F9 Financial Reporting

F9 - The Financial Reporter was originally developed by Synex Systems Corporation, a subsidiary of Synex International (Symbol SXI, TSX).{{cite web |website=United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

|url=https://uspto.report/TM/74046153

|title=F9 - Synex Systems Corporation Trademark Registration

|quote=Trademark Registration #74046153}} First announced in 1988 as Acclink for Accpac as a Lotus 1-2-3 Add-in for DOS and released under F9 name later in 1989.{{cite magazine |last=|first=|date=June 5, 1989|title=Now shipping, F9 Links Spreadsheets, Accounting Applications|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=11|number=23|pages=20}} Subsequently F9 was developed for Microsoft Excel.

File:Synex F9 software box with promotional pen.jpg

F9 was developed to allow a non-technical user, typically an accountant, to create a dynamic, customized general ledger financial report using a spreadsheet that is 'hot-linked' to an accounting system's general ledger.[http://www.macola.com/docs/DocBinBlob.aspx?Download=0&ID={15EABBC5-F2BE-486C-9165-D4CE8E844172} Macola Software, Technology White Paper - Progression Series 7.5, Reporting & Query Tools, page 7]{{Cite magazine |last=Stinson |first=Craig |date=1991-04-16 |title=Building the Perfect Spreadsheet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OEk1QOJYw0C&pg=PT112 |access-date=2025-03-14 |magazine=PC |pages=101–164}}

Initially, the user interface used the same syntax as Accpac for specifying the reporting period. This was soon replaced by a simpler to understand and more flexible generic natural language interface that used a temporal trinary (three part) phrase parsing syntax composed of a modifier, a period specifier, and a temporal index. For example: "starting balance last quarter" is broken down to 'starting balance' (modifier) + 'last' (temporal index) + 'quarter' (period). The temporal index can be relative or absolute and the modifier can determine if the value returned is differential or cumulative.[http://www.f9.com/downloads/f9v4_manual.pdf F9 - Financial Intelligence Version 4 Manual, PERIOD SPECIFIERS, page 84]

The first F9 addin was a significant software effort in that it used a coding trick to break the small memory model limit 1-2-3 imposed on addins and allowed F9 to be run as a compact memory model program. This allowed F9 to be written in C (using a Microsoft C DOS compiler) rather than assembler allowing easier changes and debugging.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

An F9 addin was developed for Excel in 1989 and with the lack of a 1-2-3 version that supported WindowsExcel 2.0 and problems with the Lotus Programming Language (LPL)[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-9242902_ITM The rise and fall of the Lotus Programming Language, Lotus Magazine October 01, 1991, Delonas, Nicholas] the Excel version of F9 soon far outsold the 1-2-3 version.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

On or about the year 2002 F9 was renamed 'F9 - Financial Intelligence.'{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In 2002, Synex Systems was acquired by privately owned Lasata Software of Perth, Australia. In 2005, Lasata was acquired by UK based Systems Union. In 2007, Systems Union was acquired by privately held Infor Global Solutions,[http://www.goldengatecap.com/news_geac_031406.shtml Formation of Infor at Golden Gate Cap] a U.S. company that specializes in enterprise software.

What was Synex Systems Corporation now operates as an independent business unit (IBU) within Infor Global Solutions called F9.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

As of 2012 F9 was used by over 30,000 financial accounting professionals in more than 20 countries worldwide[http://caman.com.au/expo-2012/expo-2012-exhibitors CA Management Services Business and Software Expo 2012 Exhibitors List]{{Cite web |url=http://msdynamicsworld.com/vendor/bi-reporting/f9-infor-company |title=F9, an Infor Company |access-date=2012-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028044652/http://msdynamicsworld.com/vendor/bi-reporting/f9-infor-company |archive-date=2012-10-28 |url-status=dead }} and was named one of Accounting Today's "Top 100 Software Products" for 2001.[http://www.accountingweb.com/item/37028 F9 Software in Accounting Today’s Top 100]

• Financial Spreadsheet Formulas
• Use of natural language (English) accounting period specifiers
• Dynamic Report Filters
• Report Wizards
• Table and Pivot Table Reporting
• Drilldown to Transactions
• Budget Reporting and Budget Write Back
• Consolidations
• Report Analysis
• Web reporting and dashboards
• Over 150 different accounting/ERP systems are supported.[http://www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/accpacadvan/sessions/f9.htm ACCPAC Conference Review]

The major competitor of F9 is Microsoft's FRx. However starting in 2011 FRx is now in a state of phased discontinuation.{{Cite web |url=http://thewire.accountingmicro.com/Default.aspx?app=LeadgenDownload&shortpath=docs%2FFRx+Replacement+WP.pdf |title=Your HubSpot site has been deactivated |access-date=2011-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218024843/http://thewire.accountingmicro.com/Default.aspx?app=LeadgenDownload&shortpath=docs%2FFRx+Replacement+WP.pdf |archive-date=2011-02-18 |url-status=dead }} and Microsoft's official FRx replacement is Management Reporter. Other reporting systems competing with F9 are Alchemex, Bizinsight, Renovofyi and SmartView by Solution 7.[http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/print/CPA-Practice-Advisor/The-Changing-Face-of-Financial-Reporting-for-Middle-Market-ERP/1$2846 The Changing Face of Financial Reporting for Middle Market ERP]

• List of companies of Canada
• List of ERP software packages
• CYMA (software)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.f9.com/ F9 official site]
• [http://www.infor.com/solutions/ibus/F9/ Infor Global Solutions]
• [http://www.accountingsoftwareworld.com/reviews/BA_F9.htm K2 Enterprise Review of F9]
• [http://www.cyma.com/partners/third-party.asp CYMA Accounting Software]

Category:Reporting software