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Why Won't the ABM Service Desktop App Open?

When the ABM Service desktop app cannot start, it always says why: in the small starting panel with a Close button, in the sign-in window with a Try again button, or in a Windows message box. This page lists those messages, what each means, and who can fix it. Most are about reaching the company's databases, which your IT support or whoever looks after ABM (Advanced Business Manager) can check.

What does it mean when the desktop app says it cannot reach ABM's control database?​

A message beginning ABM's control database is unreachable, ABM's control database could not be read, ABM's user list could not be read or ABM's company list could not be read means the ABM Service desktop app could not read the list of ABM users and companies that ABM itself keeps. It needs that list to know who you are and which companies you may open.

In the desktop sign-in window the message sits in the middle with a Try again button. When ABM Service is opened from a button on the ABM toolbar instead, the same message can appear in the starting panel with a Close button; close it and press the ABM button again.

  1. Press Try again. A server that was busy or restarting often answers the second time.
  2. Check whether ABM itself opens on this computer. If ABM cannot sign in either, the problem is with the network or the database server, not with ABM Service.
  3. Tell whoever looks after ABM or your IT support if it keeps failing, and read them the message: the part in brackets names the server that did not answer.

A message saying ABM is not installed on this computer means the desktop app could not find ABM's own settings on this computer. The desktop app works alongside ABM and needs it to be installed; ask your IT support.

A message beginning This ABM installation still keeps its control database in an Access file means ABM on this computer still keeps its list of users and companies in the older kind of file, and the desktop app needs it kept on a database server instead. The message ends by saying the control database has to be moved first; that is a job for whoever looks after ABM. A message saying ABMServer.log was not found in ABM's control folder, or that it is malformed, means the file that tells ABM where its control database is could not be found or read; ask your IT support to check ABM's installation on this computer.

Why can't I sign in to the desktop app with my name and password?​

The ABM Service desktop sign-in window says why in a message above the boxes.

  • That password was not accepted. Check it and try again. — use the password you use for ABM itself. Press Show beside the box to see what you typed.
  • This user has no password yet. Whoever looks after ABM can set one in ABM’s own user list.
  • There is no company for this user. — you signed in, but ABM gives your user no company. Whoever looks after ABM can add one in ABM’s own user list.
  • Your name is not in the list at all — ABM hides users whose name contains "(Removed)", and they cannot sign in. Ask whoever looks after ABM to check your user.

If you forgot your password, it is reset in ABM, not in ABM Service.

What does it mean when a company will not open?​

After you pick a company in the ABM Service desktop sign-in window, a message above the list means that company could not be opened, and the list stays so you can try again.

  • The company database is unreachable, followed by the server and database in brackets — the company's own database did not answer. Try again in a moment, then tell your IT support.
  • Unable to locate company — ABM's company list no longer has that company for your user. Close the window and sign in again.
  • That company is not in this user's list. — the same, found a moment later. Sign in again for a fresh list.

When ABM Service is opened from the ABM toolbar instead, The company database is unreachable and Unable to locate company appear in the starting panel with a Close button. Close it, check that ABM itself can open the company, and press the button again.

What does "The running ABM window for this company did not answer" mean?​

This message means an ABM Service desktop app copy was already running for your user and company, but did not respond when a new window was asked for, and it could not be replaced. The full message tells you to close it using the tray icon's Exit and try again.

  1. Right-click the ABM Service icon with your company's initials, beside the clock.
  2. Choose Exit. This closes every ABM Service window of that company, so save any work first.
  3. Press the ABM toolbar button again, or open ABM Service Desktop from the Start menu.

If the tray icon does not respond either, signing out of Windows and back in, or restarting the computer, closes it.

What should I do if the desktop app says the WebView2 Runtime is missing?​

A message saying the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime is missing or damaged on this computer means the part of Windows that the ABM Service desktop app uses to draw its screens is not working. The window closes after the message.

This is fixed by reinstalling: ask your IT support to reinstall ABM Service on the computer, which puts the WebView2 Runtime back. The message ends with a technical detail in brackets; read it to them, because it says what went wrong. Until then you can use ABM Service in a web browser, if your company offers it.

What do the other desktop app start-up messages mean?​

A few other messages can appear when the ABM Service desktop app starts. Each appears in the starting panel with a Close button, or in a Windows message box.

  • ABM could not open its sign-in window on this computer — the Start menu sign-in could not start. Close it and try once more; if it repeats, tell your IT support.
  • ABM could not start its application server on this computer — the desktop app could not start its own program for your company. Close it and try again; if it repeats, tell your IT support.
  • This program is started by Advanced Business Manager, not directly. — a toolbar program was double-clicked on its own. Use its button in ABM, or ABM Service Desktop in the Start menu.
  • ABM Service isn't installed on this computer. — the part installed for the whole computer is missing. Ask your administrator to install it.
  • A message beginning Unable to start ABM Service — an ABM toolbar button or the Start menu entry found ABM Service but Windows would not start it. Try once more; if it repeats, tell your IT support and read them the rest of the message.
  • ABM Service could not be set up on this computer. — the one-off set-up for your Windows user, in the Setting up ABM Service window, did not finish. Check the internet connection and try again; if it fails again, tell your IT support what the window said.

Your IT support may ask for the version number: it is at the foot of the sign-in window, in the heading of the starting panel you see when you open ABM Service Desktop from the Start menu, and in About on the File menu.