This document includes enhancements and modifications in Sage Abra SQL HRMS version 10.0.

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1 Release Notes Product: Sage Abra SQL HRMS Version: 10.0 Overview This document includes enhancements and modifications in Sage Abra SQL HRMS version You will need the following to install and learn about the enhancements and modifications included in version 10.0 DVD. Sage Abra SQL HRMS version 10.0 Crystal Reports version 2008 Abra Workforce Connections, version 10.0 (only if you are currently using Abra Workforce Connections) Installation Instructions for Sage Abra SQL HRMS version 10.0 (included in the Sage Abra SQL HRMS Installation and Setup Guide) Release Notes for Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0 (this document) Read this document in its entirety before you start the upgrade. For instructions to upgrade from v8.4 or 8.5 to v10.0, refer to Sage Abra SQL HRMS Installation and Setup Guide. Installation Information It is recommended that Sage Abra SQL HRMS be installed by a certified Business Partner or a member of Sage Professional Services Group. Confirm that server and client workstations have all the latest Microsoft Windows updates installed before you install or upgrade. Specifically, to successfully launch Sage Abra SQL HRMS after installation, you must have Microsoft.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 installed (the file dotnetfx35setup.exe is available from the Abra\Prerequisites folder on the Installation DVD). Starting with Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0, you can no longer do a side by side installation (that is, having two or more previous versions running on the same system). If you are upgrading from a previous version and are currently running a side by side installation, please contact Customer Support for assistance before you begin the installation (see the next page for contact information). If you are a Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) customer that is upgrading to v10.0, please go to the Upgrading Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Activate Licensing section in the Sage Abra HRMS Installation and Setup Guide for specific instructions on upgrading payroll. Sage Abra Benefits Messenger is currently not compliant with a Windows 2008 server. RY9U0603

2 Support and Documentation Sage strives to provide you with the very best support in the industry. If you have a question, we provide the following methods for you to get your answer as soon as possible. Refer to the online Help for assistance. To access online Help, select Contents from the Sage Abra SQL HRMS Help menu and use the Table of Contents, Index, and Search function to find what you need. You can also click to open Help for the function you are currently using. Visit the Technical Forum and Solution Center on Abra SupportPlus Online at: Send an e mail (include your Customer ID number) to: abratechsupport@sage.com Call Sage Abra Customer Support, Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time at Please have your Customer ID number available. Sage Abra SQL HRMS

3 Table of Contents Overview...1 Installation Information...1 Support and Documentation...2 Introduction to Sage Abra SQL HRMS v Enhancements and a New Look...1 New Logon Page and Company Selection... 3 The Desktop... 4 Removal of the Activity Center and Registration Page... 4 Welcome Page... 5 Product Feedback Feature... 6 Submit an Idea...6 The system compares your idea with previously submitted ideas...7 Rate the ideas...8 Review and Track your Submitted Ideas...9 Navigation Pane Quick Launch Toolbar Modifications Updated Toolbar Buttons Employee Toolbar Training Toolbar Payroll Process Map Employee Find Find Functionality...15 Advanced Employee Find Employee Information Bar and Training Class Information Bar Employee Information Bar...17 Training Class Information Bar...17 New Employer Filter Setup Group (Codes) User Preferences Modifications Navigation Pane Customization Customize the Employee or Training Toolbar Organizer Modifications Shortcut Keys Release Notes i

4 Online Help Changes Crystal Reports Overview Enhancements Parameter Panel Picture linking Advanced page layout abilities Human Resources Updates Abra Benefits Recalculating Benefits Benefit Plan Changes Not Saved Benefit History Benefit Effective Date Changes to Amounts Group Security Modifications Salary Field General VETS-100A Reports Supervisor No Effective Date Appeared when Importing Data from an ADP Template Custom Detail with Date Field Adding Skills to Employee User Defined Code Modification Maximum Available field and Carryover Personal Information Reports Employee Attachment Reports Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates New and Modified Processes Local Taxes in Sage Abra US Payroll (SQL) Synchronize Employees Employee Payroll Page Reverse Transactions Page Clear History Bank Reconciliation Process Transaction History Inquiry Page New and Modified Reports ii Sage Abra SQL HRMS

5 Check Payment Register...41 Bank Entries Posting Journal...42 Deposit Register...43 Distribution Codes Report...44 FLSA overtime calculation FLSA Overtime Calculations Involving Tips Sage TimeSheet Sage Abra SQL Payroll Integration Menu Command for Receiving Sage TimeSheet Data...46 Database Tables Used in Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) v10.0 Terminology Changes Data Structure Changes between Version 8.5 and Version Release Notes iii

