ARCHIVED:Error: "Cannot open the company file. The company file may not be available in the directory, please check the path." when opening a data file.

CAUTION: Use caution when working with the below product functionality. Always create a backup of your data before proceeding with advanced solutions. If necessary, seek the assistance of a qualified Sage business partner, network administrator, or Sage customer support analyst.

Solution 1:

1. Find the file location and make sure .SAJ folder and .SAI file are named with the exact same name: Example: New.SAJ & New.SAI.
2. If the .SAI file is missing, recreate the icon file (.SAI) by following article 12776: Can't locate company file icon in data location (Missing SAI).
3. If the .SAJ folder is missing:
   • If you are using Windows Vista or 7, it could be possible to bring back the missing SAJ folder by following Microsoft's instructions: Previous versions of files: frequently asked questions.
   • If If you are using Windows 8, it could be possible to bring back the missing SAJ folder by following Microsoft's instructions: Restore files or folders using File History.
4. If you cannot complete Solution 1, go to Solution 2.

Solution 2:

Please make sure that you are using the correct version to open the data file. You will encounter the error message when opening a 2013 file with an older previous version or when opening a 2013.3 file with Sage 50 2013.1 (a 2013 with no update installed).

Here is a way to verify the file version:

• Windows Vista/7/8
• 1. Open .SAI in Notepad
  2. It will show the product name and version number
     • Version number is in the 5-digit code format. For example, Sage 50 2014 release 2 is 21201

Solution 3:

If Solution 2 does not fix the issue, please use the following steps:

1. Make sure you have both the .SAI (the 1 KB icon file) file and .SAJ folder existing in the same directory. Inside the SAJ folder:
   • For Sage 50 2013 files (and prior versions up to Simply Accounting 2008):
     • You should have two folders:
       • mysql (this folder should have 54 files in it. If some files are missing, it could result in the given error message)
       • simply
     • A notepad text file:
       • errorlog.txt
     • And some blank files:
       • ib_logfile0
       • ib_logfile1
       • ibdata1
   • For Sage 50 2014 files (and beyond):
     • You should have three folders:
       • mysql (this folder should have 80 files in it. If some files are missing, it could result in the given error message)
       • performance_schema (generally 53 files)
       • simply
     • A notepad text file:
       • errorlog.txt
       • Other text files might be present as well
     • A cnf file:
       • auto.cnf
     • And some blank files:
       • ib_logfile0
       • ib_logfile1
       • ibdata1
2. Create a copy of the original SAJ folder.
3. Find a most recent backup of your file for the current year.
4. Make a test folder under the C: drive.
5. Restore the backup you found in the test folder under the C: drive.
6. Select and Copy all of the files inside of the SAJ\simply folder from the backup you restored in the test folder under the C: drive.
7. Once these files are copied then paste them into your current working SAJ\simply folder.
8. Windows should prompt you to overwrite these files and click Yes to all files.
9. Then try to open your current data file.
10. If it doesn't open then you will have to work from the backup copy that you restored in the test folder under the C: drive.

To open the copy in the test folder under the C: drive do the following:

1. Launch the program.
2. Select Selecting an Existing Company (If this option is not available then you should already be at the Open Company window).
3. After clicking OK, the Open Company window appears.
4. Browse to C: drive and select the test folder.
5. Choose the company file listed and click Open.
6. Once you have opened this file, you can then use the Save as command and save it back to your original location.

Solution 4: Permissions have changed

1. Update the folder permission to make sure user has access to the server and/or company folder

Solution 5: Restore from backup

1. To restore the latest backup see KB 38081 DocLink: How to restore from a backup

DocLink: Product update is not downloading or running
DocLink: Can't locate company file icon in data location (Missing SAI)