Overview: This article explains how to access and use legacy Smart Workpapers Excel workbooks moving forward following its end of life.
Please refer to the Glossary for definitions of key terms used in this article.
As Smart Workpapers has now been discontinued, we recommend moving to Active Workpapers to continue using Workpapers with enhanced automation and functionality.
For assistance with transitioning to Active Workpapers, please contact [email protected] to speak with your account manager.
How to use legacy Smart Workpapers now after end of life
Editing Smart Workpapers workbooks
You can continue to edit existing Smart Workpapers Excel workbooks to the extent that Microsoft Excel allows. However, any functions that rely on the Smart Workpapers Excel add-in will no longer work.
This means features such as the following will no longer be available:
Adding or viewing existing internal notes/review points or client queries
Changing workpaper statuses on the Index page
Adding new Workpapers or Records from the Index page
Navigating from the Index page to other workbooks by selecting Index GoTo Record Icons
Connecting your file to a new source or changing the existing Accounting File Source.
Reimporting a fresh trial balance from your existing Source
User dropdowns in the Home Sheet
To ensure that the formulas in your Excel workbook continue to function as expected and to ensure a seamless editing experience, please disable the HowNow Smart Workpapers COM Add-in from your Excel program.
To do this, in Excel, go to File, select Options, then select Add-ins. Under the Manage dropdown, select COM Add-ins, then select Go:
Then Untick HowNow Smart Workpapers and select OK.
This should ensure that only the HowNow Smart Workpapers Formulas Excel Add-in remains enabled in Excel:
If you do not see the HowNow Smart Workpapers Formulas Add-in, install the entire HowNow Smart Workpapers Add-in using the link below, then repeat the steps above to disable the HowNow Smart Workpapers COM Add-in and keep the HowNow Smart Workpapers Formulas Excel Add-in enabled:
Download the Smart Workpapers Add-in installer
How to approach rollovers and existing jobs when moving to Active Workpapers
Ideally, existing Smart Workpapers jobs should be completed before moving to Active Workpapers.
For the following year, for each job, you can log in to the Active Workpapers platform, create a new binder, and use Option 2 to import or upload the prior year’s Smart Workpapers file into your Active Workpapers binder for rollover purposes.
If you have not completed any existing jobs in Smart Workpapers, you will need to restart them in Active Workpapers.
Additional information about moving to Active Workpapers from Smart Workpapers
For more information about moving from Smart Workpapers to Active Workpapers, please refer to the help article below: