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• # 122538
• Sun 20 Aug 2023 11:12 AM

Hi all,

I just started the A3 unit and decided against Sage Business Cloud as it is based in Ireland and, as I understand it, this may create issues with the practice company given in the textbook.

I have started a free trial with Sage Accounting Start software and have come up against a problem of not being able to create opening balances for individual contacts as per chapter 3 of the A3 book.  The only option available is the opening balances for categories.

To save some time I am asking for some up to date information on the software best matched to the A3 part of the course.

Thank you.

Edit:

I have decided on Sage50 in order to ensure functionality which leaves me looking at what the A3 textbook requests, then using Youtube tutorial videos to then be able to replicate the same function with Sage50.  This takes time.  In fact it crossed my mind to look for a Sage50 course in order to speed up my learning process.

This raises the question - why did I pay £54.00 for an educational textbook that is now basically defunct, to the point where I am considering taking a different course in order to learn software to complete the outcomes of the A3 book and pass the A3 exam?

This is slowing my progress down significantly.

If I haven't had any sufficient guidance on this issue within the next few days I will probably request a refund for the A3 book which will raise questions on the sense of being a paying member/student of ICB in the first place.

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• # 122540
• Wed 23 Aug 2023 09:09 AM

Darn81 said:

“

Hi all,

I just started the A3 unit and decided against Sage Business Cloud as it is based in Ireland and, as I understand it, this may create issues with the practice company given in the textbook.

I have started a free trial with Sage Accounting Start software and have come up against a problem of not being able to create opening balances for individual contacts as per chapter 3 of the A3 book.  The only option available is the opening balances for categories.

To save some time I am asking for some up to date information on the software best matched to the A3 part of the course.

Thank you.

 

Edit:

I have decided on Sage50 in order to ensure functionality which leaves me looking at what the A3 textbook requests, then using Youtube tutorial videos to then be able to replicate the same function with Sage50.  This takes time.  In fact it crossed my mind to look for a Sage50 course in order to speed up my learning process.

This raises the question - why did I pay £54.00 for an educational textbook that is now basically defunct, to the point where I am considering taking a different course in order to learn software to complete the outcomes of the A3 book and pass the A3 exam?

This is slowing my progress down significantly.

If I haven't had any sufficient guidance on this issue within the next few days I will probably request a refund for the A3 book which will raise questions on the sense of being a paying member/student of ICB in the first place.

Edited at 22 Aug 2023 10:39 AM GMT”

 I alos ran up against ths issue and rang and spoke to SAGE.   This also applied to something else but I cant rememebr what it was. 

Apparently you need the highest version to be able to follow the course fully so I switched to this.  However you get one month free and if you cancel within that month it doesn't cost you anything.  Having just heard that I have passed the module I will now cancel the subscription - the man at SAGE seem to assume that's what all students will be doing.

When I took the exam you actually oinly needed to put straightforward balances in rather than the detailed ones in the training.

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• # 122541
• Wed 23 Aug 2023 01:50 PM

Hi

Yes, I also ran into this issue recently.

I spoke to Sage, and because I was on the lowest level of the package (Sage Start), which I didn't know, there's no capability for entering opening balances on customers/suppliers. They upgraded me to the next verision, still on the free trial.

Slightly further on, I ran into another issue when trying to add stock items. The package I had been upgraded to didn't include the stock module. I upgraded to the Sage Premium package (I did this myself throughmy online account). I'm still under the free trial, but the monthly cost is quite high, so I'll be cancelling before I hit the 30 day limit.

I've just finished the workbook and am about to book the exam, and I've had no further issues from a software point of view.

In summary, you don't need Sage 50, just the Sage Cloud on the premium package free trial. It mirrors the textbook exactly.

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• # 122545
• Fri 25 Aug 2023 03:29 PM

JoyTaylor1 said:

“

Darn81 said:

“

Hi all,

I just started the A3 unit and decided against Sage Business Cloud as it is based in Ireland and, as I understand it, this may create issues with the practice company given in the textbook.

I have started a free trial with Sage Accounting Start software and have come up against a problem of not being able to create opening balances for individual contacts as per chapter 3 of the A3 book.  The only option available is the opening balances for categories.

To save some time I am asking for some up to date information on the software best matched to the A3 part of the course.

Thank you.

 

Edit:

I have decided on Sage50 in order to ensure functionality which leaves me looking at what the A3 textbook requests, then using Youtube tutorial videos to then be able to replicate the same function with Sage50.  This takes time.  In fact it crossed my mind to look for a Sage50 course in order to speed up my learning process.

This raises the question - why did I pay £54.00 for an educational textbook that is now basically defunct, to the point where I am considering taking a different course in order to learn software to complete the outcomes of the A3 book and pass the A3 exam?

This is slowing my progress down significantly.

If I haven't had any sufficient guidance on this issue within the next few days I will probably request a refund for the A3 book which will raise questions on the sense of being a paying member/student of ICB in the first place.

Edited at 22 Aug 2023 10:39 AM GMT”

---

 I alos ran up against ths issue and rang and spoke to SAGE.   This also applied to something else but I cant rememebr what it was. 

Apparently you need the highest version to be able to follow the course fully so I switched to this.  However you get one month free and if you cancel within that month it doesn't cost you anything.  Having just heard that I have passed the module I will now cancel the subscription - the man at SAGE seem to assume that's what all students will be doing.

When I took the exam you actually oinly needed to put straightforward balances in rather than the detailed ones in the training.

”

 Thanks for the reply.  Very helpful of you.  I seem to have sorted out the issue by doing as you have said.

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• # 122546
• Fri 25 Aug 2023 03:30 PM

Leish09 said:

“

Hi

Yes, I also ran into this issue recently.

I spoke to Sage, and because I was on the lowest level of the package (Sage Start), which I didn't know, there's no capability for entering opening balances on customers/suppliers. They upgraded me to the next verision, still on the free trial.

Slightly further on, I ran into another issue when trying to add stock items. The package I had been upgraded to didn't include the stock module. I upgraded to the Sage Premium package (I did this myself throughmy online account). I'm still under the free trial, but the monthly cost is quite high, so I'll be cancelling before I hit the 30 day limit.

I've just finished the workbook and am about to book the exam, and I've had no further issues from a software point of view.

In summary, you don't need Sage 50, just the Sage Cloud on the premium package free trial. It mirrors the textbook exactly.

”

 Thank you very much.  Your reply helped and I'm now progressing.

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