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Guide to Opera 3 SQL Server Edition

Guide to Opera 3 SQL Server Edition

Version 2.0

October 2019

© Pegasus Software (a trading name of Infor (United Kingdom) Limited). All rights reserved.

Manual published by:

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Table of Contents

Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1

About this guide ................................................................................................................................................. 1

About Opera 3 SQL SE ...................................................................................................................................... 1

Available modules .............................................................................................................................................. 1

Sections in this guide ........................................................................................................................................ 2

Product Features....................................................................................................................... 5

Server-side processing ..................................................................................................................................... 5

Financial Ledgers ................................................................................................................................................ 5

Supply Chain Management ............................................................................................................................ 7

Payroll ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Additional applications.................................................................................................................................. 10

Technical foundation .............................................................................................................11

Microsoft SQL Server ..................................................................................................................................... 11

Windows Services ............................................................................................................................................ 11

Summary of features ...................................................................................................................................... 12

Data Security ...........................................................................................................................14

Microsoft SQL Server Authentication ....................................................................................................... 14

Pegasus Opera Service .................................................................................................................................. 14

Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository .............................................................................................. 15

Common files location................................................................................................................................... 15


Heavy-duty tasks ....................................................................................................................17

Running the process immediately ............................................................................................................. 17

Scheduling the process for outside of office hours ............................................................................ 18

Windows Notifications .................................................................................................................................. 18

List of data intensive processes .................................................................................................................. 19

Running a heavy-duty data intensive process ...................................................................................... 21


User experience ......................................................................................................................23

Navigation groups .......................................................................................................................................... 23

Multiple screen layout ................................................................................................................................... 24

The Action menu ............................................................................................................................................. 24

Server-side processes .................................................................................................................................... 25

Bespoke solutions ........................................................................................................................................... 25

Opera Desktop ................................................................................................................................................. 25

Pegasus Help Centre ................................................................................................................................... 25

Home page ..................................................................................................................................................... 26

Standard reporting .................................................................................................................27

Storing reports securely in the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository ................................ 27

Reports used on the Opera 3 SQL SE server ......................................................................................... 28


Installation & server setup ....................................................................................................31

Server prerequisites ........................................................................................................................................ 31

Workstation prerequisites ............................................................................................................................ 31


Server Administration & Monitoring ...................................................................................33

Views in Server Administration and Monitoring .................................................................................. 33


Migration .................................................................................................................................35

Server Administration & Monitoring........................................................................................................ 35


Glossary ...................................................................................................................................37

Introduction

Guide to Opera 3 SQL SE Page 1

Introduction

About this guide

This guide provides information about the Opera 3 SQL Server Edition (SE) product. The guide

describes the functionality available in the Financial, Supply Chain Management, Payroll and

Personnel applications, and the technical foundations of the product including the use of

Microsoft SQL Server as the data store.

The 'user experience' is described including running heavy-duty processes on the server,

along with the reporting features. There is also a section for administration and monitoring,

and finally installation, set up and migration of data from other editions of Pegasus Opera 3.

Summaries of the main features are also included.

About Opera 3 SQL SE

Opera 3 SQL SE is the latest edition to the Opera 3 family, which merges the present

with the future. Built on the solid foundation of Microsoft SQL Server,

Opera 3 SQL SE gives you the familiar look and feel of the current Opera 3 product

with the power, security and reliability that a SQL Server database brings. The design

of Opera 3 SQL SE follows Microsoft best practice for modern client server applications.

For those familiar with Opera 3, Opera 3 SQL SE provides both technical and functional

improvements with the ability to extend the product further to fulfil customer needs. With the

addition of powerful reporting through the use of modern Business Intelligence products,

Opera 3 SQL SE takes businesses to another level in terms of data presentation and analysis,

for informed decision making.

Available modules

Opera 3 SQL SE offers a breadth of functionality in the Financial, Supply Chain Management,

Payroll and Personnel applications, and includes foreign currency transactions, reporting for

EC VAT transactions and online submission of your VAT100 return.

Opera 3 SQL SE includes these modules:

• Sales Ledger

• Purchase Ledger

• Nominal Ledger

Introduction


• Cashbook

• Sales Order Processing

• Invoicing

• Purchase Order Processing

• Stock

• Multi Currency

• EC VAT

• Payroll

• Personnel

• Online Filing Manager.

Sections in this guide

Section Description

Functionality Opera 3 SQL SE offers a breadth of functionality in the Financial, Supply

Chain Management, Payroll and Personnel applications, and includes

foreign currencies transactions, reporting for EC VAT transactions and

online submission of the VAT100 return.

Technical

foundation

Opera 3 SQL SE lays the foundations for the future by using 64-bit

Microsoft .NET Framework technologies in the latest Windows Server

and Windows desktop operating systems, with Microsoft SQL Server

being used for the data store. Opera 3 SQL SE is a client-server

application that uses the Pegasus Opera Service to manage the

communication between the PC workstations and the server as well as

monitoring the users in the system.

Data security With Opera 3 SQL SE the security of company data is of the utmost

importance.

This decision is supported by the choice of Microsoft SQL Server to

provide data storage, the design of the Pegasus Opera Service as the

secure method of communication between Microsoft SQL Server and

Opera 3 SQL SE, and the introduction of the secure Opera 3 SQL SE

Windows File Repository for the files in Windows.

Introduction


Section Description

Heavy-duty tasks Heavy duty ‘data intensive processes’ are initiated from the PC

workstations but all the processing work is done on the Opera 3 SQL SE

server. As well as minimising the impact on the IT network, this means

that the workstations are not used at all for the intensive work that a

heavy-duty process is doing. Instead they are available for other tasks.

