreadsheets with the same non-addin components and access any number of different accounting applications simultaneously. All that is required is that the DLL built for the target accounting applications is available for the parser program to access and the query specifying the accounting system requested. This accounting system definition parameter is optional. If there is only one accounting interface available F9 knows by this through a table look-up and scan of available DLL modules.
Since its introduction F9 has become to be considered as one of the accounting industry standard reporting tools.
interface that used a temporal trinary (three part) phrase parsing syntax composed of a modifier, a period specifier, and a temporal index. For example: "starting balance last quarter" is broken down to 'starting balance' (modifier) + 'last' (temporal index) + 'quarter' (period). The temporal index can be relative or absolute and the modifier can determine if the value returned is differential or cumulative.
The first F9 addin was a significant software effort in that it used a coding trick to break the small memory model limit 1-2-3 imposed on addins and allowed F9 to be run as a compact memory model program. This allowed F9 to be written in C (using a Microsoft C DOS compiler) rather than assembler allowing easier changes and debugging.
On or about the year 2002 F9 was renamed to 'F9 - Financial Intelligence'.
systems by various means.
F9 has an Excel add-in client and provides new Excel
functions as well as some of its own UI
driven functionality. There are versions of F9 that are compatible with Excel
Versions 2000 through 2007.
Over 150 different accounting/ERP
systems are supported.
Products are available as either a live link to the source accounting database, marketed as a "hotlink", or via F9 Professional and the F9 data mart database which is refreshed periodically with the source accounting activity. F9 "hotlink" products are available for over 40 different accounting systems. F9 Professional is available for over 100 different accounting systems and can be integrated over new accounting applications.
Supported accounting systems include:
. However starting in 2011 FRx is now in a state of phased discontinuation. and Microsoft’s official FRx replacement is Management Reporter. Other reporting systems competing with F9 are Alchemex , Bizinsight, and Renovofyi.
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
through the use of financial cell-based formulas, wizards, and analysis tools to create spreadsheet reports that can be calculated, filtered, and drilled upon. The F9 software is developed, marketed, and support by an organization also called F9, a division of Infor Global Solutions (Canada) Ltd.
Infor Global Solutions
Infor Global Solutions is a privately held U.S. software company that specializes in enterprise software ranging from financial systems and resource planning to supply chain and customer relationships.-Company overview:...
which is headquartered in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Origins
F9 - The Financial Reporter was originally developed by Synex Systems CorporationSynex Systems Corporation
Synex Systems Corporation, a subsidiary of was formed in 1983 in an effort to develop software for the microcomputer market and was run by Synex International Vice President Murray Hendren until 1992. In 2002, Synex Systems was acquired by privately owned Lasata Software of Perth, Australia. In...
, a subsidiary of Synex International (Symbol SXI, TSX
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities...
) and first released in 1988 for Accpac
ACCPAC
Accpac is the common name for the Sage ERP Accpac line of Accounting Applications, primarily serving small and medium sized businesses. Sage ERP Accpac is now produced by Sage following its acquisition in 2004....
as a Lotus
Lotus Software
Lotus Software is a software company with headquarters in Westford, Massachusetts...
1-2-3
Lotus 1-2-3
Lotus 1-2-3 is a spreadsheet program from Lotus Software . It was the IBM PC's first "killer application"; its huge popularity in the mid-1980s contributed significantly to the success of the IBM PC in the corporate environment.-Beginnings:...
Add-in for DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
and subsequently F9 was developed for the Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
Platform. In 2002, Synex Systems was acquired by privately owned Lasata Software of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 2005, Lasata was acquired by UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
based Systems Union. In 2007, Systems Union was acquired by privately held Infor Global Solutions
Infor Global Solutions
Infor Global Solutions is a privately held U.S. software company that specializes in enterprise software ranging from financial systems and resource planning to supply chain and customer relationships.-Company overview:...
, a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
company that specializes in enterprise software
Enterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
.
What was Synex Systems Corporation now operates as an independent business unit (IBU) within Infor Global Solutions
Infor Global Solutions
Infor Global Solutions is a privately held U.S. software company that specializes in enterprise software ranging from financial systems and resource planning to supply chain and customer relationships.-Company overview:...
called F9 and continues to develop and partner with new and existing ERP
Enterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
and Accounting Software
Accounting software
Accounting software is application software that records and processes accounting transactions within functional modules such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and trial balance. It functions as an accounting information system...
solutions. The latest product release (December 2008) is F9 Version 5, includes business intelligence reporting and an optional web reporting module, marketed as F9 Connect.
