Deleting Obsolete Companies
Under the heading of house-keeping…how long is too long? After how many years can
you just be done with those old dead companies? Whatever you decide as your magic
number ‐ here's some useful info and a how-to on getting rid of old, no longer used
companies from your SSI Oil and Gas Accounting Software.
But remember, gone means gone. SSI recommends a full SSIF backup before deleting
any old, inactive companies.
Yikes! What, exactly, is it that I'm going to be deleting?
Without getting too techy, data files for all companies reside in the SSIF directory,
divided by modules/sub-directories (Accounts Receivables ‐ ARF, Accounts Payables ‐
APF, etc.). Actual data files specific to that module are layered within the module sub-
directory. Each file within each module sub-directory includes a company number at the
end of the file name. You're going to be deleting files within those sub-directories that
end with the company number(s) you no longer want/need.
Whew! Of course, if you have any questions on the layout of the SSIF directory files, or
anything else for that matter, don't hesitate to contact our HelpDesk. We can help.
But before we start deleting anything, let's do a walk-thru of the options.
From your main SSI menu, select Admin from the ribbon at the top of the screen,
Company Maintenance from the drop-down, and enter the password. The dialog sub-
screen will show all current, named companies.
Under the Admin tab (top left) on this sub-dialog screen, you've got 2 options:
- Delete Company
- Delete Inactive Company
What's the difference??
Delete Company. Are companies showing on your company name list that are old,
un-used or never used? This option will delete companies that are named in your
company drop-down list ‐ be careful!
Delete Inactive Company. Old companies that are now nameless in the company
drop-down list. The nameless are those companies that were maybe created once
upon a time, then long since deleted out of the name list, but that's all.
FYI ‐ simply deleting the company name from the list does not auto-delete all files
associated with said company. These companies, although now nameless in the drop-
down list ‐ may still have data files lingering out in the SSIF directory, doing nothing
but hogging space. If the company is nameless in the drop-down list, chances are you
haven't searched for info in a loooong, loooong time ‐ if ever! Maybe a new company
was created at some point and just never finished, or set one up and started using,
then decided to not use it.
Whatever the reason, it's pretty likely you've got some old dead junk companies with
useless data taking up space on your server.
Let's start with:
Delete Inactive Company
How to delete the nameless ‐ those dead companies that are not even showing up on
your company list.
From the Admin tab at the top of the sub-dialog screen, select Delete Inactive
Company from the drop-down list.
You will receive a message (paraphrased) that you are about to delete all
inactive companies not shown in the company list, including ARM files, etc. Are
you sure you want to delete inactive companies?
Before you say YES, here's where it's a good idea to have that full SSIF
backup…just as a safety net. And have a plan. It's best to execute when no one
is accessing SSI ‐ like maybe first thing in the morning ‐ after you've gotten a
full SSIF backup from the night before. Not an incremental backup, a full SSIF
backup. Worst case scenario, you want to quickly and easily be able to get
everything back to the night before.
OK ‐ the importance of BACKUPS - rant over.
Say YES, and files in the SSIF directory associated with all unnamed company
number(s) will be removed.
Now ‐ about those named dead companies. These are the ones that are still showing
up in your company list but aren't being used any more.
Delete Company
The process is similar BUT!!! With a twist.
From the main SSI Menu screen, click the Admin tab and Company Maintenance
with password (like we did in the walk-thru above). When the Company Name
list appears in the sub-dialog screen ‐ and this is IMPORTANT!! - click on the
name of the company to be deleted. Then click the Admin tab at the top, and
from the drop-down select Delete Company.
ALSO IMPORTANT!!! You will receive a message ‐ READ THIS MESSAGE!! This is
your company number verification to be sure you are deleting the correct
company and NOT deleting one of your good, valid companies!!! If it's not the
right company number ‐ just say NO.
Do we need another rant on the importance of having a full SSIF backup?
If you've verified the company number is correct and is truly the company to be
deleted, click YES.
You'll get one more chance - Last Warning! Re-verify company number and be
sure this company is to be deleted ‐ Are You Sure You Want to Delete This
Company? Say Yes. It rolls through all files in the SSIF directory ‐ deleting only
the files that match the company number you verified. Your SSI Oil and Gas
Accounting Software will take care of the heavy lifting.
When it's done, a message Save Company File Changes? will display. Say YES.
Then kick back and let SSI Roomba its way to a tidy SSIF directory.
When completed, the company name list sub-dialog screen will re-appear and
the company name and number for the company you deleted will be gone from
the list, along with all associated files within the SSIF directory.
Question - maybe you've got some old companies that you want to keep for historical
research purposes but aren't accessing on a regular basis? Maybe you don't want those
companies to show up on your standard active company list? Consider moving those
companies to another environment ‐ really nothing more than a separate location on
your SSIF drive. SSI Oil and Gas Accounting Software can help you set up an alternate
environment and move specific companies to that alternate environment. Security can
be set to allow/don't allow users access to the alternate environment, or to certain
companies within the alternate environment. And it's really easy and fast to switch to
and from the alternate environment.
Whatever you need, SSI Oil and Gas Accounting Software can help provide to make
your job easier!