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7 Introduction to Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0 Introduction to Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0 Sage Abra is the leading solution that improves productivity and reduces costs by centralizing all employee data, simplifying HR, compliance, benefits and payroll processes, and providing the information you need to better manage your workforce. Version 10.0 is the first release of the new generation Abra HRMS for small & mid size organizations. With the introduction of the new Desktop, Sage Abra is easier to use than ever before. Intuitive task organization, terminology, and process workflow allow HR and payroll professionals to accomplish tasks and find the information they need quickly and easily. Abra Employee Self Service (ESS) users can now dynamically and securely share workforce information with stakeholders via web link, and the information is automatically filtered for each recipient. If you use Abra ESS, please refer to the Abra Workforce Connections v10.0 Release Notes to learn more about dynamic information sharing. Enhancements and a New Look In response to a recent usability study, Sage has updated the user interface and improved the overall functionality of Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0 and it is easier to use than ever before. Intuitive task organization, terminology, and process workflow allows HR and payroll professionals to accomplish tasks and find the information they need quickly and easily Some of the new improvements include: New Logon Page and Company Selection (see page 3) Desktop (see page 4) Removal of the Activity Center (see page 4) Welcome Page (see page 5) Product Feedback Feature (see page 6) Navigation Pane (see page 10) Quick Launch Toolbar (see page 11) Updated Toolbar Buttons (see page 11) Employee Toolbar (see page 12) Training Toolbar (see page 12) Payroll Process Map (see page 13) Employee Find (see page 14) Release Notes 1

8 Enhancements and a New Look Advanced Employee Find (see page 16) Employee Information Bar and Training Class Information Bar (see page 17) New Employer Filter (see page 18) Setup Group (Codes) (see page 18) User Preferences Modifications (see page 19) Navigation Pane Customization (see page 20) Customize the Employee and Training Toolbar (see page 20) Organizer Modifications (see page 21) Shortcut Keys (see page 22) Online Help Changes (see page 23) 2 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

9 Enhancements and a New Look New Logon Page and Company Selection There is a new Logon page for the Sage Abra SQL HRMS. Select Live or Sample Data. After you log on to Sage Abra SQL HRMS, the Employer Selection page opens if you have Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) installed. Note: If you want to log out of Sage Abra SQL HRMS and return to the Logon page, or switch between Live and Sample Data, select File > Logout. Release Notes 3

10 Enhancements and a New Look The Desktop The following image is the new Desktop look for Sage Abra SQL HRMS. The multiple areas of the Desktop include the Navigation Pane, the Main Menu, the Employee Toolbar, the Workspace, and the Status bar. Removal of the Activity Center and Registration Page With the addition of the new Desktop and Navigation, the Activity Center and the Registration Page have been removed from the Sage Abra SQL HRMS application. 4 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

11 Enhancements and a New Look Welcome Page The Welcome page displays in the workspace after you log on to Sage Abra SQL HRMS. It provides a central location from which you can click links to review what s new in Sage Abra SQL HRMS, access the online Help system, access Guides (in PDF format), contact Customer Support, access the Sage Training Web site, and access the Sage Abra SQL HRMS portal to provide feedback about Sage Abra SQL HRMS. Select Help > Show Welcome Page to reopen the page at any time. Notes: You can select the Do not show me this page again check box to disable the Welcome page when you log on to Sage Abra SQL HRMS. If you select the check box, the Welcome page will no longer appear when you log on to Sage Abra SQL HRMS. To reopen the Welcome page, from the Main Menu, select Help > Show Welcome Page at any time. This page will always appear after an upgrade. The What s New link enables you to obtain more information about the new features and enhancements in Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0. Release Notes 5

12 Enhancements and a New Look Product Feedback Feature A new Product Feedback option is available on the Welcome Page (it is also available from the Main menu, select Help > Product Feedback). This option allows you to submit your ideas about how we can improve the product. The ideas you submit are used for product development only and any support related questions should still be directed to the Customer Support team. This feature allows you to Submit ideas Compare your ideas with other ideas that were submitted Rate the importance of ideas Track the ideas you submit Submit an Idea After you select the Product Feedback option, a page on which you enter your information displays. The fields with the asterisk (*) are required fields. After you enter the information, click Submit. 6 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

13 Enhancements and a New Look The system compares your idea with previously submitted ideas After you click Submit, the system searches for similar ideas. If similar ideas are found, a second page appears. This page displays your idea submission and the similar submissions. If your idea is unique, select your idea and click Submit. Your idea will be forwarded to Product Management. If your idea is the same as another submission, select that idea. The system will attach you to that idea as a sponsor and associate your idea with the other idea. This allows us to track the number of customers who have submitted the idea. Release Notes 7

14 Enhancements and a New Look Rate the ideas After you submit the ideas, a page appears on which you can rate other submissions based on their importance to you. You can rate these ideas on a scale of 1 (Not Important at all) to 5 (Very Important) and then click Submit. If you choose not to rate these ideas, click Skip. After you click Skip or Submit, a page appears so you can submit another idea. To submit another idea, click Submit Another or click Close to end the product feedback session. 8 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

15 Enhancements and a New Look Review and Track your Submitted Ideas Note: At any time, you can click the My Ideas button, which displays on various pages to view ideas you have submitted. Ideas that you submit are associated with your e mail address. To track your submitted ideas, from the Main menu, select Help > Product Feedback. A page displays on which you enter your e mail address and then click Submit. Tip: You can add this page to your Favorites and access it anytime you go to your Internet browser. After you click Submit, the ideas you submitted display. After you review the ideas, click Close to close the page. Release Notes 9