F9 products have been sold to over 30,000 organizations in more than 146 countries worldwide.
Overview
F9 was developed to allow a non-technical user, typically an accountant, to create a dynamic, customized general ledgerGeneral ledger
The main accounting record of a business which uses double-entry bookkeeping. It will usually include accounts for such items as current assets, fixed assets, liabilities, revenue and expense items, gains and losses. Each General Ledger is divided into debits and credits sections. The left hand...
financial report using a spreadsheet that is 'hot-linked' to an accounting system's general ledger. By removing the previously required step of exporting data from the accounting application and then importing data into the spreadsheet or retyping all of the numbers using data entry a great deal of time and effort is saved. Also, if the data in the accounting system changed the spreadsheet could be updated simply by pressing the 'F9' function key (in both 1-2-3 and Excel).
F9 software consists of three modules. The first is the user interface which is an addin installed into the spreadsheet. This part processes the F9 formulas and passes the data to the parser. The second module is the parser which is a program running independent of the spreadsheet and evaluates the data requested (query) by the function and either rejects it as invalid and returns an error message or processes the query into a format used by the accounting application interface (AAI). The AAI is a DLL
Dynamic-link library
Dynamic-link library , or DLL, is Microsoft's implementation of the shared library concept in the Microsoft Windows and OS/2 operating systems...
that is programmed as a specific interface for the target accounting application.
This three layer design (basically a variation of the standard Model–view–controller
Model-view-controller
Model–view–controller is a software architecture, currently considered an architectural pattern used in software engineering. The pattern isolates "domain logic" from the user interface , permitting independent development, testing and maintenance of each .Model View Controller...
architecture) allows F9 to support different spreadsheets with the same non-addin components and access any number of different accounting applications simultaneously. All that is required is that the DLL built for the target accounting applications is available for the parser program to access and the query specifying the accounting system requested. This accounting system definition parameter is optional. If there is only one accounting interface available F9 knows by this through a table look-up and scan of available DLL modules.
Since its introduction F9 has become to be considered as one of the accounting industry standard reporting tools.
Original Version
Originally entitled: 'F9 - The Financial Reporter', F9 was released in mid-1989 as a Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS addin that allowed dynamic access to the Accpac General Ledger software data. The first interface used the same syntax as Accpac for specifying the reporting period. This was soon replaced by a simpler to understand and more flexible generic natural languageNatural language
In the philosophy of language, a natural language is any language which arises in an unpremeditated fashion as the result of the innate facility for language possessed by the human intellect. A natural language is typically used for communication, and may be spoken, signed, or written...
interface that used a temporal trinary (three part) phrase parsing syntax composed of a modifier, a period specifier, and a temporal index. For example: "starting balance last quarter" is broken down to 'starting balance' (modifier) + 'last' (temporal index) + 'quarter' (period). The temporal index can be relative or absolute and the modifier can determine if the value returned is differential or cumulative.
The first F9 addin was a significant software effort in that it used a coding trick to break the small memory model limit 1-2-3 imposed on addins and allowed F9 to be run as a compact memory model program. This allowed F9 to be written in C (using a Microsoft C DOS compiler) rather than assembler allowing easier changes and debugging.
On or about the year 2002 F9 was renamed to 'F9 - Financial Intelligence'.
Excel Dominates 1-2-3
An F9 addin was developed for Excel in 1989 and with the lack of a 1-2-3 version that supported Windows and problems with the Lotus Programming Language (LPL) the Excel version of F9 soon far outsold the 1-2-3 version.Current Versions
There are two major types of F9 products, Hotlink products which link directly to specific accounting databases and Professional which links to an intermediate database which is populated from the source ERPEnterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
systems by various means.
F9 has an Excel add-in client and provides new Excel
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
functions as well as some of its own UI
User interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
driven functionality. There are versions of F9 that are compatible with Excel
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
Versions 2000 through 2007.
Supported Accounting/ERP Systems
By 1994 more and more accounting system vendors were signing to have a versions of F9 built to work with their general ledger product. By the end of the 1990s ever more and larger companies recognized the benefit of F9 and started using the product.Over 150 different accounting/ERP
Enterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
systems are supported.
Products are available as either a live link to the source accounting database, marketed as a "hotlink", or via F9 Professional and the F9 data mart database which is refreshed periodically with the source accounting activity. F9 "hotlink" products are available for over 40 different accounting systems. F9 Professional is available for over 100 different accounting systems and can be integrated over new accounting applications.
