To some businesses, it might seem negligible but to others it is vital. The Bank Code field in MAS 90 and 200 is limited to a single character which means any single organization can have up to 36 bank accounts (26 alpha plus 10 numeric characters). With the number of locations that Bank Code file writes to in a MAS 90 or 200 installation, extending the field to two or more characters is a daunting task.
Wisely, our friends as DSD Business Systems in San Diego, have programmed a system enhancement allowing lower-case characters in the Bank Code field. Now 62 bank accounts are available (26 lower-case alpha, 26 upper-case alpha, plus 10 numeric characters).
Sage University offers paid Anytime Learning subscriptions, a convenient way to train multiple users a variety of topics. From time to time, some of these topics are listed at no charge. This is one of those times.
One might assume Sage is offering the Discovering Excel course to help users incorporate Sage MAS ERP Intelligence or BizInsights as FRx nears the end of its life cycle. While this course my seem elementary to some seasoned Excel users, a no charge introduction or refresher is a welcome offer.
To take advantage of the offer, create an account at Sage University, navigate to Sage MAS Training, choose Search by Type and select Anytime Learning.
With the release of version 4.40 and subsequent Product Updates, Sage rolled several Extended Solutions (add-on system enhancements) into MAS 90 and 200 and discontinued the balance of the Extended Solutions catalog. The source code for those Extended Solutions that were not planned for inclusion as standard features was distributed to a number of third-party partners certified by Sage to program for MAS 90 and 200.
In the several months since the release of the source code, several of the Extended Solutions have been updated and are being made available for the 4.40 release including some of the most popular like GL-1061 Bank Reconciliation Integration with General Journal. The result is that some organizations with a variety of Sage Extended Solutions were had to wait for these titles to be programmed and released. While the entire catalog isn’t immediately available, the wait for many may already be over and the wait for others should be over soon.
These are additional resources that dive a little deeper (or maybe just to the right or left) of some of the topics we reviewed in the last User Group meeting on Thursday, August 26. These resources include printed, audio/visual, and hands-on materials and are organized into two segments, free and paid. If you have questions about any of them, please let us know.
Free Resources
Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL Version 4.45 Initial Pre-release Guide
This document provides an overview of the upcoming 4.45 release that will offer a SQL back-end for MAS 200 covering availability, restrictions, and information about retiring the initially offered SQL version of MAS 200.
Sage MAS 90 and 200 Chronicle of Releases
A more granular look at the various releases, including Product Update 1 and 2. Annette’s presentation yesterday focused on the features included with Product Update 2 (version 4.40.0.2).
Anytime Learning Course: MAS 90, 200 and EES Product Update 2 Course
This Anytime Learning course was designed to provide you with information on enhancements made in Product Update 2 and includes several topics discussed for possible future User Group meetings such as:
- Setting up Accounts Payable to create electronic payments for vendors.
- Automatically clearing checks in Bank Reconciliation based on a file received from the bank
- Configuring Positive Pay to verify checks processed against your account
- Using Paperless Office to electronically delivery documents
Paid Resources
Business Insights Explorer Workshop
We will gather in the classroom to have a deeper discussion. Each user attending will have access to a workstation and Business Insights Explorer to follow through exercises, set up their own views, and ask follow up questions. This two-hour workshop is $100 per attendee. If you are interested, please help us determine a date by completing this form or leaving a comment below.
To log onto the MAS 90 or 200, everyone needs a User (and technically Roles). As an administrative feature, each MAS 90 and 200 installation also includes an Administrator user. This user does not have access to menu items, cannot inquire, and cannot perform data entry, but is required during each upgrade. If you don’t know your admin password, Sage can help with a completed authorization form.
Consider having your System Administrator or MAS 90 champion log on using the admin account each month to make sure everything is functioning properly. It would be wise to make sure two people (but not more), know this password.
In a response to the feedback we have received since the June 29 Online User Group meeting which covered the version 4.40 release and Product Updates, the agenda for the Thursday, August 18 User Group meeting is being expanded to highlight several of the enhancements included with Product Update 2 which was released in July.
The conversation will include:
- Bank Reconciliation – Automatically Reconcile Checks: Efficiently and automatically reconcile check information you download from your financial institution.
- Bank Reconciliation – Positive Pay Export: Deter check fraud using the new Positive Pay features in the Bank Reconciliation module. Positive Pay assists your financial institution to monitor against suspicious check activity using a file you create and submit for comparison and verification.
- Accounts Payable – ACH Electronic Payments: Increase your efficiencies, improve your cash management, reduce operating costs and lessen the risk of lost or stolen checks by paying vendors electronically using an ACH file created from the Accounts Payable module.
The content for each User Group is crafted to suit those that attend. If you have an idea for a presentation or are curious about a particular feature or topic, please leave a comment and we will try to incorporate it into our meetings.
With the retirement of FRx, Sage went on a journey to find a replacement. While we tend to favor the structure and features available from BizNet BizInsights, Sage eventually selected (and re-branded a solution) Sage MAS ERP Intelligence which is now available for download (by logging on to Sage Online). The Sage MAS ERP Intelligence website is home to loads of information including a product brochure, FAQ, White Paper, and Installation Guide.
Log on and view your account to obtain your unlocking keys.
This week Sage issued a individual program fix (not included with Product Update 1 or Product Update 2 but applicable to both). It is vital that any system running the Inventory Management module make arrangements to proactively apply GL4043-T (Application level 4.40.0.1 – 4.40.0.2).
The fix is designed to address a system bug in which any General Ledger accounts changes affecting an account listed in Inventory Product Line Maintenance will force all account numbers is Product Line Maintenance to the new account number.
In the third month of the re-launched Sage MAS 90/200 User Group after a six month break and it is time once again for a live meeting at the Acuity Financial Center.
With the release of Sage MAS 90 and 200 version 4.20, Business Insights Explorer became the latest member of the Business Insights suite. Business Insights Explorer takes inquiry, drill-down, drill-around, and analysis to a whole new level. New users as well as current users of the Sage MAS 90 and 200 system will immediately benefit from the extensive set of usability and customization features included with Business Insights Explorer like:
- Previewing key information
- Exploring and drilling into related data
- Access to relevant tasks
- Customizing views
In subsequent releases, new views have been added but many users aren’t familiar with how Business Insights Explorer works or how to apply it to their roles. In this User Group meeting, we will address all of this as well as any other questions you might have as we continue with the Open Forum.
Please join us and extend an invitation to any other MAS 90 and 200 users, supervisors, or managers.
Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Acuity Financial Center Boardroom
7881 West Charleston Blvd. (Second Floor)
RSVP by leaving a comment.