16 Enhancements and a New Look Navigation Pane The Navigation Pane is the list of groups that displays on the left hand side of the Sage Abra SQL HRMS Desktop. Click a group on the Navigation Pane to expand it, displaying subgroups (such as Tasks, Setup, and Links) that contain lists of associated items. For example, click to expand the Employees group, which displays the Tasks and Processes subgroups. The Tasks subgroup lists all employee tasks such as Add New Hire, Change Job, and Terminate Employee. The last item you select on the Navigation Pane will be highlighted with a visual indicator. The Navigation Pane replaces the Activity Center as the alternative to using the Main Menu for navigation. Note: Groups, tasks, and processes to which you do not have security access do not display on the Navigation Pane. 10 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

17 Enhancements and a New Look Quick Launch Toolbar Modifications Sage Abra SQL HRMS now displays the Quick Launch Toolbar in the lower left hand corner of the workspace. Additionally, Sage has removed the Activity Center, Human Resources, Payroll, and Learning Action buttons from the Quick Launch Toolbar, as they are no longer applicable to Sage Abra SQL HRMS. See Use the Quick Launch Toolbar in the online Help for additional information about the Quick Launch Toolbar. Updated Toolbar Buttons Sage has updated the 12 custom icons included with the sample data and the toolbar icons used throughout Sage Abra SQL HRMS. Additionally, if you use your own images for detail pages on toolbars, Sage Abra SQL HRMS will display your icons on the toolbars. Sage Abra SQL HRMS displays only the name of the detail page on the toolbar if an image is missing or unusable. To display your image on the toolbar, re add your image to the appropriate folder (Data\Custom) or resize/repair the image file. Release Notes 11

18 Enhancements and a New Look Employee Toolbar Sage Abra SQL HRMS Desktop displays the Employee Toolbar below the Main Menu in the Sage Abra SQL HRMS when you select Employees > View/Edit Employees. It consists of several tabs, each containing toolbar buttons that provide you with quick access to employee detail pages. In Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0, you open the Employee Toolbar by selecting Employees > View/Edit Employee on the Navigation Pane or Details > HR, Payroll, or Attendance > Any Detail Page from the Main Menu. Note: When you first log on to Sage Abra SQL HRMS and select View/Edit Employee, the Find page displays for you to search for an employee record before you can access the detail pages. Note: Detail pages to which you do not have security access do not display on the Employee Toolbar. Training Toolbar Sage Abra SQL HRMS displays the Training Toolbar below the Main Menu in the Sage Abra SQL HRMS workspace when you select Training > View/Edit Trainee. It consists of several tabs; each containing toolbar buttons that provide you with quick access to training detail pages. In Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0, you can open the Training Toolbar by selecting Training > View/Edit Trainee on the Navigation Pane. 12 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

19 Enhancements and a New Look Payroll Process Map The new Payroll Process Map enables you to follow the workflow associated with processing a payroll. The Process Map is accessed from the Navigation Pane by selecting Payroll > Process Payroll. For more detailed information on each of the steps, see the online Help. Note: You can process payroll only by using the Process Payroll page. After you complete a step, you are returned to the Process Payroll page. The steps to process payroll are: 1. Synchronize Employees 2. Import Sage Time Sheet This optional step is applicable if you are also using Sage TimeSheet to capture your employee s time. 3. Timecards 4. Calculate Payroll 5. Print/Post Checks Release Notes 13

20 Enhancements and a New Look 6. Create EFT File 7. Generate G/L Batch 8. Synchronize Payroll History Employee Find The Employee Find has been enhanced to improve the user experience. The Employee Find now displays after you access a group (such as Employees or Training) on the Navigation Pane. You must find and select an employee before you can complete tasks or processes in the application. For example, if you select Employees > View/Edit Employee, you need to search for an employee before you can view or edit the Employee Detail pages. The ability to search by first name and the ability to view the number of records found based on the search criteria is now available. In addition, by clicking the More Options button, the following columns have been added to the search results area: Organization levels, Status, State, Type, and Salaried/Hourly. 14 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

21 Enhancements and a New Look Find Functionality The following describes the functionality of the new Employee Find: Select the employee status of Active, Terminated, LOA (Leave of Absence), and Other. The search result displays the number of Records Found based on the selected status. Note: The Other status could be dependents or non employees. The Last Name, First Name, ID, and SSN fields allow you to narrow your search. Note: For example, if you are doing a search by the Last Name and First Name, the First Name search field will act as a filter, while the Last Name field will act as a go to feature, allowing you to navigate to the person on the results list that matches what you entered. If you start typing a value in a search field and there is a match, the record is highlighted in the search results. An arrow indicator displays next to the record. After you have found the record, you are searching for, click OK, or double click the record to view the detail page for that record. If you start typing a value in a search field and there is no match, a Not Found message appears to the right of the search field. Abra SQL HRMS now retains the results of the search. For example, if you search for employees on a detail page (Change Job). Then you go to a report page to print a report. When you return to a detail page (the same or a different one), the search results appear so you can select the same employee (will be highlighted) or a different employee from the list. Release Notes 15