These data intensive processes are included in all the applications in

Opera 3 SQL SE.

User experience Opera 3 SQL SE is a fully integrated system of Financial, Supply Chain

Management, Payroll and Personnel applications that blends the

traditional with the new user experience.

You can buy the applications that you need, when you need them, and

expand the solution as your business grows. And the functionality in

each application in Opera 3 SQL SE can be customised to your

requirements.

Standard

reporting

Each application in Opera 3 SQL SE includes the relevant reports.

Integration with Microsoft Excel is available for relevant reports and all

reports can be printed or saved as PDF documents in a secure location.

Installation &

server setup

The installation of Opera 3 SQL SE is straightforward using installation

wizards for both the server and the client workstation software. Details

of the supported software environments and the initial configuration

tasks that need to be completed on the server are included in the

Installation & Implementation guide. That guide is available at

docs.pegasus.co.uk.

Administration &

monitoring

The administration and monitoring of Opera 3 SQL SE are achieved by

using a separate application that is installed at the same time as the

Opera 3 SQL SE server software. The Server Administration and

Monitoring application is a server-side application for configuring the

Opera 3 SQL SE server software, entering licence and activation details,

configuring email settings, creating company records, monitoring

database details and managing bespoke applications.

Introduction


Section Description

Migration There are strict database rules for data in Opera 3 SQL SE. These rules

make sure that dates and values are recorded correctly and related

database tables reconcile - for example invoice totals must equate with

the sum of the invoice detail lines. The database 'health checker' in the

Server Administration and Monitoring application completes these

checks prior to the data migration from other editions of Opera 3.

Product Features


Product Features

Opera 3 SQL SE offers a breadth of functionality in the Financial, Supply Chain

Management, Payroll and Personnel applications, and includes foreign currencies

transactions, reporting for EC VAT transactions and Pegasus XRL reporting.

Server-side processing

Heavy duty ‘data intensive processes’ - that could take some time to complete – are run from

the PC workstations but all the processing work is done on the Opera 3 SQL SE server. As well

as minimising the impact on your IT network, your workstations are not used at all for by a

data intensive process, and so can be used for other tasks.

Financial Ledgers

Financials are, of course, the core to any business, whatever its size. Immediate access to

accurate financial information is key to managing a business profitably by supporting the

decision-making process. With Opera 3 SQL SE you can continually track both your revenue

and your costs so that you have immediate visibility of your cash flow; invaluable for your

profit generation. Added to this, in-depth financial reporting and integration with MS Excel®

make Opera 3 SQL SE a system that delivers real cost benefits to your business.

Application Description

Sales

Ledger

With the Opera 3 SQL SE Sales Ledger you can email statements, invoice

copies and debtors’ letters. You can view your sales information in a way that

is meaningful to you, as Opera 3 SQL SE offers Views that you can customise.

And of course, it caters for foreign currencies and handles all your customer

profiles and trading terms, as well as invoices, credit notes, receipts, refunds

and adjustments.

The Opera 3 SQL SE Sales Ledger allows you to report on Aged Debtors now

or as at any date in the past, and it makes revenue forecasting easy with

automatic calculation of average debtor days for both individual customers

and your entire company.

Product Features



Streamline your credit control processes to reduce bad debts and increase

cash flow. The Credit Management Centre integrates with the Sales Ledger

and provides a series of key dashboard views for effective credit control, as

well as the tools you need to manage customer debt. From diary reminders

and Promise To Pay By dates to detailed notes against customers and

invoices, the Credit Management Centre is a one-stop shop for all your credit

control needs.

And with Debt Management built in, you have sophisticated and flexible debt

correspondence for use when customers fail to adhere to their agreed terms.

With Debt Management, you can create up to nine levels of debtor letters

and email covers, generic or customised, which can then be emailed or

posted, individually or in bulk.

Purchase

Ledger

With Opera 3 SQL SE, all your supplier transactions are thoroughly and

securely managed from start to finish. Your cash flow is automated and

improved with comprehensive cheque and BACS payment routines, email

remittances (individual or batched), and the calculation of average creditor

days. The Purchase Ledger gives you dynamic access to purchase information

across multiple periods together with Aged Creditors reporting, now or as at

any date in the past. Late Payment Reporting is also built in for those that

publish their payment practices and performance.

The integrated Purchase Invoice Register allows invoices and credit notes to

be posted and remain in the Register until they are authorised, giving you

much greater control over your purchasing. This, linked with unlimited

contacts and notes, provides you access to essential information to control

your cash flow.

Nominal

Ledger

The Nominal Ledger includes analysis of Account, Type, Sub-type and Cost

Centre plus two further user-definable levels as standard, giving you access

and in-depth analysis at transaction level for the past 9 years.

Product Features



Open Period Accounting offers a financial calendar for the current, previous

and up to 3 future financial years with each year having up to 24 periods,

which can be open, closed or blocked. Integration across Opera 3 SQL SE

means that you can get in-depth management information and reports for

precise financial analysis. You can apply budgets at four analysis levels, for

current or future periods and years, with full percentage variance analysis and

reporting. You can even easily change your year start date and maintain your

data integrity.

Transactions can be posted into any open period in the current and future

years from other applications such as the Sales and Purchase Ledgers,

Cashbook and Stock Control. You can also post Nominal transactions into

any open period in the previous financial year. Applications post to the

Nominal Ledger by either batch update or real-time transfer. What’s more,

even misposted nominal journals can be reversed and rectified quickly and

accurately.

