You must be in single-user mode as the sysadmin user to customise for some reason.  Then others should see the customisations.

For the forms settings, each user's settings are separate per user.  Put the form in a central location where all users can see it (eg. the same location or a folder off the same location where the *.sai file is, but don't use the *.saj folder.  Then log in as each user and set up the form as User-Defined.

Thank  you.

The *.sfm invoice form is in a folder where it is accessible to anyone.

Problem: I log on as a user on  my computer or another computer, but that user does not have access to 'Customize Journal'.  That means, they cannot adjust the columns, nor access the *.sfm invoice. I could not even make a new invoice form (*.sfm), using 'sysadmin', store it on their desktop, then have them use it.

Maybe after everyone goes home, I can access with sysadmin on their computer and 'point' their SAGE to the new *.sfm file. Then, log out and log back in using 'user' account. I doubt that will work, the 'user' does not have 'Customize' access. ('Receivables' is fully accessible by the 'user' account, so I don't know why that doesn't allow 'Customize' access).

Logging onto Windows on any computer, is completely different than logging into Sage 50 as a username entered into the system.

When I set up a computer, I set up all Windows users with the same drive letter access to the same Sage 50 company files (*.sai) on the server.  All users will access the company file through Drive S:.

If the setup is done in this manner, there should be no reason the users can't see the *.sfm form so they can set it up in Setup, Reports & Forms, Invoices when they log into Sage 50 as themselves.  Each username must set up the Reports & Forms settings, sysadmin cannot set them up for the user.

Thanks. Not done yet.

I have set up users (Quantum Canada Sage 50) and they have been entering historical data. However, they are using the default Sage screen invoice presentation. I can't change that yet. Nor can they get access to the new Invoice *.sfm.

I read this U.S. Sage 50 instruction

https://support.na.sage.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=11779&sliceId=1

8. In the Reports sub-section, set Forms to Full Access

I have no clue how to access forms . See the screenshot. I even tried setting up a special 'Accounting' Role this morning.

Rereading the link, I can give access to Banking (reports) and Company (more reports) but I think I should be able to access 'Forms' there.  That is what I gather from the link.

First, forget anything about Sage 50 US (Peachtree).  It is not the same program as Sage 50 Canada (Simply Accounting), Sage 50 Accounts (England), Sage 50 South Africa (possibly the old Pastel program), etc.

Next, I gave you the path to set up the Reports & Forms and told you to log in as each user to make the changes.  Can you give us a screenshot of the Reports & Forms, Invoices screen for the username that set up the new form and one of the other users?  They should be the same.

Hi,   thanks to Richard, to whom I will reply, then review progress after a long call with Sage support.

Re: Richard's stream

1)Thanks for the 'don't look at US' information.

2)"each user's settings are separate per user."   An assumption is that a user has access to the settings. I had the users access only 'Receivables' and 'Payables' (all boxes are checked off).

Problem: When I log in as a user (Login 'Tester' in company "TEST')  I cannot access the Customize Transaction Window (greyed out...I underlined it in red below):

I'm disappointed. I assumed 'receivables' access would allow one to access a form. And, customize the screen.

3) Returning to sysadmin, "give us a screenshot of the Reports & Forms, Invoices screen for the username that set up the new form and one of the other users?

here are the screens I use as sysadmin to design sysadmin visuals onscreen invoices, and then customize invoice template (*.sfm) that I place in a special folder accessible to all users.

The sage screen is limiting # of pictures, so, here is what is in my sysadmin:

Unfortunately, these settings are not automatically pushed out to other users.

So, I can't get the user (non sysadmin) onscreen visuals set up through 1) sysadmin nor 2) through users by giving only 100% receivables access.

Sage50 Support Call results.

I talked to Sage50, and they accessed my computer remotely to discuss.

A: Onscreen visualization of invoice:

1) Save invoice template to common drive.  (*.smf)   example: Admin

2) Give the User Full Accounting Rights.

3) Access as User.

4) Open an invoice

5) Customize the onscreen view of an invoice (get rid of unused columns)

6) Preview Invoice

7) Customize

8)  Access the template.

9) Go back to sysadmin, and take away Full Accounting Rights

B: Access Form (template for invoice)

Set up an invoice, without posting it, preview the invoice, then far right 'Customize' the invoice. This allows one to get access to the customized invoice.

Alternative that I figured out: For access to customized invoice, give user full rights, then access the invoice format, then go back to sysadmin (just like for onscreen access, above) and shut down non-receivables access.

I guess this difficulty in users 'customizing' invoices protects the company from users erroneously editing, or even deleting, the customized invoice. However toggling 'full accounting rights' is raises huge concerns in my role as a Controller as the thought 'they will have access to the financials and chart of accounts' jumps immediately to mind. An accountant should be skeptical about giving liberal access to the program.

Thanks for your help. The Sage50 telephone advisor did think it should be easier. After sleeping on it, I think there should be an opportunity for the user to 'access' the invoice but not 'customize it.

I just did some testing in 2019.3 and 2020.1 because I don't know which version you are using.

You are correct, the use of sysadmin to change the column settings for subsidiary users no longer works in either version.  I don't know when or why this was changed.  Each user used to be able to change their own, then several years ago, only sysadmin could make the changes.  Now it's a big hassle, but only using the Customise Journal option.

You can still log in as any user and drag the columns closed to hide them like you can in Excel.  Just click on the column divider in the column headers and drag.

For the customised form, I was able to create a new form as sysadmin in 2019.3, then log in as a user than only has full access to Receivables (not Receipts or any other module) and access that same form on my server.

I then logged into 2020.1 as the same subsidiary user and set up the same form and was able to Preview it without any problems.  So I don't know why you were not able to do it.   Note in all this I only created the form once, I just set the path under the other users in the Reports & Forms, Invoices settings without using the Designer.

I think preview was always available. I didn't think of that. It is an indirect route. I wanted to use the customize form icon/shortcut to 1)change the user screen and 2) user access the customized form.

As good as it gets for now...thanks.

Preview is irrelevant, I only use it to prevent the waste of paper trying to find out if my template is designed the way I want it.  Besides, you sent an image above from your Preview window.

Customise Journals is not for changing the forms.  What you see on screen is not always what you will see on paper, it depends on what you need, so you customise the Forms as you need (eg. change Unit Column header to Month, etc. if you need it).

You access the forms from the menu path I gave you and based on your fourth image in the message starting with Richard's Stream.  If all your users have access to the V: drive from their computers, then there should be no problem seeing and using the same forms.