Sage 300 2017 release notes

Thank you for choosing a Sage accounting product.

These release notes contain 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 2017 supports upgrades only from versions 5.6, 6.0, 2012, 2014, or 2016.

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

  • Sage 300 2017 does not support the DCOM remoting channel for Web Deployment.
  • Adobe Reader is 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 BX64A\WSSetup) on every workstation where you will view and use Intelligence Reporting screens.
• You require version 2017 (internally versioned as 6.4A) of all core programs that you plan to use.

  If you use Canadian Payroll or US Payroll, you require version 2017 (internally versioned as 7.3A) 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 2017 at the same time. Sage 300 2017 programs do not work with programs from earlier versions.

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

  • MSXML (Microsoft XML Core Services) 6.0
  • Microsoft SQL Server Native Client 11.0
• Sage 300 2017 includes SP16 for SAP Crystal Reports® runtime engine.

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

  Note: Sage 300 Database and Report Changes and Sage 300 Parameters for Customizing Printed Forms are now available online only, and are not included with the Sage 300 install.

• Product documentation for Sage 300 is available from the Sage 300 Product Documents website.

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Compatibility with other programs

For a complete list of compatible programs, database platforms, and operating systems, see the Sage 300 2017 Compatibility Guide, available from Sage Knowledgebase article 26777.

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Known issues

• When using the Notes screen on the Sage 300 classic desktop:

  • When adding or editing a note, the text editing area and toolbar appear only if you have enabled active scripting and scripting of Java applets in Internet Explorer security settings. For more information, see Knowledgebase article 76898.
  • The Notes screen does not appear correctly if you use the Medium - 125% display size (specified in Windows control panel). For more information, see Knowledgebase article 76926.
• When previewing reports in web screens, information in some reports is not aligned correctly. To work around this issue, export the report to PDF format. For more information, see Knowledgebase article 76337.
• If you use the Web Deployment option, when signing in for the first time after upgrading to Sage 300 2017 from an earlier version, the Sage 300 Web Session Manager prompts you to install an earlier version of Sage 300 .NET Libraries instead of Sage 300 .NET Libraries 2017. For instructions on how to work around this issue, see Knowledgebase article 76601.
• 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 Knowledgebase article 18477, or Microsoft support article 896054.

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Installing Sage 300

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

Note: Version 2017 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.)

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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 2017 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 2017.

   • To remove individual Sage 300 programs:

     1. Click Sage 300 2017, and then click Change. (Do not double-click Sage 300 2017.)
     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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Sage 300 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. The release includes a number of new web screens, and as well as new features and enhancements for existing web screens.

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.

Here's a quick overview of what's new in Sage 300 2017 web screens:

• Redesigned web screens help you get more done. Hide infrequently used fields and controls on key transaction entry screens, and see more data on entry screens and tables without scrolling.
• New web screens and features. Use eighteen new web screens to manage finance, banking, and administration.
• Smarter, simpler processing for credit card transactions. Process payments using smart cards (credit cards that have a built-in chip). Use new Quick Pre-authorize and Quick Charge buttons to quickly pre-authorize and process payments. Select pending invoices for multiple customers and process payments for those invoices with a single click.
• Add and manage notes for customers, vendors, and inventory items. Use the web toolbar to add notes to customers, vendors, and inventory items, and to manage notes, in the handy new Notes panel.
• Create shortcuts to customized reports. If you use customized SAP Crystal Reports®, a new Reports list lets you create a list of links to the custom reports you and your team use most often.
• Customize fields and controls on web screens. Use a new Customize option to show and hide fields and controls, and to change text labels for fields and controls, on most web screens.
• Faster, more convenient transaction posting. Use new Post and Post All buttons to post transactions from batch list and transaction entry screens in General Ledger, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable.
• Drill down to posting journals and posting errors from batch list screens. Drill down to posting journals and posting error reports from batch list screens in Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
• Develop integrated services with the new Web API. A new Sage 300 Web API makes it easier than ever for third-party developers to create services that integrate with Sage 300 data and business logic. This release of the Web API includes a limited set of initial features, with additional features planned for future product updates and releases.

To learn more about new web screens and features available in this release, see the following documentation and resources:

• Sage 300 web screens online help
• Sage 300 web screens getting started guide
• What's new in Sage 300 2017

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.

Web screens are available in English, French, Spanish, 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.

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Add and manage notes for customers, vendors, and inventory items

A new Notes button on the Sage 300 desktop toolbar lets you add and manage notes for customers, vendors, and inventory items.

For more information, see the "Adding and Managing Notes" topic in the System Manager Help.

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System Manager

System Manager 2017 includes the following new features and improvements:

• On the Licenses tab of the License Manager, a new Count column displays the maximum number of employees for a product subscription. If you have a Sage Payroll subscription, this column displays the number of employees for whom you can calculate payroll.

  Note: A count of 999 indicates that you can calculate payroll for an unlimited number of employees.

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