Dave

Chances are it is as simple as "you have a window open". This includes the check lists and DBM.

Before you go to Setup, click on the Close Other Windows button on the toolbar or the Close All Other Sage 50 Windows on the View Menu.

Richard
Thanks for the prompt reply. I just tried this but no luck, Company Name is still greyed out

OK, then it's possible that Mary has worked with Sage to turn her files into Sample files. I just checked Sage 50 2016.2 and Sage 50 2015.4 on the original sample file that comes with the program and I cannot edit the address info either. I can only edit the phone and fax numbers, not the Business number or any field from Country up to the top of the screen. Are your students limited to 100 entries?

Back in 2014 we could edit that information. I have to admit, I have not seen this behaviour but I always use a sample file that I have been bringing forward year after year since about 2007 for my report writing and testing. So I have not had a need to use the original files from each year. I am surprised your staff didn't see it last year and let the author/publisher know.

At present, the only real option for differentiating between student's printouts going to the same printer would be to have everyone save the report as a Template with a new name (eg. the Income Statement would be renamed Rick's Income Statement) when saving the template.

Then make sure each user turns on the option "Show My Report Name" under Setup, Reports & Forms. It's not a perfect solution because some students will forget to use the template instead of the original.

If the author is Mary, then I don't have her contact info to let her know, even if she could do something about it on the next version of her book. I guess I've only ever spoken with her at conferences and seminars.

Richard

This semester is the first time we've used v2015, that's why we haven't come across this problem until now (actually, Friday past).

After talking to the instructor she did tell me that one of her students did hit the 100 entry limit. I've suggested to her that she should contact her Pearson Rep and make them aware of the issue just to see if some solution could be provided before Sept when we'll have a much larger volume of students working on v2015.

Thanks for the template suggestion as a work-around; I'll suggest it to the instructor and, against all of the other available options, I'm sure this will work fine until we can come up with another solution.

Thanks
Dave

Hi everyone
I write the text and create data files using the same release as the one in the student version to maximize compatibility. For 2015, that was release 0.
It seems that a number of instructors are now having the same issues.I have learned that the restrictions you are encountering are those in sample files, but I do not know why the data files would be converted to sample files.
Last week I reinstalled the student version of Sage 50 2015 (release 0) on my PC and was able to change the company name and did not encounter the 100 transactions limit with the data files.
One factor seems to be common to all - you are working with a later release of the program. Is that correct? I cannot say what happens to the data file in that situation. This is why I recommend using the same version as the textbook is based on, that is not installing program updates. I do not use the student version to create data files, so no restrictions will be imposed for that reason.
I am surprised and discouraged by what is happening, and sincerely wish I could offer an explanation and solution.
Mary Purbhoo
Author of Using Sage 50 (Pearson)

Hi Richard
I posted my own response to these below... but it seems that the problem occurs when the version of Sage 50 is later than the one used to create the data files. Since I do not update the program myself beyond that for the student version (release 0) I am unable to confirm this. When I open the 2015 files with version 2016.2, Accountant Edition I can change the company name, but that version does behave differently. If I have time, I will uninstall this and try with Permium 2016, different releases.

Hi Mary,

I was wondering about the different versions. I know the program has a sample file limit of 100 entries in the current universl files. I don't know exactly which version that was introduced but it could have been part way through 2015. I spoke with someone at Sage and apparently there have been a number of people thinking the universl file was the best way to start a new company file, and just continue to use it. So they put in the limits. Caused me some problems with the files I use as well, but I worked around it.

If you want, I can have a look at one of your originals and see if they have been marked as samples and how it upgrades with the regular AE version however, if they get turned into sample files, that might only happen when opening with and upgrading with the Student version. Maybe the OP (DaveB) would send me one of the files that they have used as well and I can take a look at it. If you don't have my email address, just click my name in this thread and you will get one that will come to me.

Hope this helps

using the accountant's edition - I just opened a sample file, made a copy of it in another folder (to set up a client demo), and it won't let me change the company name - Is this inherent to a sample file ?

Roger,

Yes, it is for sample files only.

It has taken a lot of digging, but I have finally learned why the data files are being converted to Sample Data and I can fix them. I will post a revised set of data files this summer on the instructor's web site. These will be premium backup files that can be opened, updated and modified as required with versions of Sage 50 later that 2015.0. I will let you know here when this has been completed, and where to find the files for downloading.
Regards to all, and thank you for choosing my text.
Mary Purbhoo

I have posted a revised data set to accompany my 2015 text. These data files will open normally when using a version of Sage 50 higher than 2015.0. Users will be able to change company information and enter more than 99 transactions.

You can download the zipped backup files (Revised Data Sets) from the Pearson resource catalogue for instructors. They are located with the resources for the text: Using Sage 50 Accounting 2015 under the Premium Version Solutions entry. The Zipped file also includes a PDF instruction file.

If you need to access this site or if you have any questions, you can contact me through your Pearson sales rep.

Thank you for your patience.

Regards

Mary Purbhoo

Author, Using Sage 50 Accounting 2015

PS My 2016 text will be available soon