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Performing Maintenance on your HomeBase

SOLVEDby Intuit35Updated December 01, 2023

This article will help you when:

  • On a Network instance of ProSeries if your HomeBase is out of sync with other workstations
  • A client was deleted from the HomeBase, but still shows up
  • A client's data file and cache file exist, but the client is not showing up in HomeBase.
  • A client is not up to date in HomeBase (e.g. the client was e-filed, but that does not show in the HomeBase)
  • Restore clients to the database (e.g. you have data files in the Data folder, but you've never restored them)
  • Choose what maintenance actions to take
  • The HomeBase View no longer appears in alphabetical order

What is HomeBase Maintenance?

Starting in tax year 2020 HomeBase Maintenance is a tool within ProSeries Professional and ProSeries Basic that corrects problems within the database. In the 20Data folders you will see your data files (.20i, .20p etc) as well as a .cache file. Cache files are snapshots of the client file that are used to display and maintain the HomeBase with up to date information. HomeBase Maintenance synchronizes the database with the cache files. It's a good idea to run HomeBase Maintenance if you are seeing problems in your HomeBase. This replaces the DataBase Maintenance tool in prior years.

To run HomeBase Maintenance in ProSeries 2020 and newer:

  1. Go to HomeBase and change your Homebase View to the main view impacted such as the Form 1040: Individual.
    • HomeBase Maintenance is not available on special views such as the All Tax Return view, EF Center, or Pay-by-Refund
  2. From the HomeBase menu, select HomeBase Maintenance.
  3. Let it run! HomeBase Maintenance will fix any issues it encounters automatically.

Homebase Maintenance will not do the following

  • Delete client files
  • Delete files that have the same SSN or
  • Fix duplicate SSN issues in any way

Tips and Tricks for the new 2020 HomeBase

"I have some client files in a different folder and I want them to show up in HomeBase!"

  • Use the restore option in ProSeries! While in a formset view, go to the File menu, select Client File Maintenance then Restore.

"I moved some client files into my data folder and I want them to show up in HomeBase!"

  • Move them out of the data folder and use the restore option in ProSeries. While in a formset view, go to the File menu, select Client File Maintenance then Restore.

"I have a lot of files in HomeBase and I only want to work with a few!"

ProSeries Professional Standalone Installations:

  1. Go to HomeBase and change your Homebase View to the main view impacted such as the Form 1040: Individual.
    • HomeBase Maintenance is not available on special views such as the All Tax Return view, EF Center, or Pay-by-Refund
  2. From the HomeBase menu, select Database Maintenance.
  3. Verify the correct folder is selected for your client files, then click OK.
  4. If there are inconsistencies between your Homebase database and client data files are found, the HomeBase Reconciliation dialog box will appear.
    • Click Show Details to view a list of files in each category.
    • Click Fix It to synchronize your client files and HomeBase.
    • Click Help for more information about the HomeBase Reconciliation dialog box.
  5. Click Recheck to ensure that you have fixed any inconsistencies.
  6. Click Close.
  7. To perform maintenance on a different view, such as 1120 or 1065, select the view and repeat the above steps.

ProSeries Network Installations:

Network users should open ProSeries and press F5 to refresh the HomeBase view on each workstation instead of performing database maintenance. If HomeBase issues remain or aren't completely resolved with the HomeBase Refresh see How to Completely Rebuild the ProSeries HomeBase

If the above instructions don't resolve your issue, refer to How to completely rebuild the ProSeries HomeBase.

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