Optimizing the Performance of Sage 50 Accounting

In User Preferences, two distinct "auto-refresh" options control how quickly:

  • Record lists are displayed and updated in transaction windows
  • Transactions are posted

The following table describes the two settings and the performance risks of turning on either option:

Auto-refresh options
User Preference Notes Effect When On Effect When Off
Automatically Refresh Lists (Sage 50 Premium Accounting) Only applies to multi-user mode Sage 50 Accounting automatically checks for changes made by other users when you open a record list (such as the Select Inventory/Service dialog) in a transaction window. This check takes a little longer, but it ensures that you are always looking at the most up to date information.

If you notice a lag in performance, turn off this option.
Records added or removed by other users since you opened the transaction window are not reflected in selection lists.
Performance is optimized, but the most up to date information is not displayed.
Refresh Lists icon To update all lists in a transaction window, click the Refresh Lists toolbar button, or select Refresh Lists from the View menu.
Fast Posting (Sage 50 Quantum Accounting) Only applies to multi-user mode Transactions from simultaneous users are processed using the Sage 50 Accounting Transaction Manager. Users can receive alerts for pending or failed transactions as well as view them in the Unprocessed Transactions window.

Record balances in Home Window Lists are not updated automatically when a transaction is processed.
Transactions are processed without Fast Posting.
Automatically Refresh Record Balances Applies to both single- and multi-user modes When a transaction is processed, record balances by session date are automatically updated in affected Home Window list panes .
For example, when you sell goods to a customer:
  • Item quantity and value are updated in the Inventory list pane on the Inventory & Services page
  • Account balances are updated in the Accounts list pane on the Company page
  • The customer's balance owing is updated in the Customers list pane on the Customers & Sales page

If you have a large number of records - particularly inventory records - and process multiple transactions simultaneously (using batch processing or direct entry in a multi-user system), you may notice a delay on post as Sage 50 Accounting updates balances in all affected Home Window list panes.

If you notice a lag in performance, turn off this option.

If you have turned off Calculate Record Balances in Home Window Lists by Session Date in the user preferences, the record balances will not refresh automatically.

If you have turned on Fast Posting, the record balances will not refresh automatically either. (Sage 50 Quantum Accounting)
Home Window list panes are not updated as transactions are processed.
Refresh icon in toolbar To recalculate record balances as of the Session Date, click the Refresh button on a list pane's titlebar.