Cashbook

Set up any number of bank and petty cash accounts, retrieve payments and

refunds from the Sales and Purchase Ledgers, set up standing orders, direct

debits and other recurring bank transactions, and reconcile these to your

bank statements.

The Cashbook provides constant and up-to-date information on all your

bank accounts for flexible financial analysis. You also have the option to have

foreign currency bank accounts where balances are held and transactions

posted in that foreign currency. You can even consolidate multiple sales and

purchase ledgers into a single Cashbook, for centralised banking control.

Supply Chain Management

Integrate sales orders, purchasing and stock with the relevant financial information, and

automate the delivery of your customers’ orders. Opera 3 SQL SE gives you the power to keep

a close eye on your purchase orders, respond to demand for products and monitor pricing.

Responding quickly and efficiently to customer demand makes Opera 3 SQL SE a powerful

tool for retaining customer loyalty and increasing levels of customer satisfaction.

Product Features



Sales Order

Processing/Invoicing

The Sales Order Processing application in Opera 3 SQL SE doesn’t

just generate sales documents; it also checks for customers' special

price lists, discounts and credit limits. It provides back-to-back

order processing with Purchase Order Processing and part-

progression of documents in the sales cycle. It offers batch

processing of documents with the ability to email all documents

within the sales cycle, to help you save both time and money. It

also offers Repeat Invoicing functionality which is typically used to

create monthly invoices against ongoing contracts.

Sales Order Processing in Opera 3 SQL SE also offers a Global Price

Changes utility, making it easy to maintain pricing information.

Purchase Order

Processing

Opera 3 SQL SE simply and swiftly generates all documents for the

entire purchase process from start to finish. Purchase documents

give greater control over the organisation of purchase orders in

your business. Multiple supplier documents can be optimised to

create a single document for progression to a purchase order.

Matching receipts and supplier invoices back to the purchase

order gives you total control over stock, pricing and financial

management.

The Supplier Product File links stock items to supplier records,

remembering supplier references, cost prices, economic order

quantities and lead times, so you don’t have to.

Stock Sophisticated stock management is fully integrated to both the

supply chain and financials. Stock in Opera 3 SQL SE caters for

various costing methods and multiple warehouses. It allows you to

apply different cost and selling prices, with minimum stock and re-

order levels for each warehouse, meaning you can arrange your

stockholding exactly how you like.

Product Features



And because it’s important to know the true profitability of your

stock sales, Opera 3 SQL SE offers landed costs functionality so

that you can add freight, import duty, insurance, warehousing etc

to your stock costs. Landed costs can be posted to the Nominal

Ledger and are included in various stock-related processes, such as

the Stock Valuation report.

Stock offers a Global Price Changes utility which makes it really

easy to maintain pricing information for stock items. GRN and RTV

processing comes as standard and provides a traceable process of

receipting or returning stock, and you can also create Quarantine

warehouses to hold goods prior to being moved into stock.

For stock that needs to be batch or serial number traceable, Stock

Traceability comes as standard with Opera 3 SQL SE, and you can

also trace where that stock came from and who it was shipped to.

Payroll


Payroll Apart from handling all your day-to-day tasks, Payroll caters fully for auto

enrolment of pensions and offers salary sacrifice and integration with

pension providers such as NEST and NOW: Pensions, ensuring all your

requirements are covered. In addition, by harnessing web and email

technology, it helps reduce your costs and administrative burden.

Personnel Personnel helps you manage all employee-related processes covering

recruitment, retention, training, disciplinary actions, absenteeism, job

changes and salary updates.

Online Filing

Manager

Online Filing Manager is installed separately and used to submit Real Time

Information returns to HMRC.

Product Features


Additional applications


Multi-Currency The Multi-Currency application in Opera 3 SQL SE handles unlimited

currencies, exchange rates per transaction type and the calculation

and recording of exchange rate fluctuations. Make euro electronic

payments compliant with SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area), and

record BIC and IBAN against supplier, customer and bank account

records.

EC VAT With the EC VAT application, Opera 3 SQL SE makes short work of

defining and maintaining the information you need to produce EC

Sales Lists (ESL) and Supplementary Declarations (SD). The EC Sales

List report generates an XML upload file for submission via the HMRC

website. And if you’re using foreign currency accounts, EC VAT can

generate the appropriate VAT rate codes for EC sales and purchases

and will then collect the information needed to produce the returns

for trading with EU countries.

Server

Administration and

Monitoring

The administration and monitoring of Opera 3 SQL SE is achieved by

using a separate application that is installed at the same time as the

Opera 3 SQL SE server software. The Server Administration and

Monitoring application is a server-side application for configuring the

Opera 3 SQL SE server software, entering licence and activation details,

configuring email settings, creating company records, monitoring

database details and managing bespoke applications.

Technical foundation



Opera 3 SQL SE lays the foundations for the future by using 64-bit Microsoft .NET Framework

technologies in the latest Windows Server and Windows desktop operating systems, with

Microsoft SQL Server being used for the data store. Opera 3 SQL SE is a client-server

application that uses the Pegasus Opera Service to manage the communication between the

PC workstations and the server as well as monitoring the users in the system.

Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is a well-established database technology with new versions of the

technology building on the previous version, with increased robustness, new features and

functionality added with each new release.

As a provider of database technology, the primary purpose of Microsoft SQL Server is to

provide storage and the ability to retrieve data for software applications. This may involve a

single network server where Microsoft SQL Server is installed alongside Opera 3 SQL SE, or

separate servers used for the database and the business application.

Windows Services

Windows services are programs that are used in client-server software products and operate

in the background. These are the main Windows services used by Opera 3 SQL SE.



