Development and distribution of new features is something Sage has been actively working – just look at the Product Road Map and Product Releases 1-3 for version 4.40. Not turning their backs on those users continuing to run supported versions, Sage has released Product Update 20 for version 4.30. We only recommend you consider installing Product Updates if you are upgrading, re-installing or are experiencing an issue the update is intended to resolve. Be careful to consider all of the integrated applications, enhancements and customizations your system is running. Do not take an installation like this lightly.
Here are the issues this Product Update is intended to resolve. You can read the full list (including Product Updates 4.30.0.1-4.30.0.19) here and download the update here.
- Accounts Payable: Now the data is printed correctly on the AP Expense by GL Account Report when making a selection based on UDF data
- Bar Code: Legacy Bar Code imports for Standard and Back Order type sales orders can now be imported in the same import.
- CRM (Sage EES Only): No longer receive error message “Opportunity is invalid for this customer” or “The is no longer valid” when creating sales orders or quotes and assigning opportunities on the fly from Sage CRM.
- Library Master: Country Code ‘Name’ can now be added to ship to address in Office Merge.
- Sales Order: In a Sales Order Invoice Entry, if a lot item is entered, using the enter key to advance to the next row no longer duplicates the first line item entry to the second row.
- System Setup: All Document Types display correctly in Starship.
- TimeCard: An employee’s full social security number and address will now print on the Certified Payroll Report.
The following is taken from a Sage email to their business partners.
Effective January 31, 2011, there will be an important change regarding the FRx module developed by Microsoft and marketed and sold by Sage. As a result of Microsoft’s decision to retire FRx, the module will no longer be distributed with Sage ERP MAS products. There are several changes you need to be aware of.
- As of January 31, 2011, FRx will no longer be available for purchase through Sage for Sage ERP MAS products.
- After January 31, 2011, customers current on maintenance and using FRx will continue to receive support from Sage. Microsoft will no longer be providing any bug fixes for issues found within the FRx product so Sage will only be able to support matters that involve the integration between Sage MAS and FRx.
- Sage will maintain backward compatibility between FRx and Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 V4.5 and Sage ERP MAS 500 V7.4
Most of this isn’t new. We have written about the FRx retirement and possible alternatives BizInsight and Sage MAS ERP Intelligence (SMI). The take away is that Sage is confirming backward compatibility including MAS 90 and 200 version 4.50. The January 31, 2011 date is getting nearer, but this news appears to give users which are heavily reliant on FRx a bit more time.
Much like a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system provides features beyond the sales tracking and customer services capabilities of MAS 90 and MAS 200, a Credit and Collections Management (CCM) system helps control the Accounts Receivable cycle.
You can begin to craft your CCM by reviewing 17 Fundamental of Effective Credit & Collections Management.
On Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 10:00 am, we will dive deeper into the requirements of a CCM system during the Sage MAS 90/200 Online User Group meeting. We will consider activity tracking, automation, documentation, work flow, and Business Intelligence. If you are interested in attending, leave a comment below and we will be certain to get your invitation to you.
Don’t forget that every User Group meeting concludes with the Open Forum where everyone has the opportunity to ask their MAS 90/200-related questions for feedback from other users and consultants.
Over the course of the last several releases, Sage has shipped a load of system enhancements. One might think there are too many to document, but Sage has taken care of that with the MAS 90 and 200 Chronicle of Releases. Sage’s development decisions are based on a number of
factors, most important of which is user feedback. With the VersionOne-powered Sage MAS 90 and 200 and Extended Enterprise Suite Ideas, we can all study, suggest,collaborate, and vote on ideas for future development. The site is organized by categories (Financial Management, Manufacturing, Sales & Distribution, Reports/BI, CRM, Integration, and General Enhancements), is completely searchable, and can be sorted by the latest suggestions, hot suggestions, top voted, planned for release, and completed.
You can create an account or browse anonymously, but participating is the best way to get your idea implemented and your request fulfilled. Of course you want your idea to get some votes, so leave a comment below and let us know why we should vote.
Sage has again updated the public product roadmap for MAS 90 and 200 including information regarding upcoming product updates, the SQL release, and future versions.
Scheduled to ship before the end of 2010, Product Update 3 (September) and Product Update 4 (December) are not detailed to any degree. The roadmap only tells us that Product Update 3 will somehow further integrate Bank Rec and General Ledger. Product Update 4 will include Year-end Payroll updated, changes supporting the HIRE Act, and Q1 2011 Tax Table updates. Product Update 5 is scheduled for March 2011 and will include more integrated Extended Solutions
- IM-1244 Inactive Item Designation
- IM-1111 Security for Inventory Inquiry
- IM-1119 Physicall Count Entry by Ticket Number
- LM-1028 Background Color by Company Code
- AP-1101 Multiple Company Aged Invoice Report
- AP-1043 Distribution Table for Invoice Entry
- AP-1077 Additional Check Printing Sort Option
Sage MAS 200 version 4.45 is targeted for release in October 2010 and will offer a SQL backend. There are several details that are still being clarified (including why the SQL backend will only be made available for new installation, read: no upgrades). The SQL backend should be available for everyone with the version 4.50 release (Q3 2011). The 4.50 release is also scheduled to include a merged Extended Enterprise Suite (which I interpret as a new licensing structure for integrated MAS 90 and 200 with SageCRM) and fourteen more Extended Solutions titles (for Payroll, Sales Order, Accounts Receivable, and Purchase Order).
Another word on the SQL release: Payroll, Job Cost, Work Order, and e-Business Manager (prior framework modules) will not be available. More information about the SQL release will follow when it becomes available.
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.