Changing the G/L Closing Date

Use the Change G/L Closing Date screen to control the closing date for each type of accounting transaction.

The traditional batch processing, updating, or month-end close date does not exist in the system. Instead, Eclipse is based in a real-time environment, where you can establish a closing date by module when you need to for your accounting needs. For example, you can leave certain accounting areas open when you need to complete catch-up work and close other accounting areas as needed. And, in the meantime, because the system is date sensitive, it is possible for workers to continue to enter transactions that relate to the next accounting period without worrying about corrupting the soon-to-be-closed period.

Closing dates are not necessarily period end dates, only the cut-offs for modifications to entries up through that date. The closing of transaction areas does not have to match the month-end date.

The Change G/L Closing Date program is important to the security of the accounting system.

To change the G/L closing date:

From the G/L > G/L Maintenance menu, select Change G/L Closing Date to display the Change G/L Closing Date screen.

Note: The Audit Close Date field reflects the closing date of the general ledger. You cannot modify financially significant transactions of any kind prior to and including this date. Restrict changing the Audit Close Date field to the individual who has the final responsibility for the company's financial integrity and require SUPERUSER authorization or the GL.CLOSE.DATE.EDIT authorization key set to level 3.

In the New column, enter a new closing date over the existing date for each of the transaction types for which you want to close the activity. You cannot modify transactions prior to and including the date you enter in the New column.

Note: You can enter today's date as the new closing date. However, the system locks any users currently on the system who are creating or posting transactions for today's date.

Press Esc to display the Have Changes Affect screen, asking you to define who the changed closing dates should affect.

Press F10 and select from the following options:

Choice	Changes the accounting period closing dates for...
All Users	all users on the system. This is the default.
Just My Process	your login ID and only for the current session for which you are logged in. This option allows you, for example, to temporarily reopen a closed accounting period to make specific changes without reopening the period to all users.
Just For User	a specific user ID and only for the current session for which you are logged in. This option allows you, for example, to temporarily reopen a closed accounting period to that a user can make specific changes without reopening the period to all users.

Press Enter.
Press Esc to save this information and exit this screen.

The system records this change in the system activity log. The designated user is sent a message similar to the following: "Temporary G/L Close Date Changed for your current process ONLY," followed by the accounting period name and the new closing date.

Note: If you are changing the accounting period closing dates for all Users, the system does not send a confirmation.