Sage MAS 90 / 200 v4.40 has opened up many new opportunities that didn't exist in earlier versions.  In earlier versions, scripts required users to click a button to activate the program.  In v4.4, a script can be attached to a specific field or function within MAS.  Here are a few examples of scripts that have been provided as samples to the partner community or that we have written for our clients:

• Environmental fees are being levied by the government.  If you need to add an environmental fee to your invoice automatically for certain products, this can be done.  In one client's case, we created a script that automatically added a line after each item that required an additional charge for an environmental fee.  No extra buttons needed to be pressed
• Calculate rebates as invoices are created.  Rebates are calculated on each line of an invoice and stored to history.  As a user changes the quantity or price, the rebate amount is updated without the user ever realizing that this is being done in the background
• Item Inquiry - Default to Quantity tab.  When selecting an item from a lookup, browsing or typing in an Item Code in Item Inquiry, this script automatically takes the user to the Quantity tab if the item already exists
• From the journal drill down screen, click on a button to create a reversing General Journal Entry that automatically reverses the debit and credit amounts.  The entry is placed in General Journal Entry and all you have to do is update it!  Yes, this did require you to press a button to invoke the script, but otherwise how would it have known you wanted to reverse it!

From time to time, we have included articles in our newsletter extolling the virtues of a good backup.  Well, here is OUR horror story!

 

For many years now, we have been backing up data from our servers to an exteral hard drive.  And from time to time, we did a test restore of some files to see that the backup was, in fact, useful!

 

What a load of crap that was.

 

On Jan 5th (I remember the day well!), I woke up to no Blackberry messages (sadly, yes, it's the first thing I do after I wake up!) and after getting to the office later that night (I had a client site to get to), I discovered that our server died.  No amount of TLC or hammers would bring it back to life.  No problem, I said.  I have a backup.

 

What I didn't have was a plan!  I needed to get a new server.  Oh, and that new server needs to have an operating system.  Let's start restoring the files.  Restore was good -- I thought I was homefree.   But, Exchange had to be reisntalled, CRM had to be reinstalled and what else did I forget.  If I had a plan, I would have known what I was missing.  Oh no, CRM doesn't work on that new operating system.  Let's install Blackberry Enterprise Manager; sorry, but we're going to have to wipe out your Blackberries.  And there is Shabnam yelling from the other room -- I can't print (like I give a rat's . . . ).  I have to say, though, that my MAS90 data was safe and recoverable within minutes!

 

Data backup is not enough.  Make sure you have thought about how you would recover from a total system crash.  If only Santa had brought a Disaster Recovery Plan for me for Christmas.