Most Popular Blog Posts of 2021

Here’s a look back at the most popular blog posts of 2021 according to the number of times readers opened those posts. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a best blogs post…

Some of these posts are oldies, and yet they are still pulling in plenty of traffic. Check out the list, and see if you missed any of them, especially new readers.

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ACL: How to Add a Conditional Computed Field

In ACL, a conditional computed field (CCF), is basically a regular computed field with some fireworks.

It looks and acts much like a regular computed field, but has some extra parts that do some extra work. Fortunately, the extras are NOT complicated, and after reading this post, you will find that will you use CCFs frequently.

So what’s the difference?

ACL Error: Cannot Export to Excel

Next time you get the cannot perform export to Excel error in ACL, try one of the 3 solutions described below.  The full text of the error is:

 Cannot perform the export.
You can export fields with maximum of 254 characters to Excel.

Can Skyyler Not Write About ACL?

If you’re new to the blog in 2013, you might think that Skyyler is only an ACL gear-head. But he DOES write about non-ACL topics. Occasionally.

Error: ACL Desktop cannot complete this function

When you’re trying to load a new file into an ACL table, you’ll sometimes get this error:: “Application error. ACL Desktop cannot complete this function…contact ACL Technical Support…” (see below).

Here’s the situations in which I’ve encountered this error, and how I’ve fixed it (most common and easiest to fix situations are first).

For Easier Reading and Linking, click PRINT

To make it easier to read articles on the Internet that span multiple pages, look for a Print button or link on the page.

Most of the time, the link is at the bottom of the page, but sometimes the Print link is at the top (of course, not all web sites offer this, but most of the online magazines do).

A Review of ACL Acerno

I haven’t been able to find any reviews of ACL Acerno, so I decided I better get to it.

What is Acerno?

According to ACL’s website, ACL Acerno is a Microsoft Excel Add-in that allows you to efficiently and easily investigate the results generated by ACL software or other sources and share your findings. For a quick overview, watch this video or check out the quick reference sheet (pdf)—-This info must have been removed when the software was updated.

Acerno is $250 per user.

Even if you don’t read the rest of this, if you’re an auditor, please take the poll at the end of this post.

ACL tip: What is a Computed Field?

A computed field is a field in an ACL table that you create using expressions.

An ACL expression is similar to a Microsoft Excel formula [e.g., =SUM(A1:A2)] in that it contains at least one function [like SUM]. Excel formulas operate on cells (like A1 and A2), but computed fields operate on fields.

How to Kill an Auditor

You can kill an auditor in 10 easy steps. If you’re a manager, it’s even easier. Here’s how:

1. Insist that all periods are followed by 2 spaces. Those days are long gone and so are typewriters. But some managers who review workpapers still insist on this. No kidding!

A little help for non-auditors: a workpaper describes 1) the control being tested, 2) the steps used to select samples and perform the test, 3) the evidence gathered and how it was analyzed, 4) the conclusion, and if the test failed, usually 5) a broad recommendation of what might be done to resolve it.

2. When reviewing workpapers electronically, question an obvious mistake instead of correcting it. For example, I numbered my test steps 1, 2, 3, 5. Just fix it and move on. Don’t waste your time and mine writing things like “is this number correct?” and then sending it back to me to fix it, especially when it’s the only correction in the workpaper. Just fix it! If multiple errors exist, say something to me or send it back and ask me to review all numbers and references.  By pointing out a single error, you are wasting shareholder dollars. I sure hope you feel better now!

Blogging: Choose Great Titles and Intro Sentences

Using great titles and intro sentences are so critical to the success of your blog. Not only do they grab the attention of your reader, great titles and introductory sentences seduce search engines like Google into sending you even more readers.

ACL tip: “Unfreezing ACL”

Occasionally when using ACL, the application appears to freeze when I open a dialog box. So I restart ACL and it works fine until I repeat the action that “froze” it in the first place. For me, it always happens when I open the Edit Layout dialog box to create a computed field. Never any other window.

Or in ACL terms, also known as “What happened to the Edit Layout screen?”

Note to non-ACL users: This problem isn’t particular to ACL, so you might want to read the “Finding the Cause” topic below before you blow off this post entirely.

I’ve noticed that this only occurs after I last used ACL on a 2-monitor system. The setup I normally use is my laptop screen plus an additional monitor.  But when I’m at home or on the road and only have my laptop, fire up ACL, and go to Edit, Layout, the problem occurs: apparent ACL freeze with every other application working.

Blogging: One year later . . .

I just realized that this blog is already one year old.