SyncLinx is an application we offer that bridges the gap between Penta and ExakTime and allows you to import Penta entities into ExakTime to quickly get you started and help limit double-entry.

AccountLinx is the other half of SyncLinx and allows you to export your ExakTime time data for Penta. If you would like steps on setting up AccountLinx and exporting your time data into Penta, refer to our article that covers connecting the applications and the exporter settings.

If you have any questions or concerns during setup and/or use, you can contact us with the "Request Support" link at the top of the page and we will try to assist as best as possible. Keep in mind, however, that we are not Penta support. We will try to assist you as much as we are able, but there are aspects of the Penta that are out of our area of expertise and your questions may be better served by Penta support or your trusted contact to answer/assist.

As Penta allows flexibility to fit various needs, we cannot take every unique setup into account. It is advised to read through this article before setting up SyncLinx/AccountLinx to understand what is needed ahead of time.

Table of Contents

• Connecting SyncLinx to Penta
• Importer Settings for Penta
• Importing Entities with SyncLinx

Connecting SyncLinx to Penta

1. Open SyncLinx if not already open.
2. Go to Tools at the top and click Select Data Source.... This should open a window with a list of available data source options.
3. Select "Penta" and click OK.
4. A warning may appear saying that there is a connection error. This is expected if the SyncLinx connection to Penta has not been made on the computer. Click OK on the warning. 
5. A window should open to set up the settings for the Penta data importer. Click Connection Web Service. 
6. A Connection Setup window should open. In the Connection Setup window, set up/enter the following information:
   • Server
   • Database
   • User ID
   • Password
7. Save the connection.
8. You can save your changes until you return to the main page of SyncLinx or adjust any of the other importer settings for Penta.

Importer Settings for Penta

SyncLinx offers a few options for Penta that may help when importing certain entities into ExakTime.

1. Go to Tools at the top and click Penta Settings....
2. The following options will be available:
   • Data Connection
     • Set up the connection between SyncLinx and your Penta system.
   • General
     • Import Work Orders as Locations - Enable to create locations for each work order. The location name will be formatted as "Job Name - Work Order Number".
     • Associate Cost Codes with Locations - Enable to set up the location viewset based on the pre-defined associations in Penta.
     • Use Employee ID as ExakTime Mobile PIN - When importing the employee, their PIN will be based on their employee ID.
3. Save your changes.

Importing Entities with SyncLinx

When importing your entities, it is advised to import the information in the following order for Penta:

• Employees
• Cost Codes
• Locations

If the option to "Associate Cost Codes with Locations" has been enabled, SyncLinx will set the viewset for a location to match the cost codes assigned to a job in Penta. After a job in Penta is imported into ExakTime Connect as a location, it will compare the cost codes assigned to the job in Penta with the cost codes currently in ExakTime Connect and limit what cost codes are available for the location with a viewset. Importing the job before the cost codes may result in the job having the incorrect location viewset. 

The import process for SyncLinx is standardized for all accounting/payroll applications we integrate with. If you are unfamiliar with using SyncLinx, please refer to the following article.