One situation with Sage MAS 90/200 where this could be extremely useful is for Visual Integrator (VI) importing.  For example, lets say you receive an Excel file from your Vendor, and it contains 25 Sheets/Workbooks which represent 25 different invoices.  To properly import you’d need to manually create 25 individual Excel files.  Kind of a pain.  But this $50 program helps to really automate the process.  And don’t worry if the master Excel file contains a reference or VLOOKUP worksheet that all the other worksheets feed off of.  The data in all the newly created Excel files stays in tact.

Posted by Brett A. Zimmerman - www.brettzimmerman.com.

Sage’s new Business Intelligence product, MAS Intelligence, will begin shipping to partners later this month (July) and to end users next month.  “Shipping” actually consists of a download.

The product is made up of several modules, including the Report Manager, Report Designer, Security Manager, Report Viewer, and Connector modules.  Each end user will receive the Report Manager free of charge.

The Report Manager allows users to run the standard reports that ship with it, copy these reports and modify the copies, and create new reports, as long as these reports use the “Containers” that are already setup.  Containers are similar to the Views that come with Business Insights Reports – pre-defined links to certain MAS90/MAS200 files.  Shipping with the standard version are containers for financial statements, multi-company financial statements, GL transactions,  sales history, PO information, and inventory information.  To access any container but the multi-company consolidation container, you login to the ODBC connection, much like logging into FRx or Crystal Reports (if run outside of MAS90/MAS200) and the company you have logged into will be the company used for any reporting during that session.

Resellers will also receive the Report Designer and the Connector modules.  The Report Designer allows users to create financial reports using a “drag and drop” feature.  The Connector module allows users to create connections to new files in MAS90/MAS200, or to other software packages, such as Sage CRM, etc.

As a reseller, you may create a report using a new container and export it for a client, who can then import it.  HOWEVER, the client must either own the Connector module OR a second license of the Report Manager module.  You may also create reports using the standard containers and export those, as well, but again, the end user must own a second license of the Report Manager module.

The Security Manager allows for an extra level of security by report.  A more likely route for security, though, will be the use of ODBC Security in Role Maintenance (which the end user will not have to purchase additionally).

The Report Viewer is much like the FRx Viewer, allowing users to run reports but not modify them.

All reports in Sage MAS Intelligence are actually created in Excel (not EXPORTED to Excel, actually CREATED in Excel).  Several Add-Ins allow users to more easily make changes to reports, including a Quick Pivot Table option, etc.  Reports can be emailed and scheduled, as well.

Sage hopes to have training classes for Sage Certified Trainers available in September, with classes for end users starting after that.

via: Beth Bowers – Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 Consultant – Michigan

http://www.s-consult.com/2010/06/24/whats-new-in-mas-90-4-4-product-update-2/

Posted by Brett Zimmerman.

Posted by Brett Zimmerman.

Regarding Partner Certification for 4.40, it needs to be completed by August 1, 2010.
Sage MAS 90/200 v4.4 Recertification – http://sageu.com/ns_acs/bp/cert/mas90certs.html

I also received a copy of the .M4X file of what I assume contains the demo Customizer/Scripts from Steve Malmgren’s 4.40 Webinar a few weeks ago. Don’t believe Sage has posted it yet in the PFC.

Additionally I received a copy of the 4.40 mini-brochure (5 pages) of What’s New in 4.40. Also don’t believe Sage has it posted anywhere yet, but thanks to Wayne Schulz ( http://www.s-consult.com ): http://www.scribd.com/doc/25932616/Sage-MAS-90-and-200-Whats-New-in-4-4

Posted by Brett Zimmerman of The Fitzgerald Group.

Posted by Brett Zimmerman of The Fitzgerald Group.

What is the Purchases Clearing Account? 

The Purchases Clearing Account is a holding account that appears on your balance sheet as a liability.  It is intended to show the amount of inventory that has been received but not yet invoiced, or invoiced and not yet received.  More simply, it shows the value of goods that were received with Receipt Of Goods, which are still waiting for the bill from the vendor to arrive.

How and When are posting made to the Purchases Clearing Account?

Action
Effect

Receipt of Goods without an Invoice
Credit to Purchases Clearing

Receipt of Invoice
Debit to Purchases Clearing

Return of Goods without an Invoice
Debit to Purchases Clearing

Receipt of Negative Invoice for Goods Returned
Credit to Purchases Clearing

Receipt of Inventory in Inventory Transaction Entry
Credit to Purchases Clearing

Receipt of Goods and Invoice at the same time
No Posting to Purchases Clearing

Return of Goods and Negative Invoice at the same time
No Posting to Purchases Clearing

Theoretically, the amount that appears on the Purchases Clearing by Items Only Report  (located on the Purchase Order Period End Menu in Purchases Clearing Reports) should match the amount that is in the General Ledger Purchases Clearing Account. 

When should the Purchases Clearing Account be Reconciled?

Prior to period end processing, it is recommended you balance the Purchase Order module to the General Ledger Purchases Clearing  accounts.  Use the Purchases Clearing Report by Item Only report, found on the Purchase Order Period End menu, Purchases Clearing Reports, and reconcile to your General Ledger Trial Balance report.

Purchases Clearing by Item Only – Prints all inventory items with quantities on purchase orders included in the purchases clearing amount.  Use the total of this report to reconcile your Purchases Clearing account balance with the G/L Purchases Clearing account.

Purchases Clearing by Product Line – prints the same information as the Purchases Clearing by Item Only report, but sorted by Product Line.

Purchases Clearing Items, Special and Misc – Prints all inventory items, special (*) items and miscellaneous (/) items with quantities on purchase orders included in the purchases clearing amount.  This report will not balance to the General Ledger Purchases Clearing account because the Special and Misc items are not posted to Purchases Clearing.