Service Description

Pegasus Opera Service The main Pegasus Opera Service - installed with the server

installation - provides the conduit to update data consistently

and securely by controlling all the data flow to the Microsoft

SQL Server databases. It also provides a solid monitoring

system for the Opera 3 SQL SE administrators.

Net.Tcp Port Sharing

Services

The Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service allows a net.tcp port to be

shared and secured using a defined port number.

For Opera 3 SQL SE, this service is used so that the client and

server software can communicate with the Opera 3 SQL SE

service.

Microsoft Distributed

Transaction Coordinator

(DTC)

This Windows service provides the transaction infrastructure for

distributed systems. For Opera 3 SQL SE, this makes it possible

to transfer transactions between companies when a data

intensive process is used.

Summary of features

Feature Benefit

Microsoft SQL Server is the data store

technology used for Opera 3 SQL SE.

Microsoft SQL Server is a very well established

and secure database technology that you can

trust with your data.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7 is the

software development environment.

Opera 3 SQL SE is written using today's

technology for building tomorrow's software.

The Windows Communication

Foundation (WCF) feature of Microsoft

.NET Framework is the technology used

for communication between the

workstations and the server.

Windows Communication Foundation makes it

possible for secure and reliable communications

in client-server applications such as

Opera 3 SQL SE.



Feature Benefit

The Managed Extensibility Framework

(MEF) feature of Microsoft .NET

Framework integrates bespoke

applications as add-ons to

Opera 3 SQL SE.

Bespoke add-on features can be added to

Opera 3 SQL SE.

The Language Integrated Query (LINQ)

feature of .NET Framework allows

bespoke applications to query data

using object orientation methodologies.

This gives the ability to query SQL Server

relational databases and XML data using a query

language that is integrated with the C# (C-sharp)

programming language.

The Entity Framework feature of

Microsoft .NET Framework creates a

bridge between the ‘objects’ used in the

Opera 3 SQL SE programs and the

'relational' nature of Microsoft SQL

Server databases.

Entity Framework manages the database

connections and mapping of objects to the

Opera 3 SQL SE database. It allows bespoke

solutions to be developed against relational

databases in terms of application-specific objects

instead of the relational database.

Simple and straightforward installation

wizards, and purpose built Server

Administration and Monitoring software.

Opera 3 SQL SE is simple to install and

straightforward to initialise and configure.

Data Security


Data Security

With Opera 3 SQL SE the security of company data is of the utmost importance.

This decision is supported by the choice of Microsoft SQL Server to provide data storage, the

design of the Pegasus Opera Service as the secure method of communication between

Microsoft SQL Server and Opera 3 SQL SE, and the introduction of the secure

Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository for the files in Windows.

Microsoft SQL Server Authentication

Authentication is the process of logging on to Microsoft SQL Server using credentials that the

server evaluates to establish the identity of the user or process being authenticated. The

authorised resources that can be accessed are then determined.

Microsoft SQL Server offers two ways to access the databases using either SQL Server

authentication or Windows authentication. SQL Server authentication passes unencrypted

login names and passwords across the network, which makes it less secure than Windows

Authentication. Microsoft recommends Windows Authentication, which uses encrypted

messages to authenticate users in Microsoft SQL Server. Because of this Microsoft

recommendation, Windows Authentication is the method used by Opera 3 SQL SE.

Pegasus Opera Service

The Pegasus Opera Service is the secure method used to update the Microsoft SQL Server

data. It controls all the flow of data to and from the Microsoft SQL Server databases.

The first responsibility for the service is to create the connection to Microsoft SQL Server on

behalf of the Opera 3 SQL SE users. This is achieved using Windows authentication using a

Microsoft SQL Server administrator account, for example the local system administrator. The

security model is therefore tied to one account. This is the only method allowed to update

the data and ensures data security and integrity.

Data Security


Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository

Another security feature is the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository. This feature keeps

files like PDFs and spreadsheets secure - files that are saved in Windows rather than in

Microsoft SQL Server.

There is a recommended location for the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository, which is

offered when the Opera 3 SQL SE server software is installed, but another location can be

used if that is preferred.

When a report is saved using the Publisher in Opera 3 SQL SE it can be saved securely on the

server in the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository or in a specified folder in Windows.

The Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository is also designed to allow company-specific

reports to be saved securely. If more than one company is maintained in Opera 3 SQL SE, the

reports for those companies will be saved in a dedicated location.

Using the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository is straightforward as the complexity of the

design is hidden from view.

Common files location

The common folder is where banking payment files and those which need to be sent to

HMRC are saved on the server. These files can be retrieved afterwards by users who have

been given access to the location in Windows.

The common folder includes sub-folders for specific files:

• Company BACS files (\BACS).

• VAT Return & EC VAT related files (\Tax).

• Other miscellaneous export files, such as exported Nominal Ledger reports (\Export).

• Payroll files:

▪ BACS files (Payroll\BACS)

▪ Pensions files (Payroll\Pensions)

▪ RTI files (Payroll\RTI)

▪ DEO payment schedules (Payroll\XML)

▪ External Nominal transfer files (Payroll\Export).

Data Security


Access to this location is not allowed as standard. A network share location must be created

to allow the files to be saved here, and the necessary network permissions will need to be

allowed by the administrators.

Summary of features

Feature Benefit

With Opera 3 SQL SE data security is of the

highest importance.

Opera 3 SQL SE data in Microsoft SQL Server

and files that are saved in the

Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository are

secure as standard with no further

administration configuration necessary.

Opera 3 SQL SE uses Microsoft SQL Server as

the data store.