22 Enhancements and a New Look Advanced Employee Find The Advanced Employee Find is accessed by clicking the More Options button on the Employee Find page. The Advanced Find search fields will display and will be used when it is expanded. You can search by the additional criteria: Organization Level, Supervisor, Employee Type, Salaried/Hourly, State/Province, Job Title, and Last Hire Date. The search results automatically filter based on the criteria entered in these fields. If you use the Advanced Find, the search results headings also include the additional fields of the Advanced Find. 16 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

23 Enhancements and a New Look Employee Information Bar and Training Class Information Bar The Employee Information Bar and Training Class Information Bar enable you to view general information about an employee record while you are in certain Detail Pages or Training Class Detail Pages. The buttons display below the Employee or Training toolbar. Icon Field Name Description Find Click this button to open the Find. First Click this button to navigate to the first record in the find results. Previous Click this button to navigate to the previous record in the find results. Next Click this button to navigate to the next record in the find results. Last Click this button to navigate to the last record in the find results. Employee Information Bar The Employee Information bar displays on all Employee Detail Pages. You will always see the Employee, Status, SSN, and ID Number fields. It also has a set of record navigation buttons that enable you to navigate the results of your search. Note: The SSN field can be masked. Training Class Information Bar The Training Class Information bar displays on Training Class Detail Pages. You will always see Class, Status, Starts date and time, and Ends date and time as well as the record navigation buttons. Release Notes 17

24 Enhancements and a New Look New Employer Filter The Employer Filter functionality has been modified. Previously accessed by clicking the Employer Filter button in the Find toolbar, it is now a drop down list always available in the Main toolbar: The list includes all employers set up in your system, including the enterprise. To set the filter, simply select the employer or enterprise from the list. The employer you select will be the employer that is searched when you do an employee find. If you have Payroll installed, the Employer Filter is automatically set to the employer (or enterprise) you selected during logon. Note: If you have Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) installed, the employer you selected at logon appears in this field, and the field is disabled. To change the employer, you need to log out and log on to the other employer. Setup Group (Codes) The Setup Group in Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0 contains the old Rules and Code Tables. The subgroups include Employees, Time Off, Payroll, and Training codes. The System subgroup displays only when Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) is not installed. If Sage Abra U.S. Payroll is installed, you must log on to the Enterprise to view and edit the System codes. 18 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

25 Enhancements and a New Look User Preferences Modifications The Default Product at Sign on, Default HR Detail, Default Payroll Detail, Default Recruiting Solution Detail, Default Training Detail, Quick Launch Toolbar Position, and Find Display Preference fields are no longer applicable to Sage Abra SQL HRMS and have been removed from the General Preferences tab of the User Preferences page. Sage has added the Default View, Employees Toolbar Default, and Training Toolbar Default fields to this tab, which allow you to set preferences for new features. Note: By default, the Welcome to Sage Abra SQL HRMS page opens in the workspace after you log on to Sage Abra SQL HRMS. If you want to hide the Welcome to Sage Abra SQL HRMS page and display only the item you select in the Default View field after you log on, select Do not show me this page again on the Welcome page. See Set Up User Preferences in the online Help for additional information about the new fields. Release Notes 19

26 Enhancements and a New Look Navigation Pane Customization Sage Abra SQL HRMS includes the Customize Navigation Pane dialog box (System > Processes > Customize Navigation Pane), which allows you to customize which groups, subgroups, and tasks display on the Navigation Pane. By default, Sage Abra SQL HRMS lists tasks on the Navigation Pane in alphabetical order; however, you can choose the order in which tasks display for groups and subgroups. Note: When you synchronize the Navigation Pane, Sage Abra SQL HRMS synchronizes the Main Menu to match the Navigation. The opposite also occurs. This change is saved for all users. Customize the Employee or Training Toolbar By using the Sage Abra Toolkit, you can use the Customize Details dialog box (System > Processes > Customize the Menu > Details (in the Activity field) > Add) to customize which detail pages display on the Employee and Training Toolbars. For HR, Payroll, and Attendance select Display on Employee Toolbar for each detail page you want to display on the Employee Toolbar. For Training, select Display on Training Toolbar for each detail page you want to display on the Training Toolbar. Optionally, assign a Sage Abra SQL HRMS bitmap image or your own bitmap image to the detail page. 20 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

27 Enhancements and a New Look Organizer Modifications The Organizer has been modified with new toolbar buttons to perform the actions. Click the Organizer button on the Quick Launch Toolbar to open it. Note: If you want the Organizer to open in the workspace after you log on to Sage Abra SQL HRMS, select Organizer in the Default View field on the User Preferences page. Release Notes 21

