Every new rule needs to be associated with one and only one person who is willing to stand up for it and explain it (to your people and to the public).
At one point our service agreement was three pages long…until we extended it to four pages. Why in the world did we do that? I’m sorry but I do not have an answer. A few years ago I feel like we wised up and cut the superfluous junk out and now the entire agreement is a single page. For this I do have an answer: it is easier for everyone. When the agreement was four pages long, I could be assured that 90% of the people it was sent to were not reading it. The folks that were reading it were confused. When we wanted to make a change, it was an ordeal because of all of the references in the document. Perhaps worst of all, I had to re-read the document to make sure I could respond to every item included and if I wasn’t familiar with all of the policies, how could I expect any one to want to even try?
Yesterday, Seth Godin rather succinctly created a rule for making rules: at least one person has to be capable (and willing) to speak up when the rule is challenged. This doesn’t mean you have to go through each and every policy and make one team member responsible for each, but the next time one of your policies is challenged, make sure you (or someone else) can and will defend it.
We began notifying users about Sage’s plans to incorporate select Extended Solutions (a catalog of program code modifications written or acquired by Sage to enhance the capabilities of MAS 90 and MAS 200) titles into the version 4.4 release a few weeks ago. Sage has started to notify users with Extended Solutions directly, detailing their intentions and plans:
- The Extended Solutions title(s) that you own is among those that have been retired
- We have already incorporated many popular titles into the core product, either as additional features or a new module, such as Paperless Office and Direct Deposit that were added in 4.3
- If you are not on the current release, version 4.3, and own a title(s) such as Paperless Office that is available in the core 4.3 product – please note that the separate titles that support older versions have been retired
- You’ll continue to receive Compatibility and Product Updates for Sage MAS 90 or 200 version 4.3 until 11/1/2010, and while you remain on Plan, you’ll also continue to receive Customer Support for your title until 11/1/2010
- Year-End updates will be provided for Extended Solutions titles on version 4.3 through year-end 2009
- If you aren’t currently on version 4.3, and have plans to upgrade, you’ll be able to request your Extended Solutions 4.3 title updates through your Business Partner or Sage Sales Advisor team until 11/1/2010
- In future releases and product updates, you’ll get more value in the core product as we incorporate features and functionality from a select group of Extended Solution titles, such as ACH Electronic Payment for Accounts Payable
- Please note that during the phase-in process of Extended Solution features over the next few product updates and releases, Sage will be focusing on incorporating those features into the core product, and therefore we will not bring Extended Solutions titles up to compatibility with the 4.4 release
For the most part, this is exactly what we expected: Sage is simplifying their product line and giving users more value for the price of their annual subscription/maintenance agreement. You can see all of the titles Sage is bringing forward here.
Those titles that will not be incorporated into version 4.4 updates will be retired and made available to a select group of preferred development partners that have access to the source programming code and are capable of bringing the titles into compatibility with the 4.4 releases. Over the course of the twenty years we have been in business, we have worked several of these partners and are pleased to see their inclusion on this list; they are each known for delivering reliable modifications.
The detail we had not been previously notified about was the November 1, 2010 date which is the last day to request software copies, download compatibility and product updates or receive support directly from Sage (we will continue servicing these systems). Said plainly, you will be well served to engage your reseller/service team and developer so you can upgrade to version 4.4.
Which Extended Solutions are you using and what do you think about Sage’s plan to bring them online as a standard feature?
Sage has released Service Update 17 for version 4.30 of MAS 90 and MAS 200. This is a broad service update that affects each of the following modules:
Accounts Payable
Bar Code
Bill of Materials
Customizer
CRM
Job Cost
Library Master
Inventory Management
E-Business Manager
Material Requirements Planning
Electronic Reporting (formerly Magnetic Media)
Paperless Office
Timecard
Visual Integrator
Purchase Order
Payroll
Sales Order
The installation file is a cumulation of all service updates for version 4.30. You can read the details of the issues address in the release notes. We only recommend you consider installing these updates if you are upgrading, installing a new system or are experiencing an issue the update is intended to resolve. Be careful to consider all of the integrated applications, enhancements and customizations you system is running. Do not take a service update installation lightly.
UPDATE: Sage has posted 941 Form 2009 Updates that must be applied after installing Service Update 17.
Along with updating the 2010 Q1 TTU (download here), Sage has also released an updated (Interim Release Download) IRD to correct a problem with W2 forms (both 2-per page and 4-per page) in which data was mapped to the wrong location on the form.
After logging on to Sage Software Online, you can download the latest IRD or follow the documented resolution to make manual corrections to your forms.
Continue to use all caution when installing updates for your systems including considering which extended solutions and enhancements are installed. In this case, you must be running software released on or after 12/14/2009 according to Sage’s recommendations.
After issuing the the 2010 Q1 Tax Table Update for MAS 90 and MAS 200, Sage has issued additional changes affecting Kentucky, Oklahoma and the Virgin Islands. After logging on to Sage Software Online, you can read the details of the changes and download the latest version.
With all of the recent talk about the pending release of MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 4.4, I thought this was appropriate (sarcastic and jaded, but still appropriate).
via xkcd: a webcomic
Since the release of Windows 7, I have fielded a few questions about the compatibility between the new operating system and MAS 90 and 200. The only true indication of compatibility has been (and will be) the MAS 90 Supported Platform Matrix and MAS 200 Supported Platform Matrix that Sage publishes. As of today, Windows 7 is not included. Keeping in mind the track record of Microsoft-released desktop operating systems, it is usually wise to wait until the initial service pack has been released before upgrading.
While Windows 7 will allow users to run applications in XP-mode, when installing MAS 90 and MAS 200 in this scenario, the Sage PDF converter used with Paperless Office is compromised.
We experienced some of the same delays with Microsoft released Vista. With a little patience, we should be receiving notice from Sage that their testing is complete. It may require a service update to get us there, but when the time comes, Sage will notify everyone update the supported platform matrices.
Are you or your staff members anxious to complete the move to Windows 7?
Two days in advance of the announced Interim Release Download (IRD) release date, Sage has posted both the IRD and the Tax Table Update (TTU). Both are available to licensed users with a current Sage MAS Subscription/Maintenance plan. Follow the simple instructions to download each file:
- Login to Sage Software Online
- Click the IRD link
- Click the TTU link
Always make careful considerations when you are installing updates to your live systems.
We reviewed year end processing at the December MAS 90/200 User Group meeting and wrote more about year end processing including Sage’s Year End Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) in the last edition of our weekly email update. If you would like to receive our updates which include information about Sage, software tips, invitations to free webinars and training opportunities, click here.