Sage Mas90/200 version 4.20 has some nice new features for AP Vendors.

* You can set the remit-to-address to be updated automatically when the matching Vendor address is changed. See the AP Options Additional screen on the AP setup menu to activate this option. You may choose to make the changes automatically, or choose the “prompt” option if you want operators to be prompted before the address is changed.

* Prevent Incorrect Entry of Invoices for Goods Received. If invoices for some vendors will be received in Purchase Order Receipt of Invoice Entry instead of AP Invoice Data Entry, you can now select to be prompted during AP Invoice Data Entry to prevent double entry of invoices for goods received. See the right side of the Vendor Maintenance Additional screen for the checkbox which activates this option.

* View Invoice Transfer information from the originating Vendor. You can view the credit-card vendor information for transferred invoices. Previously only the receiving vendor displayed the originating vendor’s information. Now references from both the originating and receiving vendors simplify reconciliation. In Vendor maintenance or Inquiry, drill down on an invoice and select the payments tab. Click on a payment line and look for the additional icon displayed on the right. That will tell you the credit-card or payment-agent used to make the payment. It’s a helpful feature to have.

Sage Software invited all of its customer and resellers and prospects that use or were considering using Sage MAS 90 ERP or Sage MAS 200 ERP to a free event in Atlanta June 21. I attended and met James Mapes, the guest speaker, who talked about “Quantum Leap Thinking”. James is a popular speaker who specializes in teaching skills to organizations and individuals that stimulate innovation, enhance creativity and increases productivity. James teaches individuals how to allow organizations and those in them, to allow more change.

His main message is that by changing how we “see” what is going on in our lives, we can lower our anxieties and become motivated to choose to do whatever we want! Quite a proclamation. Yet the rewards for living such a life are so great that ignoring the message is done at one’s own peril. I recommend James Mope’s book “Quantum Leap Thinking” to you.

Friendly Systems encourages “Quantum Leap Thinking” by all its employees. Our job is to help our allies to become more creative about the way they use their Sage MAS 90 ERP, Sage MAS 200 ERP, Sage Businessworks and Sage Accpac ERP. We do that by suspending judgment and listening real hard to what you need. We help our allies to envision and then implement their goals.

Let Friendly Systems’ staff help you to make a “Quantum Leap” in the way your business uses your Sage Businessworks, Sage MAS90, Sage MAS 200 or Sage Accpac ERP software.

One of the major changes in Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 4.2 is the Accounts Payable module moving to the new framework. All AP forms and reports are now in Crystal Reports. After upgrading several allies to version 4.2, I have found a couple of things which need to change in the standard check form supplied by Sage (click the Designer button in the top right corner of the check printing screen on a workstation which has Crystal Reports 10 installed.):

First, the Vendor Number should be moved from the check face to the check stubs. You can slide the Vendor Name to the right to make room. This needs to be done in detail sections a, b, d and e.

One of our allies even reported that, using the standard form, several checks had been returned by the Post Office as their scanners thought the vendor number was a non-existent zip code!

Second, the @AddressBlock in the default form does not have the “Can Grow” box checked. As a result, if you write a check to a vendor that uses AddressLine1, AddressLine2, and AddressLine3, the City/State/Zip line will NOT print on the check. This was probably so that it wouldn’t overwite the Vendor Number field that was placed below the address. Somebody should have had a V8!

If you have not yet customized your 4.2 AP check form, and use preprinted laser checks, you can download a file with these issues fixed. In your 4.2 installation, save it to ..\MAS90\Reports. If you have already modified your check form to fit your preprinted checks, you will need to make these changes to the modified forms in Crystal Reports. This must be done for each form setting in each company.

You’ve probably already noticed that you can’t find a computer in a retail store these days that doesn’t have Vista installed. Microsoft has written into their OEM licencse agreements that as of 1/1/2008, even Dell and HP won’t be able to ship you a computer with Windows XP installed.

Why should you care? Well, among other reasons not to use Vista posted in previous blogs, Microsoft has designed Vista to collect enough personal information about its users to make even our Warrantless Spymaster in Chief happy. And there is no choice in the matter – the license agreement says if you use the feature you agree to share the data with Microsoft. Want to use Parental Controls on your home computer? Not only will you be able to see every URL your kids went to, but so will Microsoft. Want to browse the web? Don’t use Internet Explorer 7. Play some music? Don’t use Windows Media Player.

More details on the Big Brother features of Vista

Want an alternative for home use? Dell is now offering computers with Ubuntu Linux preinstalled. OpenOffice.org provides a free equivalent to Microsft Office, available for Windows as well as Linux. It can read and write files in Office formats. You could use Linux at work as well, if your Windows apps (such as MAS 90) are set up on a Terminal Server – Ubuntu includes a Terminal Server Client.

It’s Independence Day. What better time to break the monopoly?

By the way, Sage ACCPAC ERP can run on a Linux server. There is even a preconfigured turnkey package of server and software available.

Sage Software has posted their future support plans for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 3.71.
December 2007 – Customers will receive the final 3.71 Year-End Tax Table updates in December 2007, and any mandated year-end changes to Accounts Payable, Payroll, and Electronic Reporting (formerly known as Magnetic Media Reporting) for calendar year 2008 processing.
December 2008 – Sage Telephone Support will continue for version 3.71 through the end of December 2008
Friendly Systems will continue to offer support for 3.71 and older versions of MAS 90/200 if you make arrangements with us. Payroll tax table changes can be made by getting the tables from state and IRS agencies, and entering the rate changes into MAS 90 Payroll table setup. If you have questions regarding your MAS 90/200 3.71 or earlier software support, or would like to upgrade your software to a newer version, contact our support line at: 678-273-4010.