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All users on the system were receiving a message:

“The directory in P/L Journal and Register Maintenance is invalid”

The solution?

Usually this is simply an indication that a user does not have sufficient rights to a folder. In this case it was a little more complex. Users could clearly see and write to the paperless storage folder. What they could not do is write to it through MAS 200.

It turns out the cause was the service account that MAS 200 (a new setup on a new server) had been configured to use.

As Alnoor wisely explains:

Try running MAS in MAS90 style then use SERVER1 for the path in PL Jrnl and Reg Maint. If it works, it may be MAS 200 is executing the path to SERVER1 from the server’s perspective. IOW, the Windows account running the MAS Application Server cannot see SERVER1 for whatever reason such as:

* Service is running using LocalSystem account which doesn’t work with UNCs and mapped drives
* A domain acct isn’t being used for the App Server.

Problem solved. Posted in case anyone else is running into the same issue.

via Alnoor Cassim

A few consultants have been noticing that  clients on older (and even 4.x)  versions of MAS 90 have odd numbered license counts.
Some users are showing as 2 MAS90 licenses. Some have 6 licenses. After applying an upgrade we’ve heard from a few people that the license count mysteriously drops by one.

This is fine if the client was only using one license – but for clients using two licenses they suddenly are faced with both the expense of an upgrade and a surprise bill to purchase another user license.

Only Sage no longer sells single licenses – so the client’s are urged to buy bundles of licenses at over $2,000 just to get the extra license back.

Sage’s explanation?

It seems to vary depending upon who you talk to though I keep hearing that Sage denies ever selling single licenses — so that any user with 2 or 6 licensed users on the system just has to be a mistake.

Or is it a mistake?

Take a look at this press release which seems to explain at least one scenario where a user could have an extra license on their system. As part of a Year 2000 settlement Sage granted certain qualified users the option of a free additional user license.

I cannot say definitively that if you have an older installation of MAS 90 dating back to 3.x and suddenly notice 1 user subtracted that the following issue will get your single user license back – it’s sure worth a try.

And as noted on the settlement information – the client had to be on maintenance during the proper timeframe in order to qualify for the free user license.

Update: The post was changed slightly to remove quotes from Sage consultants concerned about retaliation from the publisher from providing their experiences.

Kudos to 90Minds member Mark Chinsky for digging through the email archives for the following information.

Y2K LITIGATION: Sage Settles Action Over MAS 90 Software For Up To $8.5M

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sage Inc. has agreed to provide an estimated $ 5.6 million to $ 8.5 million
in product credits to settle a class action over Y2K compliancy of its MAS
90 accounting software (DBN, Inc. t/a Y-PERS v. Sage Software, Inc., et
al., No. 799983, Calif. Super., Orange Co.).(Preliminary Approval Order in Section A. Document # 36-000928-101)

Plaintiff DBN Inc. (t/a "Y-PERS") and Sage have also agreed to a payment to
plaintiffs' counsel of $ 700,000 in fees and costs under a pact
preliminarily approved by Orange County (Calif.) Superior Court Judge
William F. McDonald on Aug. 23.

Pennsylvania-based DBN sued in 1998 on behalf of an estimated 44,000 users
of MAS 90, complaining that the copy it licensed in May 1996 for $ 5,904.20
would not recognize four-digit years. The product was advertised as
software which would take users 'through the 90s and beyond," DBN said.

Judge McDonald overruled Sage's demurrer on Jan. 8, 1999, and on May 27,
1999, certified a nationwide class of users pursuant to the parties'
stipulation.

The notice of proposed settlement attached to the order granting
preliminarily approval notes that Sage contests the allegations and was
prepared to seek summary judgment. Sage maintains that the Year
2000-compliant version contains numerous enhancements and the cost of the
date recognition upgrades was minimal.

