Some would also agree that the lack of development of the Payroll module is more than an unfortunate oversight (but that’s another story). Sage bases their development plan on different factors including the install-base for each module and the feedback they receive from users. Over the past few years, Sage has made it easier for users to provide that feedback, most recently (and most effectively) with the Sage ERP Solutions feedback site.

Now Sage has included in-product survey. If you have upgraded to version 4.30 or version 4.40, you will have noticed that after a several weeks of using these versions, a dialog box will open asking you to answer twelve questions. The timing is great because you will have already had an opportunity to apply some of the new features. The delivery is great because you won’t have to actively seek out a channel to provide feedback.

Don’t forget that Sage (and your Business Partner) want to provide the features and services you want and need. As a user, you just have to speak up.

Get More Information
Sage Summit Virtual Event
Thursday, November 18, 2010
10:00 am Pacific

• Paperless Payroll with the Sage Payroll Paycard
• Excel Tips and Tricks: Financial Functions
• Sage ERP MAS Intelligence: Introducing Dazzling Reports & Brilliant Analysis
• Reduce Payroll Costs and Gain More Control with Sage Payroll and Direct Deposit
• Excel Tips and Tricks: Data Validation, Named Ranges &VLOOKUP
• Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200: Tips and Tools to Help Manufacturers Thrive in a Volatile Market

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.

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.

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.

While the last Product Updates for version 3.71 was released in October 2005 and Quarterly & Year-end Updates were discontinued as of December 31, 2009, Tax Table Updates and Phone and Email Support by Sage have still been available. That changes on September 30, 2010 when sage discontinues support and Tax Table updates for this release.

Versions 4.00, 4.05, and 4.10 are scheduled for a similar fate with Phone and Email Support from Sage ending as of September 30, 2011, Quarterly & Year-end Updates ending December 31, 2010, Tax Table Updates and Hot Fixes ending on September 30, 2011.

A new contradiction to Sage’s previous policies, which one might suspect could change without much notice, is that all customers maintaining their Business Care agreement will maintain access to the online knowledgebase for even these retired versions.

Support Policy MAS

Important Extended Solutions 941 Update Needed for Q2 2010

The Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Extended Solutions listed below require an update to be compatible with the Q2 2010 941 form changes. You should be using software showing a release date on or after 07/09/10. Please contact us to request your necessary title update by calling 800-390-3643 and selecting Option 1.

Effected Titles for Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 version 4.3, 4.2:

Title	Description
JC-1095	Bill Rate Specified By Job/Employee/Cost Code
PR-1003	Extended Decimal Precision
PR-1015	Deduction Calculation Based On Earnings Type
PR-1018	Automatic Earnings Code Maintenance By Employee
PR-1019	Location Processing
PR-1023	Deductions With Monthly Maximums and Minimums
PR-1024	User Defined Payroll Cycle
PR-1040	User Defined Earnings And Deduction Types
PR-1044	Career To Date Hours Worked
PR-1051	Employee/Department Allocation
PR-1054	Payroll For Saipan
PR-1055	Deduction Calculation For Pension Plans
PR-1059	Tax Accrual Account Posting By Department
PR-1062	Employee User Defined Fields
PR-1064	Tax And Deduction Liability Check Generation
PR-1067	Additional Deduction Calculation Methods
PR-1072	Enhanced W-2 Form Printing
PR-1074	Enhanced Perpetual Payroll History Report
PR-1090	Multiple Concurrent Local Taxes
PR-1091	Enhanced Benefit Accrual
PR-1094	Exclude Employees From Unemployment Accrual
PR-1098	Union Payroll
PR-1100	Enhanced Workers’ Comp Processing
PR-1102	Accrual Yearly Limit Set by Months Of Employment
PR-1105	Deduction Taxability By Local Code
TC-1005	Temporary Employee Billing
TC-1017	Incentive Pay

Effected Titles for Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 version 4.10 / 4.05/ 4.0 / 3.71

Title	Description
JC-1095	Bill Rate Specified By Job/Employee/Cost Code
PR-1003	Extended Decimal Precision
PR-1018	Automatic Earnings Code Maintenance By Employee
PR-1019	Location Processing
PR-1024	User Defined Payroll Cycle
PR-1044	Career To Date Hours Worked
PR-1051	Employee/Department Allocation
PR-1054	Payroll For Saipan
PR-1059	Tax Accrual Account Posting By Department
PR-1062	Employee User Defined Fields
PR-1067	Additional Deduction Calculation Methods
PR-1072	Enhanced W-2 Form Printing
PR-1074	Enhanced Perpetual Payroll History Report
PR-1090	Multiple Concurrent Local Taxes
PR-1091	Enhanced Benefit Accrual
PR-1094	Exclude Employees From Unemployment Accrual
PR-1098	Union Payroll
PR-1099	Reciprocal Taxation (Windows Only)
PR-1100	Enhanced Workers’ Comp Processing
PR-1102	Accrual Yearly Limit Set by Months Of Employment
TB-1000	Time and Billing Interface With TimeCard & Payroll
TC-1005	Temporary Employee Billing
TC-1017	Incentive Pay

Many of your financial transactions are now being handled electronically, maybe more than you would expect:

• Direct Deposit for your employee payroll
• ACH payments for vendors
• Credit card payments from your customers
• Credit card payments to your vendors
• Online payments to vendors

In many cases, however, payment by check is still the most popular form of payment and of course, if the payment isn’t made electronically, someone has to schlep to the bank. Sage Desktop Deposit resolves that problem by giving you the ability to scan checks from your customers transmitting the deposit to your bank right from your desk. You’ll need some hardware and of course there are fees (similar to credit card merchant fees).