Chapter 01

Introduction to
Bellwether Garden
Supply

McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Sample Company –
Bellwether Garden Supply
The sample company, Bellwether Garden Supply, is
shown in Chapters 1-7. You learn about the basic
features of Peachtree Complete Accounting 2012
(PCA). Completing these chapters will help you
become familiar with the software.
The Peachtree software included with the book
includes the company data for Bellwether Garden
Supply (Chapters 1-7) and Stone Arbor Landscaping
(Chapter 8). On the startup window these two
companies are identified as the sample companies.
In Chapters 9-18 and Projects 1-4A, you build
company data from scratch. Computer accounting
skills are reviewed in more depth beginning in
Chapter 9.
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 Peachtree Tips
Instructions for making the first backup are on textbook
pages 22-25. This backup is for Bellwether’s starting data.
At this point in Chapter 1, no data has been added to the
sample company. The backup name is bgs.ptb.

The textbook shows detailed steps for backing up to a USB

flash drive. Students can backup to the default location, or
specify a location, such as a network location or external
media.

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 Peachtree Tips
See textbook pages 29-32 for using Peachtree’s Restore
Wizard. Peachtree’s Restore Wizard allows you to restore
An Existing Company (the default); or, restore A New
Company. For more information, refer to the Read Me box
on textbook page 29.
Students can restore from a backup file even if no
Peachtree company exists. From Peachtree’s start up
window, select File; Restore. Select the location of the
backup file. On the Restore Wizard’s Select Company
window, select A New Company. When A New Company
is selected, data can be restored and a company created
at the same time. This means that if you start Peachtree
and the company is not shown on the Company Name list,
you can restore data and set up the company.
Peachtree backup files have a .ptb extension.
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 Backing Up, pages 2-3
The chart below shows the size of the backup s, Excel files and PDF files
saved in Chapter 1. Backups can be made to a USB flash drive, default
location, network location, or other external media such as a CD-RW drive
or DVD-RW drive.
Backup Name (.ptb)
Excel Report (.xlsx) and Adobe (.pdf) Kilobytes Page Nos.
bgs.ptb 3,306 KB 23-25
Chapter 1.ptb 3,314 KB 41-42
Chapter 1_Employee List.xlsx 15 KB 43-45
Chapter 1_Employee List.pdf 14 KB 45-46
Exercise 1-2.ptb 3,317 KB 51
Exercise 1-2_Chart of Accounts.xlsx 15 KB 52
Exercise 1-2_Chart of Account.pdf 14 KB 52
Exercise 1-2_Employee List.xlsx 14 KB 52
Exercise 1-2_Chart of Accounts.pdf 17 KB 52

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 Windows, page 1
(Part 1 introduction)
The Windows operating
system uses pictures or
icons to identify tasks.
For example, the
illustration on page 9
shows Peachtree’s user
interface.

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User interface (UI), p. 1
Consists of procedures which enable
you to interact with Peachtree and the
Windows operating system. The UI
includes windows, icons, and menus.

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 Taskbar, p. 8
In Windows 7, the Start button and taskbar are
located at the bottom of your screen.

In Windows Vista, the Start button and taskbar

look slightly different.

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 Global Options, pp. 18-19
Global options are in effect for all Peachtree companies.
See pages 18-19, steps 1-3 for setting PCA’s global
options.

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 Navigation Bar, p. 20
The Navigation Bar appears on the left side of
Peachtree’s main window.

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Navigation Centers, p. 20
Navigation Bar
selections take
you to Peachtree’s
Navigation
Centers.
Bellwether Garden
Supply’s
Employees &
Payroll Tasks are
shown.

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 Workflow diagram, p. 20
From Peachtree’s main window, select
Business Status, Customers & Sales,
Vendors & Purchases, Inventory &
Services, Employees & Payroll, or
Banking. A workflow diagram for that
module appears.

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 Modules, p. 20
Peachtree’s modules include Customers &
Sales (Accounts Receivable), Vendors &
Purchases (Accounts Payable), Inventory &
Services, Employees & Payroll, Banking, and
System.

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Chart of Accounts, pp. 21-22
The chart of accounts is a list of all the
accounts used by a company.

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 Backing Up, pp. 22-26
Backing up your data means saving it to a
hard drive, network drive or external
media. Refer to pages 22-26 for Backing
up Bellwether Garden Supply.

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Windows Explorer, pp. 28-29
Right-click Start button;
left-click Open Windows
Explorer.
Use Windows Explorer
to determine how much
disk space is used, and
to locate Peachtree’s
program and company
data files location. (Refer
to File Management, pp.
xviii-xx.)
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Restore (Peachtree’s Restore
Wizard), pp. 29-32
Previously backed up data can be restored
or retrieved. To start where you left off the
last time data was backed up, use the
Restore Wizard. You can restore A New
Company or An Existing Company. See
pages 29-32, Using Peachtree’s Restore
Wizard.

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 Going to the Net, pp. 48-49
Access the Career Development website at
http://www.careers-in-accounting.com/

Read the article Welcome to Careers in Accounting.

List four activities that accountants engage in (not

including recording transactions and preparing
financial statements).

Approximately how many people join public

accounting firms each year?

What key factors contribute to being hired as an

accountant?

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 Analysis Questions, p. 52
1. How many menu bar selections does Peachtree Complete
Accounting 2012 have? List the menu bar selections.

PCA has 10 (or 11) menu bar selections which include: File,
Edit, Lists, Maintain, Tasks, Analysis, Options, Reports &
Forms, (Services is inactive), Window, Help.

2. What is the Navigation Bar? Briefly describe its function.

Peachtree’s Navigation Bar includes seven selections:

Business Status, Customers & Sales, Vendors & Purchases,
Inventory & Services, Employees & Payroll, Banking, and
System. These selections open the Navigation Center pages.

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 Assessment Rubric, p. 53
Chart of Accounts or Account List
Navigation
Bar/Navigation Center Running
Account ID Description Type Balance

Business Status, link to 10200 Regular Checking Account Cash $23,389.83

view Account List

11000 Accounts Receivable Accounts $175,383.01

Receivable
14000 Prepaid Expenses Other Current $14,221.30
Assets
15500 Buildings Fixed Assets $185,500.00
20000 Accounts Payable Accounts ($80,626.01)
Payable
39003 Common Stock Equity-does ($5,000.00)
not close
4000-AV Sales - Aviary Income ($51,652.86)
50000-AV Product Cost-Aviary Cost of Sales $20,281.45
57500 Freight Expenses $50.00

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 Online Learning Center
 Go online to www.mhhe.com/yacht2012 for additional resources. Link to
Student Edition, select Chapter 1.

o Interactive Testing: Online multiple-choice and true and false

question. Tests are graded and can be emailed to instructor.
o Glossary of Terms: Boldfaced/italicized words within chapter.
o Feature Quizzes: Includes user interface questions, matching,
and review of chapter concepts with immediate feedback.
o Flash Videos: Demonstrations of setting global options, backup,
and restore.
o PowerPoints: Narrated slides.
o Assessment Rubrics: Reviews journal entries, reports,
navigation centers, modules, and task windows.
o Going to the Net: Internet research.
o QA Templates: End-of-chapter summary and review questions
and analysis question.
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