Diagnosing and Resolving Performance Issues in Webgility Desktop

You might experience one or more of the following:

• Webgility Desktop freezing or becoming unresponsive.
• Delayed screen loads or data refreshes.
• High CPU, memory, or disk usage reported by your computer.
• Connection timeouts or SQL errors within Webgility Desktop.
   
• Slow response from the SQL Server database.

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Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Follow these steps to diagnose and resolve performance problems:

Step 1: Check Webgility Desktop's Performance Monitor (If Available)

If your version of Webgility Desktop includes this feature, it can offer insights into the application's resource usage.

1. Open Webgility Desktop.
2. Navigate to System > Performance Monitor.
3. Review the memory and process usage displayed.

This helps identify whether the issue is localized to Webgility Desktop or caused by overall system strain.

Step 2: Check System Memory Usage

High memory usage by other applications can significantly impact Webgility Desktop's performance.

 

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Click on the Memory column header to sort processes by their memory usage (from highest to lowest).
4. Close any applications that are consuming a large amount of memory and are not essential for your current tasks.

• ⚠️ Important: Do not end processes related to Webgility Desktop, SQL Server, or QuickBooks, as this could lead to data loss or system instability.

Step 3: Verify Available RAM and Disk Space

Insufficient system resources are a common cause of performance problems.

• Recommended RAM: Ensure your computer has at least 8 GB of RAM for optimal Webgility Desktop performance.
• Check C: Drive space:
  1. Open File Explorer > This PC.
  2. Ensure your Local Disk (C:) has enough free space (at least 20% free is a good guideline).
  3. Delete unused files, temporary files, and empty your Recycle Bin if needed to free up space.

Low memory or insufficient disk space can significantly affect overall system and application performance.

Step 4: Update Windows and Webgility Desktop

Keeping your operating system and Webgility Desktop software up-to-date is crucial for performance and stability, as updates often include bug fixes and optimizations.

 

• Update Windows:

  1. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update.
  2. Click Check for Updates and install any pending updates.

• Update Webgility Desktop:

  1. Open Webgility Desktop and log in with your credentials.
  2. Navigate to Help > Check for Updates.
  3. In the Webgility Update window, you'll see your current version and the latest available version (if any).
      
  4. Click Update to begin the process.
  5. Make sure the checkbox for “Take Webgility database backup before proceeding with the update” is selected.
  6. When prompted, choose the default location to save the backup file.
  7. Once the backup completes, the Webgility Installer will launch and begin installing the latest version. A progress bar will display the update status.
      
  8. After the installation completes, you’ll return to the Login screen. Log in again.
      
  9. Upon login, Webgility Desktop will automatically update the database.
  10. Select your sales channel to proceed to the Dashboard.
  11. To confirm the update, go back to Help > Terms and Privacy and verify that the version number matches the latest release.
  • ✅ Done! Webgility Desktop is now updated to the latest version.

Step 5: Disable Unused Notifications in Webgility Desktop

Too many active notifications can consume background resources, potentially slowing down the application.

 

1. Click the Bell icon in Webgility Desktop.
2. Click the Gear (⚙️) icon (Settings).
3. Turn off any unnecessary alerts and notifications.

This reduces background resource consumption.

Step 6: Restart SQL Services (Primary Server Only)

Restarting SQL Server services can clear temporary connection issues and refresh resource allocation. This step should only be performed on the main machine where the SQL Server for Webgility Desktop is hosted.

1. Close Webgility Desktop and the Scheduler on all computers that access this database.
2. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
3. Locate SQL Server (Database name) (or your specific instance name, e.g., SQL Server (UNIFY)) in the list.
4. Right-click on it and choose Restart.
5. Also, locate and restart the SQL Server Browser service.

Step 7: Run the Webgility DB Utility Tool

The Webgility DB Utility can help optimize your database by performing maintenance tasks.

 

1. Close All Webgility Desktop Sessions: Exit Webgility Desktop and the Scheduler on all machines. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), and end any running Webgility Desktop-related processes to ensure the database is not in use.
    
2. Locate the Utility File: On the primary machine where your Webgility Desktop database is hosted, navigate to: C:\Webgility\UnifyEnterprise.
3. Double-click UnifyDBUtility.exe.
4. Initiate the Utility: When prompted to execute the utility, click OK. If asked to close all Webgility Desktop applications again, click OK.
5. Create a Backup: Choose a valid folder (preferably the Webgility folder or your designated backup location) to save your database backup. Click OK to begin the backup process.
6. Allow the Optimization to Complete: Do not close the window or restart your computer during the process. Wait for the Success message to appear.
7. Finish and Verify: Click OK to exit the utility. Reopen Webgility Desktop and check if performance or error issues have improved.

Step 8: Diagnose SQL Bottlenecks (Advanced)

If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, it may indicate deeper SQL Server performance problems. This step requires familiarity with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

• Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

  • Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
  • Open Activity Monitor to identify any long-running queries that might be causing delays.
  • Check for missing or fragmented indexes on your database tables. Fragmented indexes can significantly slow down data retrieval.
     

• Optimize Database Performance (if you have SSMS access and expertise):

  • Rebuild indexes: This reorganizes data and can improve query performance.
    SQL

     

    ALTER INDEX ALL ON [YourTableName] REBUILD;
    

    (Replace [YourTableName] with the actual table name)
  • Update statistics: This helps the SQL query optimizer make better decisions.
    SQL

     

    UPDATE STATISTICS [YourTableName];
    

    (Replace [YourTableName] with the actual table name)

• SQL Express Limitations:

  • SQL Express has certain limitations, including support for only 10 GB databases and a maximum 1.4 GB RAM usage.
     
  • If your database size or SQL Server RAM usage frequently exceeds these limits, you might need to consider upgrading to SQL Standard or using Webgility Online services for better scalability and performance.

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Pro Tips

• Locate SQL Instance Name: To find your SQL Server instance name, navigate to: C:\Webgility\UnifyEnterprise\XML. Open ApiConfig.xml in Notepad and find the <SourceName> value.
• Database Backup Path: Ensure your automatic backups are configured to go to: C:\Webgility\UnifyEnterprise\Backups. It's a good practice to retain backups for at least 3 days.

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Conclusion

Slow performance in Webgility Desktop can often be resolved by ensuring your system meets recommended requirements, keeping Webgility Desktop updated, and optimizing your SQL database. Regular maintenance, such as restarting services, managing system resources, and running the DB Utility, can help prevent long-term performance degradation