Sage recently released a new update which includes revised federal withholding tax tables that reflect changes as a result of the recent economic stimulus legislation. This update also includes a change in how workers compensation is calculated in Utah.
Current Tech Support subscribers should have received an email notification, probably dated 03/19/2009, with a subject of "Sage Master Builder Software Update 09-C". This email contains a link and instructions on how to download and install the update.
Send us a note if you have any questions or concerns.
UPDATE
The new update, which is contained in a file named SMB1340.exe, inadvertantly broke the Master Builder API, which is necessary for interfacing with some third party applications. As soon as Sage realized the problem, they corrected it by issuing a patch for the API, SMBAPI1340.exe. So, if the API is important for your company, don't forget to download and install the API patch, SMBAPI1340.exe, after installing the tax update, SMB1340.exe.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Frustrations!
One thing that really saddens us is when we find a Sage Master Builder user that is frustrated with his use of the program.
All too often, users continue to perform tasks in the way they (or the person they succeeded) were taught, without exploring whether there is a better way to accomplish their tasks. One of the great blessings (and curses) of Master Builder is that there are often several ways of using the system, some of which may be better suited to a particular user’s needs than others. There are many keyboard shortcuts often ignored that can help with a process. Templates are available in many different areas but frequently overlooked.
Many times, we hear from an owner or manager who wants to see certain information in a report, but no one has produced that report to meet his needs. We can often show him an existing report that meets his exact requirements, or gets close enough to satisfy the user’s need. There are over a thousand standard system reports that come with the program, as well as a very useful report writer that can solve many other needs. The Query Wizard can create on screen reports very quickly as well! We also use Crystal Reports to create complicated reports when we determine that the Master Builder report writer cannot solve a particular problem.
The stories of dissatisfaction with the way a user’s system was originally configured and implemented are the most frustrating of all. Too many times, users have tried to implement their own system without experienced implementation assistance. Some sales pitches in the past undersold the value of implementation assistance and encouraged new users to install, configure and implement the program themselves, relying only on the Internet-delivered classes and the on-line help screens. We have helped many such frustrated users reconfigure their systems or even re-implement their entire system, leaving the users much happier.
What is most frustrating to us is that many users just don’t know that they can begin to solve the problems that cause their dissatisfaction with a phone call!
All too often, users continue to perform tasks in the way they (or the person they succeeded) were taught, without exploring whether there is a better way to accomplish their tasks. One of the great blessings (and curses) of Master Builder is that there are often several ways of using the system, some of which may be better suited to a particular user’s needs than others. There are many keyboard shortcuts often ignored that can help with a process. Templates are available in many different areas but frequently overlooked.
Many times, we hear from an owner or manager who wants to see certain information in a report, but no one has produced that report to meet his needs. We can often show him an existing report that meets his exact requirements, or gets close enough to satisfy the user’s need. There are over a thousand standard system reports that come with the program, as well as a very useful report writer that can solve many other needs. The Query Wizard can create on screen reports very quickly as well! We also use Crystal Reports to create complicated reports when we determine that the Master Builder report writer cannot solve a particular problem.
The stories of dissatisfaction with the way a user’s system was originally configured and implemented are the most frustrating of all. Too many times, users have tried to implement their own system without experienced implementation assistance. Some sales pitches in the past undersold the value of implementation assistance and encouraged new users to install, configure and implement the program themselves, relying only on the Internet-delivered classes and the on-line help screens. We have helped many such frustrated users reconfigure their systems or even re-implement their entire system, leaving the users much happier.
What is most frustrating to us is that many users just don’t know that they can begin to solve the problems that cause their dissatisfaction with a phone call!
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