Banksno925 said:

Not sure what you mean by data base in single user mode.

The Sage 50 Company File is a data base.  The option is in the File menu.  Having everyone but one logged out is not 'single user mode', you have to go and change it.

If the database is in 'multi-user mode', backups and most list changes are locked out - even if there is only one person logged in.   And other logins are prevented.

Single User Mode prevents other access to the database.  For analogy, there's a hood switch on our car that prevents the remote start from firing up the engine during an oil change, or when fingers might be near the pulleys.

Remember to put the database back in multi-user mode, or to close Sage 50 before you leave.  I've made it a habit to hit the restart button after the backup, and before I leave.

Banksno925 said:

They say because the service items have been used on invoices it can't be done

I just tested this with version 2017.1 Quantum, in the sample company - Created a new (Service) item, put some on a purchase invoice, put some on a sales invoice, then tried to convert from a service item to an inventory item. 

It could, in fact, be done:

I was surprised to hear that you're having difficulty with this, because we've literally done this thousands of times, Joanne, do you know if this is a difference between the Premium and the Quantum versions?

I'm no longer a Sage Partner, so I don't have all the Editions to test with.

I also tries setting the item up as a Service 'Activity' and could still change the item into an inventory item.  I could not make it *not* work in the Quantum Edition.

Randy

Randy

There are many variables which can play out in Sage 50 with regards to services and inventory. It does make a difference if the version is Premium or Quantum to the services being greyed out. The variable in play from my further testing be it Premium or Quantum is the use of the Service in Time and Billing. As soon as a Service with Activity (Time & Billing) activated and has been used in a time slip the Service will be greyed out and cannot be changed to an Inventory Item. Please see screen shot.  I am in single user mode and all windows are closed etc etc.. 

Therefore if a service has not been used in a Time Slip then it should be easily changed to an Inventory Item if you are using Quantum version, and from my brief testing it cannot be changed in Premium.

Version 2017.1

I hope this clarifies things a bit more.

Have someone test it first for you Neil before you upgrade to Quantum...there is technically no downgrade. Also there is a price difference - Quantum starts as a 5 User license. Based on my brief testing yes it should work but needs to be thoroughly tested first!

The Software Coach said:

It does make a difference if the version is Premium or Quantum to the services being greyed out.

Did you mean 'it does NOT make a difference' ?

The Software Coach said:

be it Premium or Quantum

The Software Coach said:

As soon as a Service with Activity (Time & Billing) activated and has been used in a time slip the Service will be greyed out and cannot be changed to an Inventory Item.

The Software Coach said:

if a service has not been used in a Time Slip then it should be easily changed to an Inventory Item if you are using Quantum version

I can confirm that if a Service, Activity item has been used in a time slip in Quantum, it can NOT be changed to an Inventory item, there would be no point in converting to Quantum (other than some additional features that you may find useful)

Your best option is to export your inventory and price lists, rework the item names, then import the ones you want to have as inventory items.

Be aware that you will not be able to put any non-Activity items on a time slip.  Recording Materials and Labour from a single field document onto a single electronic document is something that most everyone doing Field Service would like to do, possibly it was set up this way because getting the bills out was a higher priority than tracking inventory. 

Randy