If you’ve ever wanted to restrict any Date fields in Sage MAS 90/200 (e.g., Invoice Date) so that only certain dates were allowed, there’s an easy solution.  (For example, if users are occasionally making keying errors.)

Assuming you have the Custom Office module, and depending what version of MAS 90/200 you’re running, you can go into the Advanced Field Settings for the Date field (Custom Office > Main > User-Defined Field and Table Maintenance:  then select the appropriate Module, double-click the appropriate Table > Advanced Field Settings) - and specify a Range of Values for the Validation (e.g., 20111201 through 20111231 – or whatever make sense).  And of course going forward you’ll need to edit this Validation Range as needed.

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© 2011, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

In previous versions of Sage MAS 90/200, you couldn’t simply search Item Extended Descriptions (1 option was to create a User-Defined field to additionally hold this data for being able to search via an Item lookup).  Well now it’s a snap.  At your Item lookup, click the Custom button to personalize your lookup.  In the Available Fields list, scroll down to the CI_ExtendedDescription file and add the ExtendedDescriptionText field.  That’s it!

© 2011, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

If you’ve upgraded to Sage MAS 90/200 4.40 and are having trouble reconciling the Open PO Report, be sure to take ”Completed” Orders into consideration.  It appears this report in 4.30 (and likely prior versions) displays actual $$ for Completed Orders, whereas 4.40 shows $0.    

© 2011, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

Courtesy of Jeff Schwenk of Bottomline Software, here is a nice detailed overview document (with screen-shots, graphics, etc.) that explains what’s included in the latest Product Update 5 (PU5) for Sage MAS 90/200.  Enjoy!

         What’s New in PU 4.40.0.5?

© 2011, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

Are you considering upgrading your Sage MAS 90/200 system?  Well here’s a great resource which details the major functionality and enhancements incorporated in the software since v3.50.   

© 2011, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

Did you know that there’s a logical explanation behind all the funky characters that appear in the various Sage MAS 90/200 date fields (when viewing the data via Data File Display & Maintenace for example)?  These are called Compacted Dates – where the 2-character values represent 4-digit years ( e.g., 2011 = ?; ).  

         Compacted Date Table

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Posted by Brett A. Zimmerman - www.brettzimmerman.com – Twitter: MAS90_Zip

© 2011, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

Have you noticed in Sage MAS 90/200 4.40 that you are likely unable to edit the Standard Cost field in Item Maintenance?  It’s grayed out.

That’s because there’s now a new Standard Cost Adjustment Utility.  http://infosource.sagesoftwareonline.com/infasp/kdb.asp?isresolutionconceptid=523315

Posted by Brett A. Zimmerman - www.brettzimmerman.com – Twitter: MAS90_Zip

© 2011, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

      A/P > Vendor Maintenance > Items > Pricing > tab, tab (dsct %, 0), Accept.     
        (Note:  This can easily be automated via Visual Integrator.)

Here’s a link that explains how the item cost hierarchy works in MAS 90/200:
http://infosource.sagesoftwareonline.com/infasp/kdb.asp?isresolutionconceptid=638

Posted by Brett A. Zimmerman - www.brettzimmerman.com – Twitter: MAS90_Zip

© 2010, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

This standard MAS 90/200 Utility allows you to easily convert selected data/files to all Uppercase (e.g., Customers, Ship-To Addresses, Vendors, Purchase Addresses).  And you can choose to update all Address Fields or just the City.  (Maybe you forgot about the “Return City Names in ALL CAPS” setting in L/M > Company Maintenance.)

This is a permanent change that affects all companies and cannot be reversed. Make a full backup before proceeding.

Posted by Brett A. Zimmerman - www.brettzimmerman.com – Twitter: MAS90_Zip

© 2010, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.

Below is some information I had compiled a couple years back when I originally looked into Applianz and ScionASP.  I have not had the opportunity to be involved with either an Applianz or ScionASP implementation.  Clearly this information could be somewhat outdated (including pricing), but this provides some general information.

ScionASP  (www.scionasp.com)

I spoke to Rick who had some good information.

• They started with SalesLogix before Sage bought it, and they do have a large focus on CRM applications.
• Been around since 2001.
• They basically can take the place of an IT Dept.
• Everything resides at their data-centers, mostly in San Diego, CA but also in Raleigh, NC.
• All Citrix.
• They maintain all connectivity and viability, including Windows related service updates, etc.
• MAS 90 and 200′s would be on own servers for compatibility purposes.
• All MAS’ are separate installations, and they are currently hosting many.
• Scion personnel does installation of initial software; they are apparently Sage-certified.
• Their services include redundant backups and disaster recovery plans.
• For MAS upgrading, Sage business partner would coordinate with Scion.
• MAS enhancements?  Coordinate with Scion. 
• Printing issues?  some, as expected
• Typically will get system back up and running within a couple hours if something major happens.
• Pricing (the below are retail prices): 
  • Pricing includes 1st application install (e.g., MAS) and connectivity, including basic server/connectivity support, as well as Workstations setup with client contact.
    • Below pricing does not include initial $100 per user setup fee.
  • Any time related to upgrading MAS would require additional cost ($150/hr).

 
Applianz  (www.applianz.com)

I spoke to Cody Robinson there (in Wichita, Kansas), and he gave me a lot of great information.  He was very knowledgeable.

• This works with an “infrastructure device” (a box) which can basically reside anywhere.
  • Can reside at the company’s office, at any datacenter that will allow it, or at Applianz’ datacenter in Kansas
  • Has built-in remote access.
  • No CD drive (all installs, etc. would be done from a workstation via an Applianz session, very similar to Terminal Services, so it’s just like being at the server)
  • Box contains Windows 200X server – Virtual Machine
  • Highly secure; Highly stable
  • Depending on # of users, includes various XP Virtual Machines
  • Workstations get small Applianz client installed
    • MAC workstations can also be used
• Most folks have the box reside at their own office
•  
• Package includes remote services, daily backups with 30-day retention, 24-hour disaster recovery so you can keep working if there’s any kind of problem accessing your box.
• Two (2)  500gb drives.  Raid 5, mirrored, etc.
• Box can easily handle 40 users.
• MAS 200 typically wouldn’t be necessary since the box is a client/server device.
• Most printing (remote) services/issues are nicely addressed.
•  
• Pricing (retail) for MAS 90/200/500 (includes 1st year of support/service:  backups, disaster recovery, updates, etc.):
  • 5-user        $ 8K
  • 10-user      $10K
  • 20-user      $13K
  • 30-user      $17K
• Pricing for ongoing support/service (regardless of user count):
  • $295/mo    or    $2,995/yr
• Pricing to have Applianz host your device at their data center in Kansas:
  • $295/mo    or    $2,995/yr
•  
• All service and support is handled remotely by Applianz. 
  • If device fails, Applianz can restore and have company up and running pretty quickly on their production servers while the device is shipped back to Applianz.
  • Worse case, if need someone onsite, they’ve contracted with local IT folks.
•  
• Ongoing support and service by Sage Business Partner remains the same.  There just isn’t a server to perform work at.  For example, you would need to access the device from a workstation in an Applianz session, very similar to Terminal Services

Posted by Brett A. Zimmerman - www.brettzimmerman.com – Twitter: MAS90_Zip

© 2010, Brett Zimmerman. All rights reserved. Formed in 2005. the 90 Minds Consulting Group is a collaboration of 100 Sage partners who independently join together online in a 24 x 7 private communication network to solve difficult issues for their customers. The group is not affiliated with Sage and our collaboration provides for unparalleled member access to early warnings of bugs and other issues which members in turn are encouraged to use to provide an exceptional customer experience.