Supported accounting systems include:
- ACCPAC
- ACCPAC Professional Series
- ACCPAC Vision Point
- AMSI/Geac
- AccountMate Pro
- AccountMate products
- Acuity
- Adonix
- American Fundware
- Best (MAS90, MAS200, Enterprise, Businessworks)
- Business Vision
- BusinessWorks
- CYMA
- CYMA IV Accounting
- DacEasy
- Data Pro Accounting
- Data ProAbacus Accounting
- EIC - Foodservice Complete
- Forefront
- Freedom Financials
- Great Plains Accounting
- Great Plains Dynamics SQL
- Great Plains Dynamics Versions 4 - 6.0
- Great Plains Small Business Manager
- Great Plains eEnterprise
- Macola
- Macola Progression and ES products
- Microsoft DynamicsMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft Dynamics is a line of enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management software applications developed by Microsoft. Microsoft Dynamics applications are delivered through a network of reselling partners who provide specialized services...
products including GP, SL (formerly known as Solomon) - Small Business FinancialsMicrosoft Small Business FinancialsMicrosoft Small Business Financials is a business accounting software package. The software is targeting growing small businesses that require more than basic accounting software : with less than 25 employees and less than $10 million of revenue. It is part of Microsoft Dynamics family...
- Navision
- Netcellent
- Open Systems
- Platinum SQL
- Platinum for DOS
- Platinum for Windows
- RealWorld
- RealWorld Visual Accounting
- Red Wing
- Ross
- Sage products including AccpacACCPACAccpac is the common name for the Sage ERP Accpac line of Accounting Applications, primarily serving small and medium sized businesses. Sage ERP Accpac is now produced by Sage following its acquisition in 2004....
, MASMAS 90Sage MAS 90, also known as MAS90, is accounting software offered by Sage.First offered in the mid 1980s by a company called State of the Art, Inc, the Master Accounting Series for the 90's gained significant market share by developing a reseller channel largely made up of Certified Public Accountants...
, Business Works, BusinessVision, and ERP X3 - Skyline
- Solomon III
- Solomon IV
- Solomon IV SQL
- Southware
- Syspro Impact
- TIMS
- Visual AccountMate
Features
- Financial Spreadsheet Formulas
- Use of natural language (English) accounting period specifiers
- Dynamic Report Filters
- Report Wizards
- Table and Pivot TablePivot tableIn data processing, a pivot table is a data summarization tool found in data visualization programs such as spreadsheets or business intelligence software. Among other functions, pivot-table tools can automatically sort, count, total or give the average of the data stored in one table or spreadsheet...
Reporting - DrilldownData drillingData drilling refers to any of various operations and transformations on tabular, relational, and multidimensional data...
to Transactions - BudgetBudgetA budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
Reporting and BudgetBudgetA budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
Write Back - Consolidations
- Report Analysis
- 30-Day Trial Downloads
- Web reporting and dashboardsDashboard (business)Dashboard provides at-a-glance views of key performance indicators relevant to a particular objective or business process...
Supported platforms
- Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Excel is a proprietary commercial spreadsheet application written and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications...
Versions 2000, 2003, 2007 - Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
2000, XP, 2003, VistaWindows VistaWindows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, Windows 7 - Terminal ServicesTerminal ServicesRemote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008 R2, formerly known as Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 and previous versions, is one of the components of Microsoft Windows that allows a user to access applications and data on a remote computer over a network, using the Remote Desktop...
and CitrixCitrix SystemsCitrix Systems, Inc. is a multinational corporation founded in 1989, that provides server and desktop virtualization, networking, software-as-a-service , and cloud computing technologies, including Xen open source products.... - Microsoft SharePointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft SharePoint is a web application platform developed by Microsoft. First launched in 2001, SharePoint is typically associated with web content management and document management systems, but it is actually a much broader platform of web technologies, capable of being configured into a wide...
Server 2007 with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) (optional, for F9 Connect)
Competition
The major competitor of F9 is Microsoft's FRxMicrosoft FRx
Microsoft FRx is a software product used for financial reporting and analysis for small to mid-sized organizations. It is licensed as part of the Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems...
. However starting in 2011 FRx is now in a state of phased discontinuation. and Microsoft’s official FRx replacement is Management Reporter. Other reporting systems competing with F9 are Alchemex , Bizinsight, and Renovofyi.