Microsoft SQL Server is a well-established

database technology, providing industry

standard data security.

The Pegasus Opera Service is the only

method used to update Microsoft SQL

Server and the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File

Repository.

No other Windows services or network

credentials are needed to access Microsoft

SQL Server. This makes Opera 3 SQL SE

secure as standard with no further

administration configuration necessary.

Only Opera 3 SQL SE users have access to

the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File

Repository.

The files that are saved securely on the

server in the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File

Repository can only be viewed by the people

who have been given access to the menu for

the Server Reports form.

The Opera 3 SQL SE common folder in

Windows includes the files to forward to

banks and HMRC.

Access to this folder is locked down as

standard so network administrators can

control who has network access to it in

Windows.

Heavy-duty tasks


Heavy-duty tasks

Heavy duty ‘data intensive processes’ - that could take some time to complete – are run from

the PC workstations but all the processing work is done on the Opera 3 SQL SE server. As well

as minimising the impact on your IT network, your workstations are not used at all for by a

data intensive process, and so can be used for other tasks

Examples of these data intensive processes are the programs that transfer transactions

from the Sales and Purchase Ledgers to the Nominal Ledger.

The way transfer tasks that update the Nominal Ledger operate (like transferring customer

invoices and receipts from the Sales Ledger), means that even if they are run in office hours,

they can be run in the background so other processes can be run in Opera 3 SQL SE

concurrently.

Some heavy-duty processes are best completed outside office hours, for example the Period

End processes in the Financial Ledgers and database Reorganisation processes in the Supply

Chain Management applications. As scheduling is built in, these tasks can also be run out of

hours to avoid disruption and potential clashes with other processes that are being run in

Opera 3 SQL SE.

Another advantage of running a data intensive process on the server is there is the choice to

run it without a report, which significantly speeds up processing. Reports can then be

generated at a later time.

Data intensive processes can be modified with the help of approved Pegasus Third

Party Developers.

Running the process immediately

If a data intensive process is initiated immediately with the 'In the background' option

selected, a message will be

displayed informing the user that

the background task has been

created. In this example the Period

End in the Sales Ledger has been

run on the server and the process

will be scheduled to run as soon as

possible on the server.

Heavy-duty tasks


When the Sales Ledger Period End has

finished processing, a further message is

displayed in the Windows Notifications area

that informs that the process has finished.

Scheduling the process for outside of office hours

If a data intensive process is to be

run later, a message will be

displayed informing the user that a

scheduled task has been created. In

this example the Tidy VAT Data

feature in the System Manager has

been scheduled to run on the

server outside of office hours.

When Tidy VAT Data has finished processing, a further message is displayed in the Windows

Notifications area that informs the user that the process has finished.

Windows Notifications

The Windows Notification area is located on the Windows

task bar and contains program icons that provide status

and notifications about messages, incoming email,

updates, and network connectivity. This area is also used

to display the notifications from the data intensive

processes.

The messages relating to data intensive processes can be

deactivated or deleted using the options on the menu.

Deactivated messages are retained in Opera 3 SQL SE but

not shown again, but deleted messages are removed altogether.

Heavy-duty tasks


List of data intensive processes

Application Process Details Best run option

System

Manager

VAT Tidy This removes fully committed VAT

transactions that have been included

on the VAT Return for a tax period.

Out of working

hours.

Sales Ledger Period End This closes the accounting period in the

Sales Ledger and completes associated

tasks in readiness for the next period.

Out of working

hours.

Purchase

Ledger

Period End This closes the accounting period in the

Purchase Ledger and completes

associated tasks in readiness for the

next period.

Out of working

hours.

Nominal

Ledger

Period End This closes the accounting period in the

Nominal Ledger and completes

associated tasks in readiness for the

next period.

Out of working

hours.

Sales Ledger

Transfer

This posts invoices, credit notes,

receipts, refunds and adjustments to

the Nominal Ledger from the Sales

Ledger.

Working hours

with 'in the

background'

option.

Purchase

Transfer

This posts invoices, credit notes,

payments, refunds and adjustments to

the Nominal Ledger from the Purchase

Ledger.

Working hours

with 'in the

background'

option.

Cashbook

Transfer

This posts receipts and payments to

the Nominal Ledger from the

Cashbook.

Working hours

with 'in the

background'

option.

Heavy-duty tasks



Stock Transfer This posts stock transaction

movements to the Nominal Ledger

from Stock.

Working hours

with 'in the

background'

option.

Rebuild

Periods

This recalculates the Nominal Account

balances for each period in the current

financial year, and future financial years

if the Open Period Accounting feature

is used.

Out of working

hours.

Rebuild

History

This rebuilds the history files associated

with the Nominal Ledger.

Out of working

hours.

Year End This closes the accounting year in the

Nominal Ledger in readiness for the

next financial year.

Out of working

hours.

Consolidation This consolidates Nominal Ledgers in

other companies into a main Nominal

Ledger.

Out of working

hours.

Cashbook Database

Reorganise

This removes postings marked for

deletion, reconciled transactions and

completed recurring postings.

Out of working

hours.

Sales Order

Processing

Database

Reorganise

This removes documents marked for

deletion and documents that have

been completed.

Out of working

hours.

Invoicing Database

Reorganise



been completed.

Out of working

hours.

Heavy-duty tasks



Purchase

Order

Processing

Database

Reorganise



been completed.

Out of working

hours.

Stock Period End This closes the accounting period in

Stock and completes associated tasks

in readiness for the next period.

Out of working

hours.

Running a heavy-duty data intensive process

This is a summary of the process followed when a data intensive process is initiated.

