Frequently Asked Questions

About Jewel

What version of Jewel do I have?

Go to Help -> About Jewel to find your version of Jewel.

How can I get an update for Jewel?

If your Conference has provided Jewel to you, go to Help -> Check for Updates to download the most recent version of Jewel. If you have purchased Jewel directly, email sales@jewelsda.com, telling us your church name and conference, and that you'd like an update.

Can Jewel be used on a network?

Yes. However, if two or more computers are doing the same function, such as entering contributions, then the computer that started the operation must be the one to close/finish the operation.

Can Jewel be used for the bookkeeping of an Independent Ministry? There is no tithe or remittance check used.

Yes. If you have no Conference Funds in your Account List, then Jewel will skip the remittance check step of the month-end closing.

Can I run Jewel on a Mac Computer?

Yes. However, Jewel is a Windows-based program. So you must install Windows on your Mac, which generally requires a Windows Emulator application.

How much history can my Jewel database hold?

As much as you need it to! Jewel keeps all data in a compact format, so you can access all data since you started using Jewel. We started in 1999, so some churches now have over 25 years of data accessible at the click of a button!

Can I have more than one database on one Jewel program?

Yes! You can start a new database at any time (File -> Utilities -> Create New Database), then switch back and forth by going to File -> Open Database. Just pay attention to the church name in the bottom left corner, so you enter the right transactions in the right database! Please remember to be honest and only use Jewel for organizations that have legitimately purchased a copy of Jewel. If your Conference provided your copy, that means you can use it for other Conference churches, or for organizations directly owned by those churches.

Opening, Backing Up, or Restoring a Database

How do I set the backup path?

From your Jewel Home Screen, go to Maintenance -> Properties -> General tab. After inserting your USB drive (also called a memory stick, thumb drive, removable storage media, etc), click Browse, and in the window that pops up, select your USB drive. Click OK twice to return to the Home Screen, and try backing up again.

I get Overflow Error 6 when I try to back up! Help!!

Go to Maintenance -> Properties -> General tab. With the USB drive still inserted, click Browse, and select your USB drive. Then click Make New Folder, and type a name such as "Jewel Backups". Click OK twice to return to the Home Screen. All issues should now be resolved.

How do I restore a backup?

Go to File → Utilities → Restore Full Backup. Find the location where the backup is stored and select the backup (.jlb) file, then click open.

When I try to open my database, an error message comes up saying the file has been moved, deleted, or renamed. How can I open my database?

First, go to File -> Open Database, and look in the Documents\Jewel folder for a file named "Your Church Name.mdb". Select and open that file. Look at the dates of last offering and last check in the lower right-hand corner, and the current month in the lower left-hand corner to verify whether this is the correct database. If it isn't, search your computer for other files with a similar name and check them. If you still can't find your database, you can restore your most recent backup, if that's more recent than the database(s) you've found.

I can't open my database received from the auditor. And/or there is a Windows error message when trying to open database directly from my memory stick. Why can't I open the database?

You are probably trying to open the database with something other than Jewel. Remember: Your database can ONLY be opened IN JEWEL!! You will get error messages when trying to open it any other way.

It is not month-end, but I want to make a back up of my database. How can I perform this process?

From Jewel's Menu Bar, go to File → Create Backup Copy. This will back up your database to the drive specified under Maintenance → Properties → "Create Backup Copy" Destination, the same location you back up to at month end.

Where is my database? I can't find it!

Jewel databases are generally kept in the Documents\Jewel folder. So in Jewel, go to File -> Open Database, navigate to Documents\Jewel, and look for a file with your church's name. If you see it, open it.

If you don't see the file there, try searching your hard drive or your OneDrive for your church name, to see if you can find a database (.mdb file).

Last week's offering is gone from Jewel! How can I get it back?

Sometimes when Jewel or the computer shuts down unexpectedly, OneDrive makes a backup of the database with a new name. Then when Jewel opens the database with the old name, data is "lost". Go to your Documents\Jewel folder, and look for .mdb files starting with your church name. Open each one to see which has the most recent data, and use that one going forward.

Installation and Setup

I am installing Jewel on a new/different computer. However, when trying to download and install, my security system flagged Jewel as a virus. What do I do?

Jewel does not have a virus! Your security system objects to *.exe files being downloaded and run. You will need to tell it to "keep", "run anyway", click "see more", or turn off the security system temporarily until Jewel is installed.

My Jewel window doesn't fit on my screen. How can I adjust the size?

Go to your Windows settings and adjust your screen scale and/or resolution until the problem is resolved.

Deposits

My AdventistGiving deposit report's cut-off date is September 30, but it doesn't get deposited until October 6. Which month should I record it in?

In general, donations should be recorded in the same month the donation was initiated, regardless of when you actually receive the funds. Since the report contains donations that were initiated between September 16 and September 30, the deposit should be recorded in September.

I have donations that were postmarked, or were delivered to me, by December 31, but because of the timing, the actual deposit date is in January. Is it ok to post these offering in December when they aren't deposited in the bank until January of the next year?

Contributions must be posted in the year they are delivered by the donor. Delivery date is the earlier of:

1. The postmark date or electronic donation send date -- contributions/donations mailed to the church must be postmarked/sent no later than December 31
2. The date when the donation is/was actually received by the church or church treasurer.

You should deposit these funds as soon as possible! When you do your December bank reconciliation, these deposits will simply be accounted for as "Uncleared Deposits". They will then clear when you do your January bank reconciliation.

NOTE: Sometimes people give an offering call on the first Sabbath of the new year, telling the congregation that checks contributed on that day can be credited to the previous year if they are dated no later than December 31. This advice is incorrect and should NOT be given!! Checks "delivered" (as defined above) in January should be posted in January, no matter what the date on the check or the tithe envelope is!