28 Enhancements and a New Look Shortcut Keys The shortcut keys for the Main Menu have been modified. Press This Alt + F Alt + E Alt + I Alt + P Alt + N Alt + R Alt + U Alt + D Alt + Q Alt + H To Select this Menu Item File Edit Actions Processes Analysis Reports Rules Details Query Help The following shortcut keys will enable you to access Employee detail pages in the application. Press This Ctrl + R Ctrl + E Ctrl + J Ctrl + P Ctrl + D Ctrl + B Ctrl + H Ctrl + I Ctrl + O Ctrl + L Ctrl + S Ctrl + T Ctrl + U To Open this Page Absence Transactions Attendance Summary Current Job Current Pay Demographics Dependents and Beneficiaries HR Status Insurance Benefits Job History Leave of Absence Savings Benefits Termination Custom Details 22 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

29 Enhancements and a New Look Press This Ctrl + M Ctrl + 4 Ctrl + Y To Open this Page Employee Activity Employee Payroll Transaction History Online Help Changes To enhance usability, Sage has applied a new color scheme and styles to the Sage Abra SQL HRMS online Help. Additionally, the following improvements were made: Breadcrumbs Displays the Table of Contents location of the currently open topic at the top of the page. This allows you to locate the source book for the topic and related pages in the Table of Contents. If you display the Contents tab of the Navigation pane in the Help window, the breadcrumbs will synchronize to the topic selected in the Table of Contents. Breadcrumbs are available at the top of each page even if you choose to hide the Navigation pane. More Information boxes Links to related topics now display in a box labeled More Information, located in the upper right hand corner of topics that include related links. These boxes are more noticeable than the related links tables that displayed below the topic titles in previous versions of Sage Abra SQL HRMS. Release Notes 23

30 Enhancements and a New Look Streamlined topics Many longer topics have been streamlined for improved comprehension and to reduce the amount of time it takes Sage Abra SQL HRMS to completely load a topic. For example, topics that contain several procedures are condensed into drop down lists. This allows you to expand drop down lists for only the desired information, which greatly reduces the length of the topic. Updated Navigation paths All topics that include a navigation path from the Main Menu to a page now show the path from the Navigation Pane. To assist you with this transition, a small arrow follows each Navigation Pane path that you can click to display the equivalent Main Menu path. In some procedures, the steps may vary between the Navigation Pane and the Main Menu. If a small arrow displays after a step, click the arrow to display the equivalent step using the Main Menu. Important! We encourage you to use the system by using the Navigation Pane. Expand all and Collapse all buttons The Help toolbar now includes the Expand all and Collapse all buttons. Click Expand all to display the text in all drop down lists within a topic. Alternately, click Collapse all to hide the text in all drop down lists within a topic. Top of the Page Many longer topics now include the Top of Page button in the bottom lefthand corner of the page, which allows you to quickly jump to the top of the page without using the scrollbar. 24 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

31 Enhancements and a New Look Multiple Help buttons Sage Abra SQL HRMS includes a new Help icon in two areas. Click the main Help button in the top right hand corner of the screen to access the online Help system from anywhere in Sage Abra SQL HRMS. Additionally, you can click the context sensitive Help button in the top right corner of any page to open the online Help topic directly related to the feature you are using. Logon page Help Click the Help button or Help link beside it to open context sensitive Help about the Logon page in Sage Abra SQL HRMS. Release Notes 25

32 Crystal Reports 2008 Crystal Reports 2008 Crystal Reports has been upgraded from Crystal Reports 10 to Crystal Reports 2008 in Sage Abra SQL HRMS v10.0. Be assured that all custom reports delivered with Sage Abra SQL HRMS are compatible with this new version of Crystal and run just as they did in Crystal Reports 10. Overview Crystal Reports 2008 is the latest release in the Crystal Reports family of offerings. Built in report experts are improved and simplified to guide you step by step through building reports from your Abra data. Analyze your workforce data and discover trends or insight into the daily workings of your company. Frequently requested reports such as Employee Badge Reports (with photos) might have been a challenge with prior versions of Crystal. Not so with the new abilities that Crystal 2008 now brings within reach of even a part time Crystal report designer. Crystal 2008 has many other general improvements that will benefit a wide variety of Abra users, such as the ability to support bar coding. Enhancements Parameter Panel Previously, when you wanted to change the data on a report, you usually had to edit and save the report multiple times or create complex parameter prompts. Now you will directly benefit from the new parameter panel that uses a visual tool to alter the data displayed on the report. Also, the data will be hidden from view for the next choice on the parameter panel as changes will be displayed immediately. Fewer trips to the database and less network usage will speed up the creation and use of daily reports. For example, the Employee Badge report can be printed for new hires only, and then with a simple click, can be changed to print for promoted employees, with no need to edit a formula. Crystal Reports 2008 also includes cascading parameters. Cascading parameters create dynamic drop down lists that are affected by the answer given to the prior parameter. For example, answering a prompt for which manager is needed could then show a list of employees who report to that selected manager. Changing the manager could then show a new list. 26 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

