Importing/Exporting SAGE format

Why does Sage not allow you to export accounts/data for previous versions? Example: I have Simply 2013, Client is 2012. Why can't I export accounts, customers, vendors in sage format .txt files to import to 2012 without having a conflict of versions? Better yet, why doesn't SAGE allow you to save your company in previous version formats so the company data can be used in previous versions?

I tried to export my company accounts in sage file format  from version 2013 to import to version 2012....and I received an error because of conflict of versions! There should not be a conflict!

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  • 0

    It's probably not well explained in the online help, the version number on the first line of the exported file is a minimum requirement for the program opening the file.  

    To change the minimum version required to open the file, open the file with Notepad or some other plain-text editor, and change the '20' at the start of the line, to '18', you will have changed it from the 2013 version to a 2011 version.  You can probably just change it to '12'

    For example, The start of the 2014.2 ACCOUNTS export from the sample file looks like this (2014's version number 21xxx is one year newer than a 2013, 20xxx:)

    21001,1,Accounts

    10000,"Current Assets",H,"","CAD",,"Actif a court terme",

    10200,"Cash to be deposited",A,"Cash","CAD",1001,"Comptant à déposer",

    10300,"Cash Draws",A,"Cash","CAD",1001,"Retrait en espèces",

    If you change the first line to:

    12001,1,Accounts

    it will be a 2006 and later file, and will import into the any release 2006 and later.

    You are responsible for being certain that the data exported from the 2013 version is compatible with the 2012 version.   It shouldn't be a problem, I don't know of any import / export changes to basic ledger data since 2006.  The export / import functionality is pretty old-school, so it's a little unfriendly to use, and by today's standards there aren't helpful error messages.   But it should work.

    ***  Back up your data before importing. ***

    See also the 2006 Advanced Topics manual on this page:

    na.sage.com/.../past-guides-and-manuals

  • 0 in reply to RandyW

    I tried what you said to try. Here is what happened,  I was able to import the vendors/customers/accounts. The accounts import only added accounts that were not being used, the accounts where the name was changed did not change. No dollar amount transferred with the accounts.

    Also, I would like to know why I cannot create from backup or file, my accounts done in Simply Accounting 2010 premium to Simply Accounting (SAGE 50) 2012 Pro?  It says I can't because the version was a premium version! What happens if I decide I do not want to keep purchasing a premium program every year..I want to just go to pro...that means that all of my accounts prior to the 2012 Pro are useless because I cannot bring them into newer Pro program? ...Does this mean I have to keep every version, not only every year, but the Pro, the Premium etc for clients? Does this mean I have no choice but to keep updating to a premium program If I want to open my files? This is nuts!

  • 0 in reply to Tacodog

    You can upgrade previous years of Pro to a newer version and ditto for Premium. You can't at this time go from previous/current years of Premium backward to any versions of Pro. It's like taking a BMW engine (data) out of a BMW (Premium) and trying to fit it into a Volkswagon Bug (Pro).

    You talked about clients - do you have more than one client that you do work for? If so perhaps the Accountant Edition is better for you. You can open different version of Sage 50 into Act Edition - keep in mind tho that all version has to be same year as Acct Edition. I have kept all my year versions of Acct Edition and am able to open any versions of Sage 50 whether it be Pro, Premium, Or Quantum/Enterprise.

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  • 0 in reply to Tacodog

    You can upgrade previous years of Pro to a newer version and ditto for Premium. You can't at this time go from previous/current years of Premium backward to any versions of Pro. It's like taking a BMW engine (data) out of a BMW (Premium) and trying to fit it into a Volkswagon Bug (Pro).

    You talked about clients - do you have more than one client that you do work for? If so perhaps the Accountant Edition is better for you. You can open different version of Sage 50 into Act Edition - keep in mind tho that all version has to be same year as Acct Edition. I have kept all my year versions of Acct Edition and am able to open any versions of Sage 50 whether it be Pro, Premium, Or Quantum/Enterprise.

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