The church board just voted to transfer $20,000 from Savings to Checking to cover some renovations. How do I get that money into the Building Fund?

Assuming that the Savings account is recorded in Jewel (it should be!), then the church board isn't quite understanding how Fund Accounting works. Study the Fund Accounting basics presented here, and share them with your board as needed.

Checks

What check paper format does Jewel use?

Same as Quickbooks format, which is one sheet with check at top and 2 stubs below. This blank check paper can be purchased at any office supply or major online retailer. Jewel will print all of the needed information on the check paper. You can also buy preprinted checks in this format, but this costs significantly more than having Jewel do the printing.

Can I delete a check in Jewel?

No. However, you can void checks.

Someone deposited a check I had voided! Now what?

If you void a check and later the vendor/payee finds and deposits it, re-enter the check as an Electronic Payment. In the Memo, type "Voided ck#1234 deposited by payee".

Conference Funds / Remittance Checks

My Conference Funds balance is negative. What happened?

The mostly likely cause is a returned check from a donor. Jewel will automatically subtract that negative amount when calculating your next remittance check.

My Remittance Check doesn't match the Conference Fund contributions for this month. Why?

Several things could have happened. A returned check from a donor, a deposit entered after your remittance check was written (you would have needed tech support help), a correction made to a donation in a previous month, or voiding a previous remittance check are all possibilities. There should always be a traceable reason for the difference.

The conference didn't get my remittance. What can I do?

If you are sending paper remittance checks, first void the old remittance check. Then go to Accounting -> Make Manual Remittance. Click Edit Check, and recreate the check you just voided. Edit the memo to say: "To replace check#1234, July 2025 remittance".

If you send your remittance via ACH, contact tech support for help.

Jewel won't let me write the remittance check! It says "Tithe" is a new fund.

You are trying to write the remittance check in Write Checks. Jewel doesn't allow this to protect the conference funds from accidental (or intentional) misappropriation. Once you have entered all of your deposits for the month, start the month end closing process and Jewel will write the remittance check for you. On the rare occasion that you need to write a remittance check outside of the regular monthly cycle, go to Accounting -> Make Manual Remittance (but be aware that a manual remittance must be a paper check, as Jewel will not send an ACH request to the conference).

Bank Reconciliation

The Bank Rec keeps asking me to reconcile an old account. Can I turn that off?

Go to Maintenance -> Edit Accounts. Select the bank account whose reconciliation you wish to turn off. Click the Edit box in the top middle column. At the bottom of the middle column, change the Statement Frequency to Never. Click OK.

You can use this same procedure to change the Statement Frequency for accounts that are reconciled quarterly, etc.

I already reconciled May, and have my printed "Bank Rec Report", but Jewel says that my Last Reconciliation was April!

The May bank rec probably didn't get saved. Click here to troubleshoot.

I just can't get the Bank Reconciliation to a Difference of $0. Help!

First, be sure you're following the instructions in the Bank Reconciliation chapter. Then if you're still stuck, try the tricks listed here. If all else fails, contact your support.

Budget

Our monthly budget was not met. How does this affect the monthly budget allocation?

The dollar amounts will be allocated as usual, even if that results in a negative balance in the Church Budget account. Percent amounts will only be allocated from funds remaining in Church Budget after distributing dollar amounts, so may not receive any funds. The shortfall will hopefully be made up for in future months. If not, the church board may need to reevaluate its budget and spending.

The Monthly Process

How do I know which month I am in?

The current Jewel month is listed on the lower left-hand side of your screen, beside your church name. All transactions you enter must be dated in this current month (one exception here). The dates on the lower right simply indicate the last offering and check you entered (not the one with the most recent date, the last one you entered). The Offering Date when you click Start New offering defaults to seven days after the last Sabbath offering you entered, and does not indicate that you are ready to enter that Sabbath's offering.

I thought I closed the month of June, but Jewel won't let me enter July's offerings!

The current Jewel month is listed in the lower left-hand side of your screen. If it still says June down there, then you have not yet completed the process of closing June. "Closing the month" means to follow the NextStep button through the month-end processes until you have printed your monthly reports and made your backups. Once those steps are completed, then the month is closed and Jewel will move on to Start New Offering in the next month.

Oops! I messed up!

I accidentally closed the month too soon. Can it be reopened?

Yes. Contact your auditor/tech support. They can reset your NextStep button and allow you to finish and reclose the month.

I completed my bank reconciliation, but then realized I made a mistake. What can I do?

Click Reconcile on the Jewel Home Screen, select the bank account you were working with, and click Reconcile. On the right-hand side, click Undo Last Reconciliation. This will allow you to re-do the reconciliation correctly. Note that you can only undo the most recent reconciliation. If the problem is farther back, contact your tech support for help.

How do I send my database to my auditor/tech support for corrections?

1. Contact your auditor/tech support either by phone or e-mail and let them know a) the name of your church, b) the name of your conference, and c) what corrections need to be made.
2. Go to File → File Transfer → Send to Auditor. Jewel will immediately send your database to your auditor.
3. Wait for your auditor to complete the database correction. Wait for them to contact you - via phone or email - to let you know the database is ready to be received.
4. Now go to File → File Transfer → Receive From Auditor. Clicking on "Receive from Auditor" and confirming that you wish to overwrite your database will replace your current database with the corrected database from your auditor. Do NOT Receive from Auditor without being instructed to do so, as this will cause loss of data.

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Return to Chapter 9: Maintaining and Customizing Jewel