Heavy-duty tasks


Summary of features

Feature Benefit

Data intensive ‘heavy duty’

processing is completed on the

server.

This means that networks are not burdened by

unnecessary network traffic so other work will not be

affected. Also, the PC workstations do not do the

processing so they can be used for other tasks whilst

the server side processes are working.

Scheduling is built in, with desktop

notifications.

Scheduling heavy-duty processes for outside of work

hours is a major benefit. This means that other tasks

are not affected, and update notifications are

displayed at the start of the new working day.

Scheduling is built in as standard.

Smart file locking used in the

Nominal Ledger Transfers means

minimal effect on users if heavy

duty processes are run during

office hours.

These tasks can still be run during normal office hours

so other users can use the software whilst server

processes are running.

Heavy-duty processes can be run

in the background.

Some processes are suited to be run in the

background so that the workstation PCs are released

to run other processes in Opera 3 SQL SE.

Heavy-duty processes can be run

with or without a report.

Running a heavy-duty process without a report means

quicker processing. The standard reports can be used

afterwards if required.

The user menu access feature can

be used to control whether tasks

can be run later or run in the

background.

Administrators can use the menu access feature to

control whether users can schedule tasks to be run

outside of office hours or in the background.

Qualified third-party developers

will be able to modify Server side

processes.

Heavy-duty processes can be extended by Pegasus

Third Party Developers if additional processing tasks

are required.

User experience


User experience

Opera 3 SQL SE is a fully integrated system of Financial Ledgers and Supply Chain

Management solutions that blends the traditional with the new user experience. Every

business is unique, with individual requirements and particular challenges. Opera 3 SQL SE

applications can be added when required to expand the solution as business grows.

Additionally, the functionality in each application in Opera 3 SQL SE includes options to tailor

the way the software works.

Navigation groups

The interface is powerful, flexible and intuitive and includes a ribbon bar that organises the

applications into logical panes or groups for easy navigation. The display order of the panes

can be rearranged and most-used processes can be collected together in the Favourites

group.

The ribbon bar is arranged in the following groups:

Group Applications

Favourites Most-used forms, processes, reports and external applications

Financials Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger, Nominal Ledger and Cashbook

Supply Chain

Management

Sales Order Processing/Invoicing, Purchase Order Processing

and Stock

Payroll & HR Payroll and Personnel

Reporting EC VAT

Administration System Manager and Importer

User experience


Multiple screen layout

Multiple processing forms can be open simultaneously. In addition, a given form can also be

opened many times. For example, two instances of the Sales Ledger Processing form can be

open in order to view or post transactions for different customers at the same time.

The size and position of forms within the Opera 3 SQL SE desktop can also be controlled by

each user. A form can also be maximized to occupy all the available desktop area within the

desktop.

The Action menu

Most processing forms provide an Action command

button. Clicking this button or using the right-click menu

on a List tab displays a menu of commands that control

the further processing with a selected record.

The commands are grouped within command separators

according to the type of action. The Action menu can also

be displayed by right-clicking a record displayed on a List

tab.

User experience


Server-side processes

Opera 3 SQL SE is a client-server application, so some of the work is completed on the client

workstation PCs and some is completed on the server. Server-side processing reduces the

movement of data traffic between the workstations and server, thereby minimising network

traffic.

The server is responsible for the work involved in the periodic heavy-duty data intensive

processes. This has the benefit of lifting the work burden from the workstations so the

processors can be used more effectively for other things, and minimising the data traffic

between workstations and the server to reduce any impact on the network by the processing

task.

The workstation PCs are responsible for most of the processing required for the other

everyday tasks in Opera 3 SQL SE.

Bespoke solutions

Opera 3 SQL SE has been designed to accommodate bespoke requirements.

The Pegasus Solutions Marketplace programme offers add-on applications for the

Opera 3 SQL SE solution, from accredited Pegasus Developers. This makes it simple to make

modifications or to add more features, to provide extra functionality or enhanced information

so the software solution matches specific requirements.

Opera Desktop

The Opera Desktop can be used to display the Pegasus Help Centre and a chosen web site in

a web browser interface that sits in the Opera 3 SQL SE desktop. The Opera 3 SQL SE desktop

can be resized to allow other forms to be used simultaneously, which makes it possible to use

the online Help or check the latest details at the same time as using the product.

Pegasus Help Centre

The Pegasus Help Centre is a resource that provides information for all products supplied by

Pegasus Software. This includes user guides for each product and details about the latest

releases. A search box is available alongside a facility to bookmark pages.

User experience


Home page

The home page is automatically set to the Pegasus Software website when Opera 3 SQL SE is

installed. This can be changed by using the Web page to display setting on the Preferences

form in the System Manager.

Standard reporting


Standard reporting

Each application in Opera 3 SQL SE has a Reports section that includes the relevant reports.

Many reports can be published in a secure location as Microsoft Excel spreadsheets but all

reports can be printed, emailed and saved as PDF documents. Standard reports can also be

modified to your specific requirements if required. Those reports are saved in a different

location so that they are not overwritten by software upgrades.

Opera 3 SQL SE caters for both customer-specific report designs and, if more than one

company is maintained in the software, also company-specific report designs. These reports

are stored in different locations to that used for the reports provided as standard.

Storing reports securely in the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File

Repository

When a report is saved using the Publisher

in Opera 3 SQL SE users have the choice of

saving it securely on the server in the Opera

3 SQL SE Windows File Repository or saving

it in a specified folder in Windows.

Standard reporting


Files that are kept securely in the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository can only be

accessed by using Server Reports in the System Manager. Like all forms in Opera 3 SQL SE

access to this form is controlled using the menu access feature on the User Profiles form.

