Sage 300 2016 Release Notes

Thank you for choosing a Sage accounting product.

This file contains important information about Sage 300, including information about product changes that are not in the documentation.

Depending on your purchase agreement, some features described here may not be available in your product.

General Information

• Sage 300 2016 supports upgrades only from versions 5.6, 6.0, 2012, or 2014.

• If you use the Web Deployment option (distinct from the portal), note that:

  • Sage 300 2016 does not support the DCOM remoting channel for Web Deployment.
  • Adobe Reader is now required to view and print reports in PDF format. To download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader software, visit http://get.adobe.com/reader.
• If you use workstation setup, you must also run Sage 300 Intelligence Reporting workstation setup (located in BX63A\WSSetup) on every workstation where you will view and use Intelligence Reporting screens.
• You require version 2016 (internally versioned as 6.3A) of all core programs that you plan to use.

  If you use Canadian Payroll or US Payroll, you also require version 2016 (internally versioned as 7.2A) of these programs.

  Note: You must install Sage 300 before installing payroll programs.

• If you are upgrading from an earlier version:

  • You must upgrade all Sage 300 programs to 2016 at the same time. Sage 300 2016 programs do not work with programs from earlier versions.
  • Activating Sage 300 programs is faster and easier than in earlier versions. For example, you can activate Sage 300 2016 programs even if you have unposted batches.

• The following programs are installed with Sage 300, and are required to use Sage 300:

  • MSXML (Microsoft XML Core Services) 4.0

  • Microsoft SQL Server Native Client 11.0

• For the most current technical information about database and report changes, and about parameters for customizing printed forms, see Knowledgebase article 68834.

Known Issues

• Sage 300 uses components of Microsoft Internet Explorer to display help topics. If the Enhanced Security Configuration setting is turned on for your browser, you will receive an error message when you try to display certain help topics. To display help correctly for all topics and to prevent the error message, you must add the following site to the list of Trusted sites in Internet Explorer: about:security_A4WCONTAINERXP.EXE.
• If you are using Sage 300 on a workstation in a client-server environment, you could have trouble viewing help. For example, your browser might display the message "Page cannot be displayed." For a solution, see Sage 300 Knowledgebase article 21452, or Microsoft support article 896054.

New Browser-Based Home Page and Web Screens

This release includes the option to install Sage 300 web screens: modernized versions of Sage 300 screens that you can use in a web browser.

Whether you're using your desktop computer, your laptop, or your tablet, now you can enter transactions, generate reports, manage company finances, and more—anywhere, anytime.

Web screens run in parallel with the classic Sage 300 desktop screens, so there's no need to choose between desktop or web. Everyone in your organization can use the interface that best suits their needs, while working seamlessly with a single shared set of company data.

Important! When using Sage 300 web screens over an external network or the internet, data must be protected with security measures such as Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or a Virtual Private Network (VPN). To determine appropriate security measures, consult with your information technology (IT) professional or Sage Business Partner.

Here's a quick overview of what's available in Sage 300 web screens:

• New browser-based home page. Use the home page to find and open program features and reports, to review key business information, and to find help and resources.

  • Add and customize widgets to see the information that matters most to you.
  • Use the navigation menu to find and open program features ("windows") and reports.
  • Use the Window Manager to switch between open windows, or to close windows.
  • Click the Help menu at the top to see suggested articles and resources based on your current task.

• Financial management web screens. Use financial modules to set up your general ledger, maintain banking and tax information, and manage payables and receivables.

  A selection of frequently used screens from the following Sage 300 financial modules are available as web screens:

  • General Ledger
  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Bank Services
  • Tax Services

• Administration web screens. Administrators can use web screens to update company information and maintain data.

  A selection of frequently used screens from the following Sage 300 administration modules are available as web screens:

  • Administrative Services
  • Common Services
• Reports. Print financial reports, transaction reports, and other key business information, right from your web browser.

Web screens are available in English, French, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). Help and documentation for web screens is available in English and French.

Note: Users may need to adjust their web browser settings to ensure that web screens appear in the correct language. The preferred language for viewing web pages (specified in web browser settings) must match the language specified for the user in their Sage 300 user record.

For more information, see the Sage 300 Web Screens Getting Started Guide.

Custom Checks

Previously, the Spellmoney function was used on some checks to convert numbers into text (for example, to convert $100.00 to “one hundred dollars”). This function was used in the formula, “fmtIssuedtext” of the check stock reports shipped with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Canadian Payroll, and US Payroll.

The Towords function is now used instead of the Spellmoney function, and support for the Spellmoney function will be removed in a future release. If you have custom checks that use the Spellmoney function, you should change this function to Towords.

UAC Compliance

Sage 300 is now compliant with Microsoft's User Account Control (UAC) standard. This security enhancement means that most tasks no longer require administrator permission, though there are a few exceptions. For example, users must have administrator permission to:

• Open Sage 300 screens in web deployment, the Portal, or from Sage CRM.
• Set up the portal database.
• Use Sage Advisor Update.

Compatibility with Other Programs

For a complete list of compatible programs, database platforms, and operating systems, see the Sage 300 2016 Compatibility Guide in the Sage Knowledgebase (https://support.na.sage.com/selfservice/viewdocument.do?externalId=26777).

Installing Sage 300

For detailed instructions on installing Sage 300, see the Sage 300 Installation and Administration Guide.