33 Crystal Reports 2008 Picture linking Previously, an employee badge report or any other reports that needed to display employee photos or other pictures required some creative or very manual report designs. Now Crystal 2008 allows records to be directly linked to a file name stored on a hard drive. This means that Crystal 2008 will now know which employee photo belongs to the requested employee number or numbers. Advanced page layout abilities Employee badge reports or other reports requiring complicated layouts (for example, total rewards statements) are made easier with new pagination and layout capabilities. You can now combine landscape and portrait layout on the same report or define a specific number of records to return to keep the report manageable. Release Notes 27

34 Human Resources Updates Human Resources Updates Abra Benefits Recalculating Benefits Sage has changed the name and improved the functionality of the Recalculate Benefits Daily option on the Enterprise tab of the Enterprise Setup dialog box. The Recalculate Benefits Daily option was renamed Automatically Recalculate Benefits and provides a drop down list that allows you to select when Sage Abra updates benefits. Note: The Never option will prevent the system from recalculating benefits after every edit that causes employee benefits to change. Selecting this option will help to increase system performance. See Setting Up the Enterprise in the online Help for additional information about the different options for recalculating benefits. Benefit Plan Changes Not Saved Previously, if you changed the Calculate From Plan Rules indicator (on the Costs and Coverage tab of the plan detail page) from Yes to No, the system would not save any changes you made to the following fields on that tab: Coverage Amount Monthly Employee Premium Monthly Dependent Premium Employee Contribution This has been corrected. The correct values are now saved. Benefit History Previously, if you had Benefit History enabled and you made a change to the benefit plan, the system sometimes did not update the Employee Benefit page with the new amounts or create a history record. This has been corrected. The correct information now appears on the Employee Benefit page and the system creates a history record. 28 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

35 Human Resources Updates Benefit Effective Date Changes to Amounts The system was modified to automatically update a blank date (if blank) in the Latest Change to Amounts field to the benefit effective date. If you add a new benefit plan or savings plan, Sage Abra SQL HRMS automatically enters the benefit effective date in this field. This is the date that the most recent changes to the amounts occurred. This field is automatically updated whenever a change is made to a plan s amounts. For example, if you add a new plan with the effective date of 1/1/2009 and you add the plan to the employee on 1/3/2009, the latest change to amounts date will be 1/3/2009. Group Security Modifications Salary Field Previously, when the Salary field on the Field Level Security tab was set to Not View for the group, the first time a user accessed the Job History Summary page, the salary information was viewable. This has been corrected so that salary information is no longer viewable. General If you modify or add a security group, Sage Abra SQL HRMS now correctly applies the modifications to that group instead of to the Master security group. As a result, Sage Abra SQL HRMS no longer loses employer associations or hides fields after you modify or add a security group. VETS-100A Reports In addition to the Vets 100 Detail List and the Vets 100 Summary List reports, Sage now provides the Vets 100A Detail List and the Vets 100A Summary List reports. Vets 100A Summary List provides the number of employees by job category for each VETS 100A category. The report includes newly hired veterans by category and total new hires for the 12 month period specified. It displays a summary list of the required report data in the Information on Employees section of the VETS 100A form. Vets 100A Detail List provides employee names and IDs by job category for each VETS 100A category. The report includes newly hired veterans by category and total new hires for the 12 month period specified. It displays a detailed list of the required report data in the Information on Employees section of the VETS 100A form. Release Notes 29

36 Human Resources Updates Supervisor Previously, the supervisor e mail did not save correctly when you changed the employee s supervisor in Sage Abra SQL HRMS. The supervisor e mail now saves correctly. No Effective Date Appeared when Importing Data from an ADP Template Previously, in Abra Link when you imported data from ADP (Automatic Data Processing) to Sage Abra SQL HRMS, the system created a job history but the Effective Date on the history record was either missing or blank. This has been corrected. Now, when a job history is created, the Effective Date is displayed correctly on the history record. Custom Detail with Date Field A run time error no longer occurs after you create a Custom Detail to include a Date field, and then try to complete this Date field in the Custom Details page for a selected employee. Adding Skills to Employee Previously, an error message sometimes occurred when you added a new skill to an employee who did not have a skill on record. This has been corrected. The error no longer occurs. User Defined Code Modification Previously, the list of items in the Code Type drop down list on the User Defined Codes page appeared in the same order as it was entered in the user defined code table. This list now appears in alphabetical order. Maximum Available field and Carryover Previously, when setting up attendance plans, you could enter either 0 or in the Maximum Available field on the Attendance Plans page. However, if you also entered 0 in the Prev. Year Carryover field in the details page of the Attendance Summary page, then the plan did not allow carryover for any employees who completed their first anniversary year of attendance with either a Lump Sum or Accrual plan. This has been corrected. If your plan allows a previous year carryover, and does not have a maximum value for the carryover, enter in the Maximum Available field on the Attendance Plans Detail page. 30 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

37 Human Resources Updates Personal Information Reports The amount of time it takes Sage Abra SQL HRMS to display or print the Personal Information reports has been reduced. The reports affected include: Age List Birthday List Employee Attachments Employee Count Employee List Employee Notes Employee Profile Home Mailing Labels Work Phone List Employee Attachment Reports The Employee Attachment Report now includes the correct attachment information and an error no longer occurs when you select to show only the missing attachments. Release Notes 31