Reports used on the Opera 3 SQL SE server

Each heavy-duty data intensive process that runs on the server also does all the report

processing on the server, meaning the processing burden stays on the server and the PC

workstations are not affected.

Standard reports that are used on the server when data intensive processes are run can be

modified to your specific requirements if required. Standard and modified reports are saved

in different locations on the server. This means that modified reports will not be overwritten

when the software is upgraded.

Standard reporting


Summary of features

Feature Benefit

The Pegasus Opera Service

provides secure access to the

data in SQL Server when

reports are running.

The access to data in Microsoft SQL Server is controlled and

managed by the Pegasus Opera Service, so other processes

and software cannot access the databases. This is provided

as standard so no further configuration is necessary.

Reports saved using the

Opera 3 SQL SE Publisher can

be saved in the secure

Windows File system

Repository.

Secure reports mean that only the users with security access

to the Server Reports screen can view the reports. They

cannot be viewed from other areas of the software, or

outside the software.

There is clear separation of

reports provided as standard

and customised designs.

Customised reports will never be overwritten when software

is upgraded. This helps make upgrading Opera 3 SQL SE to

later versions straightforward.

Standard report designs can

be modified.

The reports provided as standard can be modified to your

requirements.

Installation & server setup



The installation of Opera 3 SQL SE is straightforward using installation wizards for both the

server and the client workstation software. Details of the supported software environments

and the initial configuration tasks that need to be completed on the server are included in the

Installation & Implementation guide. That guide is available at docs.pegasus.co.uk.

Server prerequisites

Software Description

Microsoft Windows Server 2016

or later

This is the latest version of Windows for servers.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 This is the software development framework used by

Pegasus in the development of Opera 3 SQL SE.

Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or

later

This is the data store technology used for

Opera 3 SQL SE.

Microsoft Report Viewer 2015

Runtime

This is needed for generating reports that were designed

for the data intensive processes that are run on the

Opera 3 SQL SE server.

Workstation prerequisites

Software Description

Microsoft Windows 10 This is the latest version of Windows for PCs.

Summary of features

Feature Benefit

There are wizard programs for both the

server and workstation installations.

The installation of the software is simple and

straightforward.



Feature Benefit

The initial configuration of the server

software is achieved using the Server

Administration and Monitoring application.

Configuring the server software requires only

a few steps before the workstation software

can be installed.

Data structures are automatically updated

after upgrade installations to include new

data fields and tables required for feature

improvements.

This saves time and effort after installing

newer versions of Opera 3 SQL SE.

Server Administration & Monitoring



The administration and monitoring of Opera 3 SQL SE are achieved by using a separate

application that is installed at the same time as the Opera 3 SQL SE server software. The Server

Administration and Monitoring application is a server-side application for configuring the

Opera 3 SQL SE server software, entering licence and activation details, configuring email

settings, creating company records, monitoring database details and managing bespoke

applications.

Views in Server Administration and Monitoring

• A view for the configuration of the server software. The configuration must be

completed before Opera 3 SQL SE can be used.

• Views for server information.

• Views related to entering licence and activation details.

• Views related to setting up email.



• Views related to the databases used by Opera 3 SQL SE, including creating new

companies, and 'health checking' of Opera 3 data and data migration.

• Views for maintaining systems and companies used in Opera 3 SQL SE.

• A view for creating session tokens, which are used in bespoke applications when

importing records into Opera 3 SQL SE.

Summary of features

Feature Benefit

There are views in the Server

Administration and Monitoring application

for all the necessary administration and

monitoring tasks.

All the Opera 3 SQL SE server administration

and monitoring tasks are under one umbrella

in an application designed specifically for

administrators.

Administration tasks like entering licence and

activation details, monitoring user activity or

setting up email are simple and

straightforward.

The Server Administration and Monitoring

application is installed automatically on the

server as part of the Opera 3 SQL SE server

installation.

Only administration users have access to

administration functions. Server

administration functions are not available on

the workstations.

The Server Administration and Monitoring

application provides the mechanism to

upload bespoke applications to the

Opera 3 SQL SE server.

This allows Third Party Developers to add

bespoke solutions to Opera 3 SQL SE.

A full help file is available with the Server

Administration and Monitoring application.

Assistance is available in the F1 Help file.

Migration


Migration

There are strict database rules for data in Opera 3 SQL SE. These rules make sure that dates

and values are recorded correctly and related database tables reconcile - for example invoice

totals must equate with the sum of the invoice detail lines. The database 'health checker' in

the Server Administration and Monitoring application completes these checks prior to the

data migration from other editions of Opera 3.


To make the migration from other editions of Pegasus Opera 3 as smooth as possible using

the Server Administration and Monitoring application, a new company is automatically

created in Opera 3 SQL SE during the migration. If a problem is found during the migration

the changes in Microsoft SQL Server can be rolled back. The migration of data includes PDF

files (Portable Document Format) like invoices, statements and remittance advices.

To migrate data from other vendors' software solutions, contact Pegasus Software.

Summary of features

Feature Benefit

The database 'health checker' in the Server


completes relevant checks prior to the

migration of data from other editions of

Opera 3.

Data validation errors prevent data

migration to Opera 3 SQL SE because of the

strict validation rules in Opera 3 SQL SE.

The data migration view in the Server


migrates data from other editions of Opera

3.

This assists with data upgrades.

The migration of data from other editions of

Opera 3 includes PDF files (Portable

Document Format), for example, invoices,

statements and remittance advices

(including modified report designs).