Note: Version 2016 installs components that support the deployment of the Sage 300 Portal. The installation program installs Java Runtime Environment and Sage 300 Tomcat silently. (Tomcat is installed as a private instance in your Program Files folder under \Common Files\Sage\Sage 300 ERP\Tomcat.)

Important! If you upgrade to a later version of Sage 300, you must install all released product updates for that version before activating your data to avoid possible data corruption issues.

Important! Sage 300 Payroll 2016 (7.2A) is compatible with Sage 300 2016. However, it must be installed separately.

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Removing Sage 300

Before removing Sage 300, you must:

• Close all instances of the Sage 300 Desktop.
• Close all applications that integrate with Sage 300.
• Stop all Sage 300 services that are running, such as Sage 300 .Net Remoting Service and Sage 300 Tomcat.

To remove Sage 300 2016 programs:

1. In Windows' Control Panel, click Programs And Features.

2. Open Uninstall Or Change A Program, and then:

   • To remove all Sage 300 programs, double-click Sage 300 2016.

   • To remove individual Sage 300 programs:

     1. Click Sage 300 2016, and then click Change. (Do not double-click Sage 300 2016.)
     2. Click Modify, and then use the Select Features screen to select the programs you want to install and clear the selections for programs you want to remove.

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System Manager

New Features and Improvements

System Manager 2016 includes the following new features and improvements:

• A new, more detailed User Authorizations report. The new report allows you to specify a range of users to include on the report, and it displays detailed information about all security authorizations granted to these users. The new report also displays details about screen customizations specified in UI Profiles that are assigned to the users.

  Note: You can still print the less detailed User Authorizations report that was available previously.

• Non-administrator users can use database utilities outside Sage 300. Users with security authorization to dump, load, and copy databases can now use the DBDump, DBLoad, and DBCopy utilities outside of Sage 300 by running them from the Windows Start menu. Previously, regardless of security authorizations, only the administrator user could do this.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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Bank Services

New Features and Improvements

Bank Services 2016 includes the following new features and improvements:

• On the Reconcile Statements screen, a new Post button allows you to post bank reconciliations. Previously, you could post reconciliations only from the Post Reconciliation screen.
On the Reverse Transactions screen, the Finder now opens much faster for the Check/Payment No., Check/Receipt No., and Bank Entry Number fields.
On the Quick Clearing screen, clearing deposits and withdrawals is now much faster.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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Accounts Receivable

New Features and Improvements

Accounts Receivable 2016 includes the following new features and improvements:

• You can post invoices, receipts, adjustments, and refunds in the following new ways:

  • On the Invoice Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to post an invoice batch.
  • On the Receipt Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to post a receipt batch.
  • On the Adjustment Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to post an adjustment batch.
  • On the Refund Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to print checks for a refund batch, and then immediately post the batch.
  • On the Invoice Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted invoice batches that are set Ready To Post.
  • On the Receipt Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted receipt batches that are set Ready To Post.
  • On the Adjustment Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted adjustment batches that are set Ready To Post.
  • On the Refund Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted refund batches that are set Ready To Post.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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Accounts Payable

New Features and Improvements

Accounts Payable 2016 includes the following new features and improvements:

• You can post invoices, payments, and adjustments in the following new ways:

  • On the Invoice Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to post an invoice batch.
  • On the Payment Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to print checks for a batch, and then immediately post the batch.
  • On the Adjustment Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to post an adjustment batch.
  • On the Invoice Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted invoice batches that are set Ready To Post.
  • On the Payment Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted payment batches that are set Ready To Post.
  • On the Adjustment Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted adjustment batches that are set Ready To Post.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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General Ledger

New Features and Improvements

General Ledger 2016 includes the following new features and improvements:

New fields on the Journal Entry screen provide more detail about transactions:

• Document Date and Posting Date. These fields replace the single Date field that was available previously, and allow you to enter both a document date and a posting date for a journal entry.
• Entered By. This field indicates who originally entered a transaction (regardless of whether it was originally entered in G/L or a subledger).

A new Date field on the following reports allows you to specify whether the report includes document dates or posting dates:

• Transactions Listing.
• Posting Journals.
• Batch Listing.
• You can post batches of transactions in the following new ways:
  • On the Journal Entry screen, a new Post button allows you to post batches.
  • On the Batch List screen, a new Post All button allows you to post all unposted batches.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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Order Entry

New Features and Improvements

Order Entry 2016 includes the following new features and improvements:

• You can now specify whether a message appears when you post an order with an expected ship date that is later than the Deliver By date. To do this, you edit the [ValidateREQUESTEDEXPSHIPDate] setting in the OE.INI file. For more information, see Knowledgebase article 21367.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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Canadian Payroll

New Features and Improvements

The Sage 300 2016 DVD includes Canadian Payroll 2016; and the following payroll tax updates:

• July 1, 2015
• October 1, 2015 (for Alberta)

For more information, see the Sage 300 Canadian Payroll Release Notes.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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US Payroll

New Features and Improvements

The Sage 300 2016 DVD includes US Payroll 2016; and the September 30, 2015 payroll tax update.

For more information, see the Sage 300 US Payroll Release Notes.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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Project and Job Costing

New Features and Improvements

Project and Job Costing 2016 includes the following new features and improvements:

• Performing the following actions is now much faster:

  • Deleting a project.
  • Clearing history for closed contracts.

Known Issues

There are no known issues.

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Changes to RVSpy and DBSpy

A new User ID field has been added to support online versions of Sage 300. This field is not used in Sage 300 2016, so you should leave it blank.

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