Jacqueline Li (Product Manager at Sage) clarified that it is Alchemex’s Smart Reporting Stack (with a similar drill-down function to FRx) that will be available  but the development plan includes  bringing Analytics and Web Reporting along for MAS 90 users. are under construction. Erika Jelovsek (Senior Product Manager, Sage) further clarified that the free license will be released later in the calendar year as a product update after the initial release of version 4.4.

Sage has been quite vocal about the release of version 4.4 for MAS 90 and MAS 200, now scheduled for release on February 15.

Previously we shared the Pre-release Guide, a 40-page document covering every detail of the system enhancements planned for inclusion in the release. If you didn’t find the time to read each page, Sage has published What’s New in Sage MAS 90 and 200 4.4?, a more concise (5 pages) overview of the release.

Sage has also unveiled a Version 4.4 website and FREE What’s New in Version 4.4? Anytime Learning (click on the What’s New tab and log in or register), an audi0-visual walk-through of the enhancements.

]]> http://www.acuitynv.com/blog/2010/02/02/mas-90-and-mas-200-version-4-4-the-full-story/feed/ 1 http://www.acuitynv.com/blog/2010/01/26/mas-90-and-mas-200-training-calendar/ http://www.acuitynv.com/blog/2010/01/26/mas-90-and-mas-200-training-calendar/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:50:59 +0000 Brian Rice http://www.acuitynv.com/blog/?p=410 We offer a combination of classroom and on-site training to help managers and users save time and money by getting more familiar with the features of their software. Here is a list of the upcoming courses scheduled for the classroom:

Core with Payroll: February 8 – 12
Core without Payroll: February 8 – 11
Introduction and System Manager: February 8
General Ledger: February 9
Accounts Payable: February 10
Accounts Receivable: February 11
Payroll: February 12
Data File Structures: February 15
Introduction to Crystal Reports: February 16 – 17

We maintain a very flexible training schedule. If you are looking for a particular course, let us know and we can work together to make adjustments.

At 40 pages, it is a hefty document that outlines the features Sage’s development team is working to include. The final feature list will be included in the shipment with the official release notes.

As the Q1 2010 ship date approaches, we will highlight some of the features. You can also register for the upcoming webinar, What’s New in Sage MAS 90 and 200 Version 4.4 on February 9 by visiting the Sage Webcast Center.

Remember, with a current software subscription/maintenance agreement with Sage, version 4.4 will be shipped to you automatically.

What features are you looking forward to seeing with this release?

If you have questions about any of these promotions, let me know by leaving a comment below.

However, a discussion in the MAS90 and MAS200 Users and Consultants group on LinkedIn has provided a little insight. It seems the next service update, scheduled to be issued in March, will support Windows 7 for version 4.3. I have to restate that this isn’t an official endorsement from Sage, but two Sage employees provided confirmation in this unofficial discussion group. The version 4.4 release of MAS 90 and MAS 200 is also expected to support Windows 7.

Windows 7 is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors. While MAS 90 and MAS 200 are not being released as 64-bit applications, if all goes as expected, MAS 90 and MAS 200 will run in either environment.

On December 28, the revised Integrated Solutions Compatibility Matrix was posted. This document covers information pertaining to external applications that can be used in conjunction with MAS 90 and MAS 200 (Crystal Reports, FRx, ACT, SalesLogix, Microsoft Office, etc.). This is the document to consult before MAS 90, MAS 200 or any integration application are upgraded.

On December 31, the Supported Platform Matrices for both MAS 90 and MAS 200 were posted. This is the document to consult before upgrading MAS 90, MAS 200 or any operating systems (workstation or server). In this instance, the revision to this document appears to be to reinforce the lack of support for Windows 7.

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.

• 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?

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.