What is needed to run it?
The software runs only on Windows, and requires either XP, Vista or Windows 7. Supported versions of Excel and Access include both 2003 and 2007. The software requires Microsoft's ActiveX Data Objects (ADODB) which is included with the Microsoft Windows, and available free for download from Microsoft.
Is a user guide available ?
Yes, and it can be freely downloaded.
Can I order a printed copy of the user guide?
At this time, we do not offer a printed copy.
Are there any tutorials available?
Yes, there are several tutorials listed, including both video and Adobe documents.
Does the system have any limitations?
Of course, although there are no intentional design limitations. More details are described at limitations.
How much data can be analyzed and what data formats are supported?
There is no built in limit on the amount of data that can be analyzed, although practical limitations may exist. Much depends upon the speed and memory of the computer being used. For example, a test for duplicate invoices using a master file of about 500,000 records can be done in minutes on a laptop PC with 1.8 GHz CPU and 4 GB of memory.
Data formats supported are Excel (2003 and 2007), Access (2002 and 2007) and text files (tab separated and comma separated values).
Can the system access databases directly?
No, not at this time. However, most database systems have an "export" facility to a text file, and the text file can be analyzed.
Does the system support scripting?
Yes, when Audit Commander is installed, a COM object is registered which can be accessed from VB, VBA, AutoIt3 and many other applications. We recommend AutoIt3 for those who do not have any scripting language. It is both robust and free. Scripts can call almost all the functionality of Audit Commander.
Does Audit Commander provide any specific facilities for accounts payable testing?
Yes, it includes both tests for duplicate vendors and duplicate payments. This is in addition to a whole host of other functions.
Where can I get an idea of specific uses for the product?
There are some ideas and examples for use in an audit program in several application areas.
Can Audit Commander be used to learn/teach SQL?
Yes, Audit Commander has the functionality to run, load and save SQL and view the results. This facility can be used both for audits and also as a learning tool. There is a paper available explaining the use of SQL in audits. The user guide explains the facility in more detail. Examples of SQL calls are also provided.
Does Audit Commander provide any functionality similar to Excel's Pivot Table function?
Yes, there is a menu option called "Cross Tabs" which provides this capability. This includes "drill down" capabilities available when specific selections are made. Statistics are selectable and include counts, sums, averages, minimum, maximum and standard deviation. The system introduction video includes a very brief overview.
Does Audit Commander provide any linear regression capabilities?
Yes, it includes charting, as well as confidence and prediction intervals. Data analyzed may either be already summarized/tallied, or Audit Commander can summarize it before performing linear regression analysis.
Can Audit Commander be used to teach auditing concepts?
That's the use we make of Audit Commander for teaching courses for CPE credit. Note that educational use is available at no cost. Educational use terms.