38 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates The following changes were made to the Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) application in this release: New and Modified Processes Setting Up Local Taxes (see page 33) Synchronize Employees (see page 33) Employee Payroll (see page 34) Reverse Transactions (see page 35) Clear History (see page 36) Bank Reconciliation Process (see page 38) Transaction History Inquiry (see page 40) New and Modified Reports Check Payment Register (see page 41) Bank Entries Posting Journal (see page 42) Deposit Register (see page 43) Distribution Codes Report (see page 44) FLSA Overtime Calculations (see page 44) FLSA Overtime Calculations with Tips (see page 45) Sage TimeSheet Sage Abra SQL Payroll Integration (see page 45) Database Tables Used in Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) (see page 46) Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) v10.0 Terminology Changes (see page 46) 32 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

39 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates New and Modified Processes Local Taxes in Sage Abra US Payroll (SQL) Local tax support has been added to Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL). Local tax codes have been added to a repository table. This table is used to set up new local taxes and update the tax rates for the local taxes on a quarterly basis. For information about setting up local taxes, see the online Help. You can now update local taxes for your employees using the Taxes tab on the Employee Payroll page. Synchronize Employees When synchronizing employees, the employee status in payroll is updated to the employee s status as defined in the Payroll Status field on the Current Pay tab (from the Navigation Pane, select Employees > View/Edit Employee and select an employee; then click the Job and Pay tab and the Current Pay icon). This allows an employee to be terminated in the HRMS module but still be active in the Payroll module to allow for payroll processing. In addition, when synchronizing employees, you now have the option to: Click the Transfer Time Taken button to transfer accrual transactions from Payroll to the Attendance module. Payroll sends the accrual amount paid on the employeeʹs timecard to Attendance. The accrual amounts in Attendance are then updated accordingly. To perform this task, the user must accrue time before the Employee Synchronization process, in order to transfer the accrual transactions to the timecard. Then after the payroll has processed and the accrual payments have been transferred to Attendance, the user must accrue time to post the accrual payments to the Attendance module. Select the Calculate Accruals for Salaried Employees check box to transfer an employee as hourly regardless of the HRMS setting. For example, select the check box to transfer the hourly rate for a salaried employee to Payroll. The hourly rate transferred will then be used to calculate the accrual payment transactions on the timecard. To transfer a salaried employee with an hourly amount, the salaried employee must be assigned an earning code with an Hourly Rate type in Payroll. Select the Overwrite Distribution Codes check box to overwrite the existing distribution codes while updating existing records in Payroll. Select the Overwrite Payroll Pay Frequencies check box to overwrite the existing pay frequencies. HRMS supports four pay frequencies (Bi Weekly, Monthly, Semi Monthly, and Weekly), while Payroll supports five additional specific pay frequencies (Daily, 22 per, 13 per, 10 per, and Quarterly). For example, the existing pay frequency is Daily in Payroll. If you select the check box, the system overwrites the existing pay frequency Release Notes 33

40 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates (Daily) with the value from HRMS; otherwise, the system does not update the existing five specific pay frequencies. Employee Payroll Page Changes have been made to the Employee Payroll page to allow you to edit an employee s information for payroll purposes. You can now edit the following fields: On the General tab: Last Name, First, Middle Address fields E mail SSN Birth Date Hire Date Phone On the Class/Schd tab: Status Position Supervisor On the Pay tab: Regular Hours per Period On the Other tab: Alternate Address fields Gender Warning: This feature is only to allow you to process a payroll more quickly. Any changes you make on this page do not update the employee information in HR. The next time you perform a Synchronize Employee process, the information on this page is overwritten by the information in HR. Therefore, you must make the same edits for the employee s information in HR as well. 34 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

41 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Reverse Transactions Page This page replaces the Reverse Payments and Return Customer Checks pages. It allows you to reverse both payments and receipts more easily. The fields that display depend on the selections you make. For example, if you select Bank Services at the Source Application field, the following fields appear: If you select US Payroll at the Source Application field, the following fields appear: Release Notes 35

42 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Use the Reverse Transactions page to: Reverse a posted payment and the original transaction associated with the payment. (You can also reverse payments using the Reconcile Statements page.) Process returned customer checks and credit card payments, and update Accounts Receivable. (You can return both outstanding and cleared customer payments.) Reverse payroll checks. Reverse a single transaction or a range of transactions. You can reverse a transaction at any time, even during bank reconciliation. When you reverse a receipt, Bank Services creates a withdrawal entry on the Reconciliation tab. When you reverse a payment that was entered in Accounts Receivable or Accounts Payable, Bank Services automatically updates the customer account in Accounts Receivable or the vendor account in Accounts Payable, releasing any paid invoices and changing the status of the payment to Reversed or Returned. When you reverse a payment that was entered in Payroll, Bank Services updates the employee record in Payroll. Clear History Use the Clear History function to remove selected cleared and posted bank transactions. If these items are not cleared, you might notice performance slowdown due to items having created a large table. (You must have security authorization to clear bank reconciliation history.) 36 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