                         Settlement Terms

The proposed settlement would give licensees credit toward new or upgraded
services:

Those who licensed MAS 90 after June 1, 1995, purchased upgrades, and are
on a maintenance program would have their choice of a "bank reconciliation"
module, one additional user license, three months of telephone support or a
single user license for Sage's DAC Easy accounting software.* 1995 and
beyond licensees who purchased upgrades and are not on a maintenance
program could opt for one additional user license for MAS 90, a $ 200
coupon toward the purchase of a maintenance program, three months of
telephone support or a single user license for DAC Easy software.* Pre-1995
licensees would be entitled to coupons for MAS 90 software or user licenses
ranging from $ 50 to $ 175, depending on when they acquired the product.

The settlement release will not affect users who ceased using the product
between Oct. 31, 1997, and March 31, 2000. The settlement excludes recovery
for users who received upgrades at no charge.

MAS 90 users have until Nov. 8 to submit a proof of claim. Judge McDonald
scheduled a hearing for that date on final approval.

Co-lead counsel for the settlement class are Jeffrey A. Klafter of
Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann in New York and Harris L. Pogust of
Sherman, Silverstein, Kohl, Rose & Podolsky in Pennsauken, N.J. Plaintiffs'
counsel also includes Jonathan Shub of Sheller, Ludwig & Badey in
Philadelphia, Marc H. Edelson of Hoffman & Edelson in Doylestown, Pa., and
William M. Hensley of the Law Offices of Mark A. Kompa in Newport Beach,
Calif. Sage is represented by Melody Williams Dapp of Pillsbury Madison &
Sutro in Costa Mesa, Calif. (Mealey's Year 2000 Report, September, 2000)

Scott today filed this report to 90 Mind group members and I’ve asked Scott if I can reprint it verbatim to give readers an attendee’s point of view about the conference happenings.

Keep in mind that these comments are based on the first day of Convergence. There may be other announcements later in the conference and we’ll take care to update the story as additional information is released.

Microsoft Convergenge 2009 Day 1 Field Report

From: Scott Hickman
Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Subject: [sageresellers] Second Day in New Orleans with Microsoft
To: sageresellers

I am in New Orleans at the Microsoft convention. There has not been anything earth shattering. The Keynote indicated that we will be “blown away” on Thursday. We shall see.

Notable items

Over 4,000 partners attending (pretty strong for Dynamics)

Beginning to develop business applications around their “surface” hardware. (ie., touchscreen Kiosk in warehouse)

50 tips on Dynamics GP in 50 minutes – great session – great idea

They are pushing green green green. No bottled watered – they gave us a refillable water bottle. Plastic cups are made of corn. Ink pens are called Vegetals. I still have not seen paperless out of the box with GP though. They want us to give our water bottles to NOLA schools. Recycle our name badges which are made from recycled material and corn.

No nightly entertainment. Sessions go until 6:00. There are a few left over snacks on the table and then you need to leave. Kind of like the last day on a cruise ship. Free beer and alchohol is also past bye-gones .

Heavily pushing CRM. CRM resellers are optimistic about their practices. Say they are recession proof. Engagements are t y pically $50K implementation, $25K software and 20 users.

CRM integration with Dynamics – GP is comparable to Sage’s solution. Just a bunch of synchronization. They are coming out with a new integration this year.

Dynamics RMS is mysterically missing.

Good NOLA band openend up before keynote. Much better than the broom stunt.

I will post the “blown away” news tomorrow if I think the group’s heart and health can take the shock.

Scott

via: Scott Hickman – ServiceWorld Computer Center – Missouri

Update - I also spotted this Microsoft Convergence update from ZDNET which mirrors all of Scott’s observations.

Beth is a Sage MAS 90 and 200 Authorized Consultant, Certified Trainer and Certified Support Specialist who specializes in subcontracting services to other MAS 90 consultants. She has been working with Sage MAS 90 and 200 since 1989 and currently works with resellers from coast to coast.  As a Certified Consultant, Beth does not resell any Sage products.

Services Offered

New installation, training and setup of Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200, as well as:

• Crystal Report Design
• Consulting on upgrades
• Visual Integrator Jobs
• Certified Training on Visual Integrator, Custom Office, and Intro to Crystal Reports
• Backup phone, email, and remote support

Beth Bowers Contact Information

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