After the migration, all the necessary files are

automatically moved into the

Opera 3 SQL SE folders.

Migration


Feature Benefit

If a problem is found during the migration

the changes in Microsoft SQL Server can be

rolled back.

If the migration cannot continue the

Microsoft SQL Server installation remains in

its original state.

Glossary


Glossary

B

Bespoke applications: Opera 3 SQL SE allows approved third party developers to make

modifications to both the client workstation software and the server software.

C

Common folder: The common folder is where banking payment files and those which

need to be sent to HMRC are saved on the server that can be retrieved afterwards by users

with the required access. This is also used as a temporary location used by

Opera 3 SQL SE when data backups are taken.

D

Data Intensive Process: Heavy duty data intensive processes run on the Opera 3 SQL SE

server. These include Period End and Year End processes, Nominal Ledger Transfers,

Nominal Ledger Rebuild History and Periods, and 'housekeeping' Reorganisation

processes and Tidy VAT.

Data migration: Data can be migrated from other editions of Pegasus Opera 3 using the

System Administration & Monitoring application on the Opera 3 SQL SE server.

E

EC VAT: When invoices and credit notes are posted to EU customers and suppliers,

additional codes and values are recorded and included on the relevant EU reports

automatically. Reports can be submitted to HMRC and audit trails include the details of

EU transactions. EC VAT integrates with the Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger, Invoicing/SOP,

Purchase Order Processing and Stock.

Entity Framework: Entity Framework (EF) is part of .NET Framework. EF is Microsoft’s

version of an ‘Object Relational Mapping’ (ORM) framework. This is a technique that

creates a bridge between the ‘objects’ used in the Opera 3 SQL SE code and the SQL Server

‘relational’ database.

F

Financial Ledgers: The financial ledgers are the Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger, Nominal

Ledger and Cashbook.

Glossary


H

Help Centre: The Help Centre is the online resource for product details, latest releases,

user guides and online help.

L

Language Integrated Query: Language Integrated Query (LINQ) is part of .NET

Framework. LINQ is a query language that allows developers to query data using object

orientation methodologies. For Opera 3 SQL SE, this gives the ability to query SQL Server

relational databases and XML data using a query language that is integrated with C#.

M

Managed Extensibility Framework: Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF) is part of

.NET Framework. MEF allows add-on DLLs to be discovered and loaded at run-time. This

allows Pegasus and Third Party Developers to add new extension DLLs without the

Opera 3 SQL SE Service having to be configured to be aware that they are available. The

extension DLLs are automatically discovered by MEF if they are in an appropriate location

defined in the Opera 3 SQL SE Service.

Microsoft SQL Server: Microsoft SQL Server is the data store technology used for

Opera 3 SQL SE. Microsoft SQL Server is a very well established and secure database

technology that you can trust with your data.

Multi currency: Invoices, receipts, payments, journals and other transaction entries can

be entered in the foreign currency and converted to the home currency. In this way, you

can review balances in your accounts in either currency. If you have foreign subsidiaries,

where the home currency is different from that of the parent company, you can

consolidate accounts converting from one currency to another at the same time.

O

Online Filing Manager: Online Filing Manager enables you to send VAT Returns to HMRC

using files created in the Opera 3 SQL SE.

Opera Desktop: The Opera Desktop displays the Pegasus Help Centre and your chosen

web site in the Opera 3 SQL SE desktop. The desktop can be resized to allow other forms

to be used at the same time, which makes it possible, for example, to use the online Help

or checking the latest details at the same time as using the product.

P

Glossary


Pegasus Opera service: The Pegasus Opera Service is the Windows service that runs

continuously on the server. A Windows service is a program that operates in the

background and is managed by the Service Control Manager, a component of Microsoft

Windows which is started automatically when the server boots. The main service activity is

to provide the conduit to update data consistently and securely because it controls all the

data flow to the Microsoft SQL Server databases.

R

Repository: Another security feature is the Opera 3 SQL SE Windows File Repository. This

feature keeps your files like PDFs and spreadsheets secure. These files are saved in

Windows rather than in Microsoft SQL Server.

S

Scheduling: Scheduling is built in to the data intensive processes so they can be run

outside of office hours.

Server Administration & Monitoring: Server Administration & Monitoring is a server-

side application for configuring the Opera 3 SQL SE server software, company maintenance

including data migration, and monitoring tasks for Opera 3 SQL SE.

Server-side processing: Server-side processes are those processes in Opera 3 SQL SE

where all the processing work is done on the server. This has the benefit of lifting the work

burden from your PC so its processor can be used more effectively for other things, and

minimising the data traffic between your PC and the server to reduce any impact on your

network by the processing task.

Supply Chain Management: The Supply Chain Management applications are Sales Order

Processing, Invoicing, Purchase Order Processing, and Stock Control.

W

Windows Communication Foundation: Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) is

part of .NET Framework. WCF is a framework for building service-oriented applications.

Using WCF, you can send data as asynchronous messages from one service endpoint to

another. A service endpoint can be part of a continuously available service hosted by IIS,

or it can be a service hosted in an application. An endpoint can be a client of a service that

requests data from a service endpoint. The messages can be as simple as a single character

or word sent as XML, or as complex as a stream of binary data.

Glossary


Windows service: Windows services are programs that operate in the background that

are started automatically when the server starts. Opera 3 SQL SE uses three main Windows

services - Pegasus Opera Service, Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service, and Microsoft Distributed

Transaction Coordinator.

Documents

Guide to Opera 3 SQL SE€¦ · the PC workstations but all the processing work is done on the Opera 3 SQL SE server. As well as minimising the impact on your IT network, your workstations