Support Hub

 The Sage Simply Accounting community forum will not load properly on some new internet browsers.  We have encountered users posting blank posts when using internet explorer 8.0 and above.  To get around this issue, run the forum in ‘Compatibility Mode’.

To run the forum in Compatibility Mode, click on the button in your address bar that looks like a torn piece of paper.   

To read more about this issue, go to this Microsoft link about IE 9.0 and compatibility mode. 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/why-do-some-webpages-look-incorrect-in-internet-explorer-9.

Until next time, happy accounting.

Check out our installation page for helpful videos walking you through installing and converting your data file.  Find the page at http://www.simplyaccounting.com/supportTraining/support_resources/howtovideos.

Until next time, happy accounting! 

Hello and happy friday to the Simply Accounting community.

The 2012 program is now here and includes some great new features such as a completely new payroll module.  As usual, our busy season is not far behind the new program release..  Many users think that they must wait until the 2012 calendar year starts in order to install the new 2012 program, but this is not the case.  As a result, our office becomes extremely busy around the year-end and start of the new year.  It's highly advised that users who have received their 2012 program email take the opportunity if possible to install and use the new program now and avoid the rush if there are any installation issues or questions about the new program's functionality.

Additionally it's not necessary to wait until your company has closed it's 2011 fiscal year cycle to install the new 2012 program.  Your data file will be converted up to the new program format once opened in the new 2012 install, but your data file will remain in the date it's been left at.  Starting the new fiscal year is an entirely separate process (from the Maintenance menu, Start New Year).  You can visit our special website for year-end help here.

Take care and happy accouting to all!

-Alec B.

Sage Simply Accounting 2012 has changed the way the Payroll Cheque Run runs.  View Sage Simply Accounting 2012 payroll cheque run on Youtube for a video explaining all the changes. 

Until next time, happy accounting! 

Happy Friday to the Simply Accounting Community!

Another Partnership conference has come.. and gone.  Thanks to all the partners who came out to participate!  Simply Accounting leadership always enjoys meeting all the partners and new faces, and this year was no exception.

We also enjoyed welcoming the new product vendors to the fold with great additions to the Simply-related family.  As a cap to the conference, 'Prom night' was a great and fun success!

The Simply team is now gearing up for the 2012 product launch to hit the public release, and look forward to all the excitement which will surely result now that users can void or adjust remittance payments (along with some other great new features..)!

Take care and enjoy your weekend,

Alec B.

Hello and happy friday to our Simply Accounting users and community!

Today we'll be closing the support office a few hours earlier than normal at 2PM Pacific time so that we can spend a little time together as a team in celebration and anticipation of the impending 2012 program release.  Every year the 'launch' is a little different, but this year will include 'cosmic' bowling and some fun contests with all ranges of Simply Accounting staff.

Look for exciting new features in the 2012 program including completely revamped Payroll and Payroll Cheque Run windows as well as an updated Remittance function which now includes the ability to adjust or reverse a remittance payment.

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

-Alec B.

As the season changes and summer ends and autumn begins, here at Sage we only think of one thing; new product release.  Installations can cause customers headaches but we at Sage are always ready to give you a hand and we have a plethora of options where you can get all the help you need to smooth your installation process.

For help downloading, installing, registering, activating and converting your data, we have a series of videos set up for you.  Go to our 'Sage Simply Accounting How To Videos' page to watch the videos.  You can find these videos at the SageSimplyAccounting Youtube channel at this link.

You can also find tips on installation in our installation FAQ.  Our installation FAQ should be able to answer most of the issues you may encounter during installation.

The knowledgebase article '260-25572 - How do I install Sage Simply Accounting?' will also give a step by step walkthrough on how to install the 2012 program. 

And if you run into any issues, our support department is able to help you at any point in your installation. 

Until next time, happy accounting!

Hola,

Good day and happy friday to our Simply Accounting community.

Since we've had a few calls recently with clients leaving their data files on USB keys or a 'dropbox' while making their postings, I thought it would be a good idea to briefly discuss the implications of doing so.  Generally, this is not recommended.

We advise opening a Simply Accounting data file from your own computers hard-drive, or from a network stored location.  Simply Accounting needs to have fast and free access to the data file storing the information on the company you're working with/on.  There is no 'save' before you close a file, as with Word or other programs.  Postings and updates to the data occur in real-time as the user moves through the program entering data and 'posting'.

Communication to a USB key or especially to an online 'dropbox' can be interrupted by other computer processes or internet service hiccups.  For this reason it's best to have the file opened locally or on a local network, make entries as needed, then transfer to USB or online storage.  Backups should also be made in the same way.

Here's hoping that the rest of the Country and our foreign users have the same fantastic weather we're having in the Vancouver area this weekend!

Take care and happy accounting!  - Alec B.

Hello and happy friday to our Simply community!

Today i'd like to clear up any confusion regarding our Technical Support plan options.  The options are now fairly varied and tailored to fit the different needs of different groups, whether that be purely Payroll auto-calculations, someone who just needs technical help and is happy using online 'chat' service only, or those who need all the bells and whistles with Payroll and full phone-in support.

As always, product updates (corrections to the program) are free for all users of current versions (2010 and 2011 at the moment), Payroll tax table updates are included only in the plans that include Payroll.

All support plan options also come with a copy of next years program included in the price.

Bronze - Unlimited Chat Support, Unlimited Online Tickets (processed through our Customer Portal), $50 e-coupon for Sage University as well as 30 days access to the 'Essentials' online course.

