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INTERNAL: Unable to convert data to a newer version of Sage 50

Created on  | Last modified on 

Summary

Analyst guidance on troubleshooting Sage 50 Accounting conversion issues.

Resolution

CAUTION:

Don't link this article to support cases. Link to the exact customer error message instead.

 Disable antivirus and firewall

  1. Disable the real-time scanner (Examples: Windows Defender; McAfee), then try to convert the file.
  2. Disable the antivirus, then try to convert the file.
  3. If the conversion fails, disable the firewall also and try the conversion again.
  4. If the conversion fails again, try to open the sample company.

Incomplete install

  1. If you can't open the sample company in the newer version, your installation is incomplete.
  2. Uninstall Sage 50.
  3. Disable your antivirus and firewall.
  4. Install Sage 50.

Check the content of the SAJ folder

  1. Locate the SAJ folder.
  2. Open the SAJ folder and verify the contents.
  3. If you find duplicate or extra files, remove them.
    • The SAJ folder looks like this before conversion:
      An example of the SAJ folder.

Convert sample company in older version to newer version

Verify if you can convert the sample company in the older version to the newer version. If it fails, the issue is environmental

Reinstall MySQL connectors

  1. Go to Start, Control Panel, Programs and Features.
  2. Uninstall MySQL Connector/ODBC 3.51 and MySQL Connector/ODBC 5.2(a).
  3. Reinstall the MySQL Connectors (C:\Sage\Sage 50 Accounting Installer Files XXX\BIN\MySQLODBC\).
  4. Reboot the computer.
  5. Try to open your company files again.

Convert a backup of your data

  1. Copy the SAJ and SAI of the automatic backup created before the conversion to the desktop and try again.
  2. Follow Where are the Sage 50 automatic backups located?
  3. If step 1 fails, restore from an older backup.
  4. If you're able to convert the backup to the new version, use that file as the current data file.
  5. Re-enter the transactions to bring your data up to date.
  6. If the backup is too old or the backup won’t convert either, proceed to the next section.

Data in SAI and SAJ format

  1. Right-click the SAI file and SAJ folder > Properties, to check if they’re marked as hidden.
    The SAJ properties window.
  2. If they aren’t hidden, open the file in its original version of Sage 50 or Simply Accounting.
  3. If you need to reinstall the old version, install it to C:\Program Files\simold.
  4. Create a backup of your data named Backup before conversion.
  5. Click Setup > User Preferences and in the View options enable all modules.
    • If the Project module doesn't have a name, select Setup > Settings and change the name to Project
  6. Click Maintenance, Clear data.
  7. Clear Invoice Lookup, Inventory Tracking, Tax Reports, and Paid Transactions until two years ago.
  8. Click Maintenance > Advanced Database Check, and then click Yes.
  9. Click File > Properties, and then write down the file location and name.
  10. Close your old version of Sage 50 or Simply Accounting.
  11. Open the Sage 50 - Database utilities by clicking Sage_SA_dbutil.exe application located under C:\Program Files\Sage 50.
  12. Click Browse and change the Files of type option at the bottom of this screen by All Files.
  13. Then browse to the location of your file.
  14. Select and enable all four actions to perform, and then click OK.
  15. If the data file is password protected, enter the sysadmin password.
  16. You'll see a message saying "Your tasks are complete", and then close the Database utilities.
  17. Open the file in the new version of Sage 50, and try the conversion.