Reminder: Changes to MYOB AccountRight offline mode

Hi all suffering from offline access issues.

I am a user of MYOB for past 28years. I see a lot of frustation being recyled. While I cannot comment on each situation, but I am happy to summarise what I consider is a good solution for offline access.  I am a small business owner with many ABN's and do all this myself. I am not an accountant nor IT.

Our community group is to help each other, so I am trying to help with better understanding of soulutions already offered,using my own example.

Please read this a few times, if required, and I can promise many of you will benefit from this summary.

1) I had 11 offline files before STP (single touch payroll). 4 of those are online since STP ( STP was a legislative change, so we cannot complain to MYOB). I was left with no choice but to pay for each ABN, who pay wages. 

2) The balance 7 (out of 11) are now offline files that do not need STP or updates. Based on Mike's (MYOB coordinator) suggestion, I am now fully set up for both online (paid) and offline at no extra cost.

Key steps for the solution:

a) The MYOB PC version is probably what you are using for offline files now, like me. That can be used for some online files too. For offline files this MYOB PC version will phase out around 17 June 2026. From that point it is only for suitable Online files...gist of their announcement.

b) The MYOB Server (SE) version is the solution for offline files...I became aware of this here in this forum. It can be installed concurrently in the same PC where you have the MYOB PC version. Separate software, separate desktop shortcut, and separate location of library files. I have installed it and I am working with SE version for all my offline files. Ignore the "Server" suffix. It will work in a non server environment too viz. Single PC. I have a server at work and decided it was too complex to install there and would need IT help. So I am using the SE version for solely for standalone PC usage. Speed is awesome too.

c) You can use the offline files off different/several PC's too. I have download the latest version of MYOB SE at all the PC's I need to work at, from the MYOB downloads page. Select the latest SE version on the day you download. The SE will not automatically update after 17 June 2026 so that that version is frozen and it allows for offline files till something, most likely technological compatibilty raises its head.

d) In my case I have put one offline ".myox" file each in two locations (Standalone PC's) and the third standalone PC, my main workplace, has the remaining 5 offline files. I do not plan to use these files across PC's, but I can, if I am very careful to cut/copy from one to another. If you make a mistake then you will have  holes in the data...too hard to fix.. so avoid if possible.

But if you cannot avoid, you have to be super careful and that can work too. E.g. Cut (not copy) the file to a USB or say dropbox from the SE "My Library". From USB or dropbox cut to the new PC which must also have SE and copy it to the "My Library"...more on where is find it later in this post. 

e) Mike mentioned that SE will not update after 17 June, allowing it to continue accessing offline files. But the user licence confirmation will continue from time to time. So those who do not have internet for the confirmation may be able to find time gaps where it can be used without internet. You have to work that out. I have internet access to all my 3 locations, so I have no experience to advise.

f) You need to know where the MYOB data files (.myox) are located inside your PC. This location is also reached when you click on "My Library" from MYOB SE . 

I found the location by doing a google search. For MYOB SE, its "My Library" is located at:

"C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\MYOB\My AccountRight Files."

This location does not show up when you have just installed the software. But once you add one "..myox" file, then it will show up.

For easy access and convenience, I have put a shortcut to that location on my desktop, which would be good for backups (copy and save to a USB or another location), etc.

g) You should rename the MYOB SE shortcut on your desktop to "Offline MYOB SE" or something like that. That will keep it separate to the other shortcut "MYOB AR" which points to the MYOB PC version, which can be used to access only online files from 17 June.

Some may access online files exclusively on the web (Business Pro or Lite). For those the MYOB PC version is probably being used currently for offline files. Once you install MYOB SE for offline files, you will probably have the MYOB PC software idle.

g) The "My Library" location for MYOB PC version and MYOB SE version are different and you must be able to locate them to succeed. 

For MYOB PC version, typically the My library, is located at:

"C:\Users\"username"\Documents\MYOB\My AccountRight Files\xxxxx.myox"

The My Library location for MYOB SE is given at f) above and repeated here:

"C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\MYOB\My AccountRight Files."

h) Setting up MYOB SE is very easy. Install MYOB SE onto the PC where your exsiting offline .myox files reside.

Then you must populate these to the "My Library" of your MYOB SE. First time, it will say you have no files. It gives you a prompt to select them. Use that to select your existing .myox offline file (location clarified at g) above) and it will be copied across to your MYOB SE library.  Repeat this for every offline file.

From here on, for any new work,  ONLY use your offline files that have been copied/populated inside your SE library.  Do not use elsewhere.

You can use on a different PC with MYOB SE on it, but chance of error is very high. Solution for that is at d) above.

I really hope our community, to whom this applies, will use above solution adjusted to your situation. Give a try and maybe you will not need to visit this community page for current offline issues.