In Sage 50 release 2019 and earlier the Pervasive PSQL Workgroup Database Engine is installed silently with the program to manage your Sage 50 company database.  This database management application runs in the background as a Windows service and manages the database in which your Sage 50 company data is stored.

With the release of Sage 50 2020 Pervasive PSQL has been upgraded to Actian Zen version 13. This new database engine provides the following benefits: 

• Improves performance I some database operations
• Includes the latest security countermeasures to protect your data
• Helps ensure compatibility with the latest Windows updates
• Actian Zen installs silently and functions in the same manner as Pervasive PSQL 

Notes regarding compatibility with earlier versions of Sage 50: 

• You many run releases 2019 and 2020 on the same computer using the Actian Zen database engine for 2019 instead of Pervasive
• Sage 50 2018 and earlier will NOT operate properly with release 2020 installed on the same computer
• You may not be able to run Sage 50 on a computer that runs other software using Actian Zen or Pervasive PSQL as possible conflicts may occur 

Notes regarding Sage 50 data conversion: 

• Due to database changes you will need to walk through the Data Conversion Wizard to convert your company data to the Release 2020 format
• The conversion wizard will initiate automatically the first time you open your company in release 2020
• If running Sage 50 in a network environment walk through the conversion process on the server first before accessing your data from a workstation
• Depending on the size of your company data file the unattended protion of a conversion can take from a few minutes to a few hours to convert
• It is recommended that you upgrade Sage 50 and convert your data when you will not need access to your Sage 50 company data for an extended period of time

With the release of Sage 50 and Sage 50cloud 2020 last month users are happy to find the following field size enhancements:

Master Records: 

• Customers: billing and shipping address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Vendors: mailing and remit to address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Vendors: NEW Notes field contains 255 characters
• Employees: address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Inventory Items: item type expanded from to 8 to 20 characters 

Transactions: 

• Quotes: billing and shipping address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Sales Orders: billing and shipping address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Sales Invoices: billing and shipping address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Purchase Orders: mailing and remit to address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Purchases: mailing and remit to address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Payments: mailing and remit to address fields expanded from 30 to 50 characters
• Receive Money: deposit ticket ID expanded from 8 to 20 characters
• Select for Deposit: deposit ticket ID expanded from 8 to 20 characters
  

In most businesses, you have customers that you bill every month. In your business, you can bill the same customers every month, even for the same amount. No matter which situation is yours, you can probably save time by setting up recurring invoices.

1. From the Tasks menu, select Sales/Invoicing.
   
   

2. In the Sales/Invoicing window, complete the transaction as you normally would. You do not have to enter an invoice number at this time.

Note: You are actually creating an invoice here, not just a template.

3. Instead of selecting Save, select the drop-down arrow next to the Copy button and select Create Recurring.

A Create Recurring <transaction> dialog appears.

4. Select How often you want to recur this transaction from the drop-down list. You can choose Weekly, Biweekly, Every four weeks, Monthly (the default), Per Period, Quarterly, Twice a year, or Annually.
   
   

5. Select the First transaction date from the calendar. This is the date that your recurring transaction will begin.

Select the end date from one of three options:

• If you know a specific date you want to end the recurring transactions, select a date from the calendar for the End on option.
• If you know the specific number of recurring transactions you want to set up, select the End after option and enter the number of occurrences.
• If you want your recurring transaction to continue indefinitely, select No end date option.
  
  

6. You have to assign a number, either here or when printing invoices. If you don't plan to print invoices, select the Assign Invoice Numbers option, and enter a number. If you do plan to print invoices, leave this box unchecked. Then, you can assign numbers when printing.

If you check the box and assign a number, Sage 50 will assign all the numbers now, increasing each invoice number by 1.

7. Click OK. Sage 50 saves all transactions in the appropriate period. The first transaction is saved for the current transaction date.

• This is not sold on the Sage website
• You are purchasing and own the actual software --it does not expire
• You may call Sage 3 times for support within one year from the date of purchase
• You will receive all software upgrades and updates for one year, including the Sage Intelligence Reporting feature 
• This cannot be used with payroll or any other Sage 3^rd party add-ons
• You are not required to pay a renewal fee. 
• Product is provided via download link; Sage charges $50.95 to drop ship the DVD to you (US based customers)  International customers are charged $110.
  

• This is not sold by Sage directly - Sage 50 resellers are still able to sell this plan with the perpetual license
• If you are located in the United States or an International customer and want to own your software this or RETAIL is your ONLY option
• You are purchasing and own the actual software (perpetual license) -- it does not expire
• You have unlimited technical support for one year from the date of purchase
• You will receive all software upgrades and updates for one year, including the Sage Intelligence Reporting feature
• Sage requires all payroll customers be on this plan
• You are not required to pay a renewal fee UNLESS you are a payroll customer 
• Product is provided via download link; Sage charges $50.95 to drop ship the DVD to you ((US based customers.  International Customers are charged $110.
  
  

Sage 50 Perpetual License with Basic Support

This option provides for 3 support calls with Sage for one year from date of purchase and all Sage software updates and upgrades. The Sage 50 2021 is expected to be released this summer (typically mid-July).  One year from your date of purchase you can pay Sage an annual renewal fee to continue to receive these benefits or opt out and use the software as-is.  The Basic Support Plan is only available to International Customers.

Sage 50 Traditional Support Plan Perpetual License

Sage REQUIRES that all US based customers purchase this support plan with their software.  International customers can purchase this also if they require more technical support.  This option provides for unlimited support with Sage for one year from date of purchase and all Sage software updates and upgrades.    The Sage 50 2021 is expected to be released this summer (typically mid-July).  One year from your date of purchase you can either opt out and continue to use the software as-is or pay an annual renewal fee to Sage. 

For those Sage 50 software users that decide to opt out of either support plan but need technical support in the future we have Sage 50 Certified Consultants that can provide support via remote access. Typically support can be arranged the same day.

Sage 50cloud

Sage 50cloud is sold as a subscription license that is renewed monthly or annually. This means you have access to the software as long as you keep your subscription plan up to date. If your Sage 50cloud subscription plan expires, your data will go to read only and you will not be able to enter or edit your data. If your subscription plan expires it can be reactivated.

Sage 50cloud (Sage 50c) is an accounting solution for small to medium-sized businesses that offers features such as invoicing, inventory, budgeting, cash flow, Sage Intelligence reporting and job costing in addition to third-party add-ons such as credit card processing, payroll, and MISys Manufacturing.

What’s unique about the platform is that it is basically a hybrid desktop app that has a cloud component for data access and storage. The software can be used to track purchases and vendors and pay bills. It likewise has expense management features that include mobile payment and bank feeds. The product is capable of connecting to your bank accounts, allowing for real time recording of sales and receipts, track receivables, transfer funds, reconcile bank accounts and make deposits. You are also given access to financial reports from any online device.

Sage 50cloud accounting users can work anywhere using Microsoft tools as it integrates seamlessly with MS Office 365 as the cloud-based accounting data is synced between desktops and the app’s cloud servers, making them accessible at all times. All data is also backed up to alleviate any concern regarding data loss.

Companies can use Sage 50cloud’s visual dashboards to keep track of their business by providing views on important budget and revenue trends, and by highlighting main performance areas. You can easily handle customer contacts and create invoices, sales orders, and quotes directly coupled with the ability to make payments on-the-go, bill customers, and provide your accountant with real-time data.

Contact CBA to find out more about Sage 50cloud 2020 or the Sage 50 2020 perpetual license product.