Sage 50 (formerly Peachtree) is a popular accounting software used by numerous small and medium sized businesses. It helps manage various financial functions including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, inventory, billing, purchasing, and more. However, users sometimes encounter different errors that hinder the performance and usability of the software.
One common error is the Sage 50 error 1618, which can prevent users from opening company files and accessing critical financial data in the system. In this article, we will provide an overview of this error, its common causes, troubleshooting methods and tips to resolve it.
What is Sage 50 Error 1618?
Sage 50 error 1618 indicates that there was a problem in opening or reading a company data file resulting in data corruption that makes the file unusable. The error message typically states:
“File Error 1618 This company data file is in an incorrect format or damaged. To continue processing, locate your most recent backup and restore it.”
The error is essentially telling you that the associated company file is damaged and cannot be accessed with its current state. But there are a number of reasons why you might encounter this error when trying to open your company file.
Common Causes of Sage 50 Error 1618
There are several common triggers for the error 1618 in Sage 50:
Power Outages During Access
A sudden system shutdown or power outage while the company file is open in Sage 50 can lead to data file corruption resulting in error 1618. Any unsaved changes would be lost while potential data damage may block accessing it.
Software Crashes or Freezes
If Sage 50 unexpectedly freezes or crashes while using a company data, it can leave the file in an unfinished process state causing the error 1618 on next attempted access.
Incomplete Updates
Problems during a software update process, anti-virus scanning, system restore etc. can also interrupt Sage 50’s access of company files leading to potential file corruption issues.
Disk Errors on Local Drive or Network
Hardware issues on local drives or mapped network drives including bad sectors can also be a trigger for data file errors including 1618 when Sage attempts to read from corrupt parts.
Permissions and Access Conflicts
Insufficient user permissions or access right conflicts for multi-user environments can potentially block software access resulting in data file corruption over time.
Failure of Validation Checks
Some company files may fail internal validation checks if there are problems with transactions, balances, accounting rules etc. resulting in error 1618.
Resolving Sage 50 Error 1618
If you encounter the error 1618 in Sage 50, here is a step-by-step process to troubleshoot and resolve it:
Step 1: Close Other Running Programs
First close any other open software applications running in the background that may potentially conflict with Sage 50 while trying to access company files. Also ensure Sage is running the latest version and updates.
Step 2: Initiate Data Verify Process
In Sage 50, go to Maintain->Verify Data to initiate the verification and repair process for detecting and fixing data file errors. The software will scan files and attempt recovery by rebuilding data tables from last known good configurations.
Step 3: Restore Most Recent Backup
If the Verify process is unable to resolve the error, you would need to restore the most Sage 50 backup for this company file to revert to a previous working version without the corruption issues. Maintaining regular backups helps mitigate risks from unrecoverable data damage.
Step 4: Import QBK File in New Company
For persistent 1618 errors unable to be fixed by Verify tool or backup restores, importing the QBK file in a newly created blank company using File->Import->Import Requests menu can isolate the data blocks causing problems in original file.
Step 5: Call Sage 50 Support
As a last resort after trying above steps, call Sage 50 dedicated technical support regarding the error 1618 for additional troubleshooting help or recovery efforts through manual data repair processes available to support staff. Discuss options to extract usable data for backup purposes if files cannot be recovered.
Also Read: Sage 50 Error 1935
Tips to Prevent Sage 50 Error 1618
While the error cannot always be prevented due to unforeseen factors, here are useful tips that can help avoid potential file corruption issues:
- Maintain uninterrupted, dedicated power supply for systems running Sage
- Use UPS backup for workstations to allow safe shutdown during outages
- Don’t ignore or delay critical updates for Sage 50 software
- Schedule regular Verify Data fixes for detecting potential problems early
- Perform periodic backups stored in multiple locations
- Avoid accessing company file from multiple locations to mitigate permission issues
- Make sure sufficient free disk space available for local/network drives
- Exclude Sage folders from any anti-virus or disk optimizer scans
Conclusion
Error 1618 usually indicates an underlying file corruption issue preventing Sage 50 from being able to access and open company data files. By trying the outlined troubleshooting sequence of Verify data repair, backup restores and starting afresh with a new company, the error can be easily resolved in most cases. Maintaining preventative measures can also minimize future instance. But for trickier cases, engaging Sage support provides access to advanced tools and techniques by experienced professionals who can help recover valuable company data.
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