Silver - All Bronze benefits as well as 12-month access to the 'Essentials' online course, unlimited Telephone Support sessions, Remote-Access help option when using the phone support (an agent can remote-connect to your machine to make troubleshooting and correction easier and quicker), Sage HR Manager, 25% off when ordering cheques/forms.

Payroll Support - Payroll tax table updates and unlocks the payroll Auto-Calculation option in the program, unlocks the T4/RL-1/ROE reports in the program for paper or electronic filing, 12-month access to 'Essentials' online course, $50 e-coupon for Sage University.

Gold - All Silver benefits, all Payroll Support benefits, $100 e-coupon for Sage U. in place of the $50 coupon, 15% off Sage Simply Accounting Intelligence (reporting add-on), EFT included free in this plan, waived setup fee for Sage Direct Payments or Credit Card processing options.

I hope that this information makes the support plan options a bit clearer for our users.  Feel free to discuss pricing and signup with any Support Agent over phone or chat during your next contact, or reach the sales team directly when calling in.

Take care and enjoy the long weekend for those that have it!

 Sage Simply Accounting has changed the way it handles your phone calls to help eliminate wait time during busy times.  We understand how you, a business person, hate waiting on hold for what normally is a quick question.  We have recently implented a phone tiering system that has allowed us to cut down our hold times significantly.

The basis of the system is that most questions about Sage Simply Accounting can be answered quickly by our trained technicians.  However some issues do require a significantly larger time commitment to solve.  If the answer to your question is quick, you get your issue solved quickly. 

If your issue is more lenghty, you will get transferred to an agent with experience and expertise in issues of that type.  This does lead to more transfers from one agent to another but most of the time you'll get your issue solved quickly or you'll reach someone with the tools to fix your issue. 

The users with common issues with quick solutions are helped quickly while more time intensive issues are handled by experts in our call center.  This insures both speed and quality of care and support. 

Until next time, happy accounting.

Good day to the Simply Community!

As I mentioned in a recent blog, this years Simply Partnership Conference is getting closer.  The main conference running from Sept. 22-24th (with pre-conference 20-21st) will start off with a welcome session and breakfast, then head right to the first keynote speaker, followed by improved 'Breakout Sessions' and other great content.  Take a look at the special 2011 Simply Partnership website here.

Touching-base on another ongoing project, Harry C. and myself have been working to get more YouTube instructional videos put together and uploaded for our users soon.  Recently a 'how to install the Simply Accounting program update' video was put online for the benefit and ease of use of all our users, and we will be following this up with another video on different backups options and how to properly restore them in the program and further content soon.  Watch for new content on our YouTube channel here.

Happy monday all! -Alec B.

General Journal

Need to post a journal entry into Sage Simply Accounting first step?  Click on Tools > for my accountant > general journal to post a manual journal entry into your books.

History Mode

Sage Simply Accounting First Step does not allow you to set the opening balances for your chart of account.  To enter in an opening balance, simply do a journal entry in the general journal.

Until next time, happy accounting.

Hello to our Simply Accounting community!

Many of you already know that our Simply Partnership 2011 event is next month, but did you know that you can still get the 'Early Bird' price of $349/person?  Email Emilia.iacob@sage.com to sign up for the Partnership Conference at the extended, lower price.  The price includes attendance at the conference, plus 3 meals/day for Thur and Fri, with Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday (price does not include hotel stay).  This year the conference is being held in Las Vegas, so there is much opportunity for cheap or discounted travel and accomodations to the location as always with Las Vegas.

Some of the event highlights include: 'Deep-Diving Sessions', Networking Events, a 'Support Centre' onsite, Ideascope for product feedback, 'Trade Show' for our many talented 'add-on' vendors, as well as an Awards Luncheon and others..  Take a look at the Simply Partnership Website for more details on the conference.

This will be final 'stand-alone' Simply Partnership conference, so don't miss this opportunity to get a great deal on it!

Happy Friday to all, and to those in B.C., enjoy your long weekend!

Yours, Alec B.

Hello and happy Friday to our Simply community!

Today i'd like to announce that we are currently putting the finishing touches on our new Forum/Community site!  Have no fear, the new site will be much like the old and so should be easy to navigate and use.  All existing login information, forum postings, blogs etc. will remain the same and will be 'imported' into the new setup.

Some new features will make the Community site easier to use and more stable.  I have noticed that some users are also having issues with posting 'blank' forum questions, if so please take a look at this link for help with running Internet Explorer in 'compatibility mode'.

We'll be updating the Forum/Community to the new format in the next few months, so stay tuned for the changes!

Have a happy weekend, and if you're in an area experience a 'heat wave', stay cool or come visit B.C. for awhile..

Alec B.

Two tips for display issues

A common issue for users of Sage Simply Accounting to call into the support line is because their transaction windows are displaying incorrectly.  These three easy fixes will fix the vast majority of your display issues.

1)  You do not see columns in your entry windows

If you run into a case where you cannot see the columns in your transaction windows, click on View > restore window to make the columns appear.  The 'Restore Window' function will set the window back to it's default settings.

2) Your transaction window is off the screen:

If the transaction window is off the the screen, try to move the window back into view manually.  Right click the window in your task bar and click on move.  Your mouse arrow will become a compass arrow.  Press the up key on your keyboard to bring the window back into view.

Hopefully these two easy fixes will save you time and save you a call to our support line.

Until next time, happy accounting!