“I’ll connect you now…Part 2” by Mauro Azzano

2 minute read time.

A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore. –Yogi Berra

Some of the changes to Sage 50 for 2016 have been subtle: Sage One has been added to the “File” menu, to complement the “Sage Drive” added to the 2015 program.

Functionality is relatively unchanged, as the 2015.3 is a stable basis for the program.

The EFT software which interacts with Sage has been left virtually untouched, as well. That said, there are many who still do not understand the operation of the EFT program.

EFT draws data out of the Sage program, to generate a data file which is sent to a bank for processing. Sending A/P or payroll data to the bank will draw money out of the company account, while submitting an accounts receivable file will obviously place money into the company’s account. This part of the process is well-understood. However, the EFT program does not automatically generate the data file, nor does it do the payroll calculation itself.

All it does is extract the information for payroll (or receivables or payables) when the user tells it to generate a file. When that file is generated, the user sends it to his bank, and the bank uses the imbedded data to extract money from, or pay money to, the user’s account.

One quick note; as Sage users upgrade to the 2016 version of the software some are forgetting to upgrade the EFT to the 2016 version as well.

If Sage 2016 is installed, but the EFT is still the 2015 version, then when users open the EFT program an error message pops up asking them to enter a user name and password, even if there isn’t one on the Sage company file.

The quick and easy solution to this is to install EFT 2016. The first time it is opened, it will say ‘EFT 2016’ on the front splash screen, and then give the same error. This is normal. After that, open the company maintenance window. The path for the Sage 50 company will be there, and the EFT will say ‘Version 2015’ below that.

Choose the pull-down arrow to change the EFT version to 2016. The Sage company path will go blank. Use the browse button to the right of that line to find the Sage 50 company file again, and press OK. The file path and below it the company name will populate, and the EFT will work normally again.

As always, if you are unsure of the steps or encounter a problem, call us for assistance.

Solution to last post’s puzzle. The puzzle was a mathematical one:

QUESTION: There are 100 passengers getting onto an airplane. The first passenger has lost his boarding pass, so he sits in a random seat. The flight attendant instructs the other 99 passengers to board, one at a time, and take their own seat, or if it’s already taken, take another random seat. You are the 100th passenger to board. What are the odds that your seat will be empty?

ANSWER: 50%. Here’s how it works. If there were only two seats on the plane, the first person sits in either his seat or yours. 50% chance.

Assume there are 4 seats, and the passengers, numbered 1,2,3, and 4, have seats with their respective numbers. Passenger 1 has lost his pass. He sits in seat 3. Passenger 2 goes on next, and takes his seat, seat 2. Passenger 3 gets on, but seat 3 is taken. His choice is either seat 1, or your seat, seat 4.  Again, you have a 50% chance of getting your seat. The same holds true for any number of passengers greater than 1. Neat!

  • Imagine instead that you have the same issue, only on a three passenger airplane.  The ticketless guy gets on the plane and sits down in one of three available seats.  

    Another passenger comes in the door, looks at his ticket, and takes one of the two empty seats.

    Now that there are two 'unknown' seats, and 'ticketless guy' is in one of them, what are the odds that he is now in the correct seat?

    The answer is not intuitive!  

    (as a hint, Goggle the 'Monte Hall Problem').  

    Randy