43 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Clear History clears the following records: Bank Transactions. Reconciliation Posting Journal. Transfer Posting Journal. Release Notes 37

44 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Bank Reconciliation Process The bank reconciliation process has been modified and streamlined. The Reconcile Statements page now consists of three tabs. Summary tab The Summary tab was modified to show the change to the bank balance since you last reconciled the bank account. The Reconciliation Posting Date field was removed from the Summary tab. Now, you need to enter only the Statement Date and the Reconciliation Date. Note: This field was also removed from the Reconcile OFX Statements page. Bank statement balances and adjustments are now labeled as such, so they are immediately identifiable. Now, to post any bank entries, click the Go button next to the amount of the unposted bank entries (Bank Entries Not Posted). 38 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

45 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Reconciliation tab Note: The Deposit Details page no longer supports the reconciliation of individual receipts. You reconcile deposit totals using the Reconciliation tab. The Reconciliation tab was added and replaces the Entries, Withdrawals, Deposits, and Returns tabs, letting you view and reconcile all types of transactions. This tab consolidates the reconciliation information and provides new tools to help you reconcile efficiently. In earlier versions, transactions were assigned to four different tabs that you used to reconcile different types of transactions. You could not view or reconcile all transactions in one place. To clear the full amount of a transaction, double click the Reconciled column in the transaction line, right on the reconciliation table. The program marks the transaction with the Cleared reconciliation status. To clear the transaction with a different amount, select a reconciliation status to clear the transaction with a type or error or with a write off, and then you enter the amount to clear. You do not need to scroll through a long list to find transactions. You can filter transactions by reconciliation status and transaction type and sort the result by document date or by transaction number To view individual receipts that make up a deposit, select the deposit and then click the Details button. The reconciliation status Cleared With Credit Card Charges is no longer available for withdrawals. Select the Reversed Reconciliation status to reverse a payment or other withdrawal. However, you must use the Reverse Transactions page to reverse a receipt (deposit). A new Quick Clearing button on the Reconciliation tab opens a Quick Clearing page that allows you to clear an entire range of payments at one time. If you clear a range of transactions accidentally, you can restore the Outstanding status. The Bank Entry button on the Reconciliation tab opens a new Bank Entry page, where you can enter any kind of reconciling transaction. Note: The Deposit Details page no longer supports the reconciliation of individual receipts. You reconcile deposit totals using the Reconcile tab. Release Notes 39

46 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Totals tab A new Totals tab provides a breakdown of cleared payments and deposits by reconciliation status (for example, Cleared With Bank Error or Cleared With Write Off). Transaction History Inquiry Page A new Transaction History Inquiry process allows you to: Look up payment or receipt transactions originating in Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Look up transactions that you enter in Bank Services Print the results of your inquiry to a report View and print payroll checks that have been processed. The Transaction History Inquiry lists transactions by number, and includes the date, description, amount, reconciliation status, reconciliation date, and reconciliation description stored with each transaction. You can also apply additional criteria to restrict the inquiry to transactions of particular interest to you. For example, you can search for: Transactions that have a specified reconciliation status or you can display transactions regardless of their status Payments or receipts within a range of dates, amounts, or source currencies Receipts for a particular customer or deposit number 40 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

47 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates New and Modified Reports Check Payment Register The Check Payment Register lists all payments made from a bank account. Release Notes 41

48 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Bank Entries Posting Journal The new Bank Entries Posting Journal maintains your audit trail. The Bank Entries Posting Journal is a printed record of bank entries that were posted together. It provides an audit trail of transactions posted in Bank Services by posting sequence. Because Bank Services now keeps a history of posted transactions, you can review bank transactions even after posting them. 42 Sage Abra SQL HRMS

49 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Deposit Register The Deposit Register lists all deposits to a bank account. You can view or print deposits that were made to a bank or a range of banks over a specified period and processed using specified source applications. You can specify selection criteria (such as deposit types and reconciliation statuses) and you can sort the list by deposit number, transaction date, or customer name. You can choose whether to print deposit details or a deposit summary, or you can print details and a summary. Release Notes 43

50 Sage Abra U.S. Payroll (SQL) Updates Distribution Codes Report The Distribution Codes Report lists the distribution codes defined for your company. Print this report after you add, change, or delete distribution codes. FLSA overtime calculation Previously, for employees who were paid less frequently than weekly (for example, biweekly or semimonthly), FLSA overtime calculation was made for the entire pay period. FLSA Hourly overtime, is now calculated as follows: For employees who are paid less frequently than biweekly, the system automatically calculates overtime separately for each week in a pay period. For employees who are paid biweekly, you use the new Calculate Overtime On A Weekly Basis option specifies whether to calculate overtime on a weekly or a biweekly basis. If the option is selected, the system checks to ensure that the overtime schedule assigned to the employee is valid for the FLSA calculation. If the overtime schedule is valid, Payroll calculates FLSA overtime pay is calculated separately for each week in the biweekly pay period. 44 Sage Abra SQL HRMS