Purchases Clearing Special and Misc Only – Prints only special and miscellaneous items with quantities on purchase order.  The total on this report is not included in the G/L purchases clearing accounts.

Purchases Clearing in Open PO Format – Prints the total purchases clearing amount and the total purchases clearing plus special and miscellaneous items amount.  If printed for all orders, the total purchases clearing amount should agree with the Purchases Clearing account balance.

What if the G/L account and Purchases Clearing by Item Only do not match?

If the two amounts do not balance, try the following steps to reconcile Purchases Clearing:

1. Review the Purchases Clearing by Item Only report, and identify any items you know have been received and invoiced, but are not reflected as such on the report.

2. If an invoice has been entered, but not reflected on the report, it may have been entered directly in Accounts payable, rather than in the Purchase order.  The invoiced needs to be entered in Purchase Order to affect Purchases Clearing.

3. If you have returned items, but not invoiced for that return in the purchase order module, you need to enter a Receipt of Invoice with a negative quantity invoiced.

4. If items have been received for the wrong purchase order, you will need to process a return of goods for the incorrect purchase order.  If the items were have been invoiced for the wrong purchase order, a negative quantity invoice through Receipt of Invoice.

5. If the items have been received twice for the same purchase order, the second receipt of goods must be reversed using Return of Goods Entry.  If the items were invoiced twice, then reverse the invoice using Receipt of Invoice Entry.

What Causes the General Ledger Purchases Clearing Account and Purchases Clearing by Items Report to be out of balance?

Typically the out of balance situation occurs when one transaction (the receipt of goods) was made in the Purchase Order Module, but the other transaction (the receipt of invoice) was made in another module such as Accounts Payable.   For example:

1. If you received the goods with Receipt of Goods, but you entered the Invoice in Accounts Payable Invoice Data Entry rather than with Purchase Order Receipt of Invoice you may cause an out of balance situation.  Invoices entered in Accounts Payable typically post to the inventory account – so the amount that was credited to the Purchases Clearing Account when Receipt of Goods was run will not have been reversed.  To correct this situation, enter the invoice in Purchase Order Receipt of Invoice.  Then do an invoice adjustment in Accounts Payable to adjust the duplicate invoice down to $0.00.
2. If your have returned goods but not invoiced them in the Purchase Order Module, you may be out of balance.  In the Purchase Order module, do a Receipt of Invoice, show the quantity invoiced as a negative quantity.
3. If you received goods in the Inventory Module using Inventory Transaction Entry, and you used Accounts Payable Invoice Data Entry, you may be out of balance. 

How can I make reconciling the Purchases Clearing Account easier?

If you use Receipt of Invoice you post to the same G/L date that was used when you did the Receipt of Goods, rather than using the date that the invoice was received, you will see the credit and the debit to the Purchases Clearing account occurring on the same day.  This may make it easier for you to reconcile the account.

If you have never reconciled your Purchases Clearing Account, it may be difficult to get it in balance.  However, if reconciled regularly at each month end, it will be easier to manage.

Posted by Mark Chinsky

Thanks to DSD Inc. for this post.

Sage is presently offering a bundle of software that they’ve termed the Sage Extended Enterprise Suite for MAS 90 and MAS 200.

This bundle is comprised of Sage MAS 90 or 200, SageCRM and SageFAS. Each of the products launches from a common menu and integrates with MAS.

Sage Extended Enterprise Promotion for Grandfathered Users

The following promotion is good ONLY for users of Sage MAS 90 or 200 who bought prior to October 1, 2003 and who are current on maintenance. It does NOT apply to any other users.

Here’s the offer:

Through the end of Q3 (June 30th, 2009), you can migrate existing MAS 90 or 200 “Grandfathered” customers to Sage MAS 90 or 200 Extended Enterprise Suite, and offer a flat, per-user annual EES maintenance fee of only $150 per existing user! In most cases, we have been finding that customers can migrate to EES and enjoy lower annual maintenance than they are currently paying! During tough economic times, this may be critical to customers who are struggling! Please make sure to highlight the following benefits when speaking with your clients:

1. Reduce your current annual maintenance and enjoy additional modules and features!

2. Manage your business more effectively with a complete 360 degree view of your business!

3. Streamline costs and enhance customer relationships with full CRM functionality!

This promotion would apply to Sage MAS 90 and 200 customers who purchased their system prior to October 1, 2003, and are currently on a “Grandfathered” status. Please note: the $150 per user fee applies to existing users only. Standard EES maintenance rates will apply to new add-on users. The promotion does not include maintenance on modules and extended solutions outside the EES product suite.

There is also a $500 per user license upgrade fee that is charged for anyone upgrading.

If you’re company qualifies, please talk to your Sage Business Partner and see whether it would be beneficial to upgrade your software to the new Extended Enterprise Suite. Depending upon what version of MAS 90 or MAS 200 your using there may not even be any data conversion required.

Upgrade now to version 4.3 and see the benefits.  Click here for the nearest reseller.

• LM1018 – Paperless Office: Journals & Registers
  

  LM1019 – Paperless Office: Electronic Forms Delivery

  LM1020 – Paperless Office: Period End Processing

  LM1022 – Associated Source Documents for Paperless Office

  AR1223 – Paperless Office: A/R Statements

  SO1437 – Paperless Office: Sales Order Invoices

  SO1463 – Paperless Office Sales Orders

  PO1165 – Paperless Office: Purchase Order Forms

  AR1225 – Paperless Office: A/R Invoices

  JC1147 – Paperless Office: Job Cost

  PR1120 – Paperless Office: Payroll Direct Deposit Stubs