Types of Balance Record

There are two types of balance record:

Budgets and balances. See About Budgets and Balances for more information.
Reporting balances. See About Reporting Balances for more information.

When you post a document, a transaction is created and one of these types of balance record is updated. You can choose which type of balance record is updated from the transactions and if you choose Reporting Balances, you can then choose how that update takes place, live or on demand (updated manually using the "On Demand Update" or by a scheduled job).

If you want to maintain secondary (non-live) balances, you must keep them synchronized.

Note:

We recommend that you run a synchronization process when all other users are logged out of the org. If transactions are created during a synchronization process, they won't be included in the process.

See the list of related topics for more information.

Parallel processing enables the processing of multiple records for the same background process at the same time, rather than one at a time as in serial posting. Parallel processing provides a better user experience because processing times are reduced, which is critical at peak times such as period-end. For further information on serial and parallel posting, see Enabling the Background Posting Scheduler.

There are three primary balance type modes, Mode 1, Mode 2.1 and Mode 2.2.

Update Modes

Tip: Mode 2.1 is appropriate for serial posting, but if you want to enable parallel posting in your org, you must select Mode 2.2.

Mode 1 - You want any Salesforce reports that use budgets and balances to use live data. The Update Budgets and Balances option is selected. The Primary Update takes place between Transactions and Budgets and Balances. This happens live, when transactions are posted. The Secondary Update then uses the Budgets and Balances data to update the Reporting Balances. This is referred to as Synchronization. The synchronization process must be launched either manually or by a scheduled process.

Mode 1 is not compatible with parallel posting and is only compatible with serial processing.

Mode 2.1 (recommended for serial posting) - You want your FinancialForce Reporting reports and Action Views to use live data. The Update Reporting Balances option with the Live Update type is selected. The Primary Update takes place between Transactions and Reporting Balances. This happens live, when transactions are posted. The Secondary Update then uses the Reporting Balances data to update the Budgets and Balances. This synchronization must be launched either manually or by a scheduled process.

Mode 2.1 is not compatible with parallel processing and is only compatible with serial processing.

Mode 2.2 (Only option for parallel posting) You want your FinancialForce Reporting reports and Action Views to use primary data (directly from transactions). The Update Reporting Balances option with the On Demand Update type is selected. The Primary update takes place between Transactions and Reporting Balances. However, this update does not occur live, when transactions are posted. Instead, you must run an update. This can be done manually or using a scheduled job. The Secondary Update works the same as with mode 2.1. A Synchronization still needs to be run to update the Budgets and Balances.

Mode 2.2 is compatible with both serial and parallel processing because the Primary Update is deferred.

Note:

When mode 1 is enabled you must run the On Demand Secondary Update synchronization to ensure your reports are up to date. There is no requirement to run a synchronization when mode 2.1 is enabled because the reporting balances are updated directly from the transactions. The source for the reports is still the reporting balances, but they are updated live in the primary balance as transactions are posted.

Balance Configuration

Switching Primary Balance Type Mode

Note: After the first install, Live Reporting Balances (Mode 2.1) is selected as the default balance for the live update.

To choose which type of balance is the primary balance (updated when transactions are created):

Log in as a user with "Modify All Data" access.
Make sure all other users are off the system.
There are two options available:
1. Click the Balance Configuration tab.
2. Click the Accounting Task Launcher , look for the Data Setup and Management section and click Balance Configuration.
Select which type of balance you want to be updated when transactions are created:
a) If you want any Salesforce reports that use budgets and balances to use live data, then you should choose Budgets and Balances.
b) If you want your FinancialForce Reporting reports and Action Views to use live data, then choose Reporting Balances (recommended).
c) (This option is only available from the Accounting Task Launcher, it is not available from the Balance Configuration tab) If you want your Reporting Balances to be updated directly from the transactions and you also want to enable parallel posting, then choose Update Reporting Balances and then choose "On Demand Update" as the update type (only mode compatible with parallel posting).
If you want to make the switch now, click Save & Full Sync if you are in the Accounting Task Launcher tab or click Continue if you are in the Balance Configuration tab. Otherwise, just navigate away. If you go ahead, a full synchronization will be performed before completing the switch.
(Only applicable if you are in the Balance Configuration tab) To complete a change to your balance updates, you must perform a full synchronization. We strongly recommend that you do this now to minimize the chance of transactions being created in the interim. To do this now, click Full Synchronization.

Once you have made your choice of balance type, you will only see relevant options on the Balance Update page.

Note:

The option to Update Reporting Balances On Demand is only available when using Lightning Experience view and it can only be enabled through the Accounting Task Launcher. It cannot be enabled from the Balance Configuration tab.

Note:

Remember, if you want to maintain secondary (non-live) balances, you must keep them synchronized.

It is essential to know which mode is enabled in your organization. If in doubt, contact your administrator.

Switching Primary Balance Scenarios

The following illustrations summarize the work flow required to switch your primary balance update when you use the Accounting Task Launcher and the work flow you select depends on your current update mode and the switch you wish to make. The following information is displayed:

The balance type mode
The steps required to achieve the primary balance switch
The buttons available during the switching process
The messages that display during the switching process

Switching in Mode 1

You are currently updating Budgets and Balances and want to switch to updating Reporting Balances.

Switching in Mode 2.1

You are currently updating Reporting Balances with the Live type update and want to switch to one of the following:

Updating Reporting Balances with the On Demand type update
Updating Budgets and Balances

Switching in Mode 2.2 with pending Transaction Line Items

You are currently updating from Reporting Balances with the On Demand type update, you have pending transaction line items because the reporting balances are not up to date, and you want to switch to one of the following:

Reporting Balances with the Live type update
Updating Budgets and Balances

In this scenario, the On Demand Reporting Balances Update will run before the mode switch is completed.

Switching in Mode 2.2 with no pending Transaction Line Items

You are currently updating from Reporting Balances with the On Demand type update, you have no pending transaction line items because the reporting balances are up to date, and you want to switch to one of the following: