Depreciation Data Conversion—Sage Fixed Assets to Fixed Assets CS
This program converts your depreciation data from Sage FAS 100 Asset Accounting™, Sage FAS 50 Asset Accounting, or Sage Fixed Assets versions 2007.1 through 2023.1. You can then import this data into Fixed Assets CS® version 2022.1 and later.
note
This conversion doesn't change any of your Sage Fixed Assets client data.
important
To avoid delays in converting your data, do not install any updates to your previous application.
Review information before the data conversion
Before you start this conversion, do the following:
Identify the clients you want to convert and note their client IDs and file names in Sage Fixed Assets. Clients you convert need to be in the Sage Fixed Assets program; having the fas.db file alone without the client existing in Sage Fixed Assets won't work.
Identify the client IDs you'll use in Fixed Assets CS. If you'll integrate your depreciation client data with UltraTax CS® and/or Accounting CS®, the client IDs need to match.
Note the drive and path where the Sage Fixed Assets client data resides.
Make sure the Fixed Assets CS Conversion utility is installed on the same machine as Sage Fixed Assets.
Note the current calculation period and ending date by reviewing the Current Through Date field in the asset’s Detail View. Before you convert your client data, verify that the current depreciation has been calculated for all of the client’s assets in Sage Fixed Assets.
Create conversion files from Sage Fixed Assets data files
Follow these steps to create the files that are used to import Sage Fixed Assets data into the Fixed Assets CS format
To start the CS Conversions application, run the Fixed Assets CS Data Conversion utility you installed to the same location as Sage Fixed Assets is installed.
Go to Conversion Type and select
Depreciation
.
Go to Competitor field and select
FAS Asset Accounting – Version 2007.x and later
.
Go to Input Data Folder and select
Browse
to go to the location where your data is stored.
Select
Start
to start the conversion program.
Select the
fas.db
database file then select
Open
.
In the client list, select the client you want to convert then select
OK
.
The client’s data is converted and a Client Data Transfer Report is prepared.
When the process is complete, select
OK
.
To process another client, repeat steps 5 through 8.
To import the converted data into Fixed Assets CS, select
Close
and go to the “Import the conversion file into Fixed Assets CS” section.
note
If the first 11 characters of the file name are identical for 2 or more clients, you must complete the entire conversion process for each client before you proceed to the next client. You'll need to complete the “Import the conversion file into Fixed Assets CS” and “Review the converted data” procedures in this article before you create the export file in Sage Fixed Assets for another client with the same first 11 characters in the file name. If you don't complete the entire conversion process for each of these clients, the conversion program will overwrite the Client Data Transfer Reports.
Import the conversion file into Fixed Assets CS
Before you start the import procedure, review the converted items and items not converted lists below. These lists section describes all of the known exceptions during the conversion from Sage Fixed Assets to Fixed Assets CS.
Double-click
Fixed Assets CS
on your desktop to start the program.
note
If you didn't install the shortcut, select
Start
on the Windows taskbar and select
All Programs
,
CS Professional Suite
, then
Fixed Assets CS
.
Select
File
then
New Client
to create a new client in Fixed Assets CS.
note
If applicable, you'll need to complete the
Current fiscal year end
and
Short years
fields in the New Client window exactly as the information was entered in Sage Fixed Assets to ensure that the processing periods and depreciation calculation in the 2 applications match.
Select
Utilities
,
Import Asset Data
, then
ASCII file
. If the path specified in the
Location of import
file field isn't the location of your Sage Fixed Assets client data, select
Change Location
and go to the correct location.
Enter the name of the conversion file you want to import or select the dropdown for a list of conversion files that are available in the specified location. The name of the conversion file is in the
XXXXXXXXXXX.DSW
format, where
XXXXXXXXXXX
is the client’s file name from Sage Fixed Assets.
note
To limit the number of files that appear, select
Only include files with DSW extensions
. The conversion program truncates file names longer than 11 characters.
Select
Import
to transfer the files.
When the import is complete, select
Done
.
Repeat steps 2 through 6 for each client you’ve created a conversion file for. For any client whose conversion file hasn't yet been created, repeat the procedures in the “Create conversion files from Sage Fixed Assets data files” section.
Converted items—Known exceptions
The following list of converted items describe known exceptions when you convert the Sage Fixed Assets data to Fixed Assets CS. This list also shows differences between the 2 applications and any data modifications that may be required in Fixed Assets CS after the conversion is complete.
Converted items—Activity
Assets will convert to a Misc activity. You'll need to assign the assets to the correct form or schedule after the assets are imported into Fixed Assets CS.
Converted items—Treatments
The following table describes how the Book entered in Sage Fixed Assets converts into Fixed Assets CS as a treatment.
Conversion of Book in Sage to Fixed Assets CS as a treatment
Book in Sage Fixed Assets US Company / Nonprofit and Canadian
Treatment converted to Fixed Assets CS
Tax
Tax
AMT
AMT
ACE
Other/ACE
Internal / Financial
Book
Custom 1 / Budgetary 1
Cstm 1 / Bdgt 1
Custom 2 / Budgetary 2
Cstm 2 / Bdgt 2
Custom 3
Cstm 3
Custom 4
Cstm 4
note
The first 4 open Custom Books will convert.
The conversion program truncates treatment descriptions that exceed 6 characters.
For entity types Canadian Organization and Government or Nonprofit Organization, the Financial, Budgetary 1, and Budgetary 2 books are converted as identified in the Treatments table above. The Tax treatment is required in Fixed Assets CS.
Converted items—Methods
Sage Fixed Assets methods of RV, RM, RH, OC, and NO convert to Fixed Assets CS as the Memo method. Assets with a property type of Amortizable convert as the Amortization method.
Converted items—MACRS 25 assets
You should carefully review assets that had any of the MACRS methods and a life of 25 years in Sage Fixed Assets. These assets may require additional data entry in Fixed Assets CS.
Converted items—MACRS formula vs tables
In Sage Fixed Assets, you could assign a MACRS method that used the IRS tables or formula on an asset-by-asset basis. Fixed Assets CS also has this option, but on a client-by-client basis instead of an asset-by-asset basis. Fixed Assets CS defaults to this formula unless you change to the tables method.
Converted items—MACRS 150% DB method
In Sage Fixed Assets, you could enter any number in the Life field for this method; with Fixed Assets CS, you can enter only certain lives based on the type of property. For lives that are available in both Sage Fixed Assets and Fixed Assets CS, the converted method and life are the same as the method and life you entered in Sage Fixed Assets. For any lives that are available in Sage Fixed Assets but not available in Fixed Assets CS, the conversion application converts these assets using the method MACRS 150% ADS, the class life converts as specified in the following table, and the ADS life is the same as the life entered in Sage Fixed Assets.
MACRS 150% DB method
Life entered in Sage Fixed Assets
MACRS class life converted to Fixed Assets CS
4 years or less
3 year property
More than 4 years but less than 10
5 year property
10 years or more but less than 16
7 year property
16 years or more but less than 20
10 year property
20 years or more but less than 25
15 year property
25 years or more
20 year property
Converted items—Alternative Depreciation System (ADS) method code AD
When you used this method in Sage Fixed Assets, you had to enter the ADS life used to depreciate the asset instead of the class life of the asset. In Fixed Assets CS, you'll need to enter both the class life and ADS life to depreciate an asset. Fixed Assets CS uses the class life for the grouping and reporting of assets on Form 4562 and other reports for ADS assets.
The following table specifies how the conversion program determines the class life of an asset based on the ADS life you entered in Sage Fixed Assets.
Class life of assets based on ADS life in Sage
ADS life entered in Sage Fixed Assets
MACRS class life converted to Fixed Assets CS
4 years or less
3 year property
More than 4 years but less than 10
5 year property
10 years or more but less than 16
7 year property
16 years or more but less than 20
10 year property
20 years or more but less than 25
15 year property
25 years or more
20 year property
40 years
31.5 or 39 year property
More than 40 years but less than 50
20 year property
50 years
25 year property
More than 50 years
20 year property
note
The table represents personal property only and assumes that no real property has been depreciated using the above methods in Sage FAS.
Sage FAS doesn't make a distinction between Non-Residential Real Property and Residential Rental Property. Assets that had an AD method and a life of 40 in Sage FAS are converted as follows:
If the asset was acquired before May 13, 1993, the asset transfers to Fixed Assets CS with a life of 31.5.
If the asset was acquired after May 12, 1993, the asset transfers to Fixed Assets CS with a life of 39.
Converted items—Declining-balance methods: DC, DE, and DI
Sage Fixed Assets calculation for these non-ACRS / non-MACRS methods doesn't switch to the straightline method even when the calculated amount using the straight-line method is greater than the declining balance method. However, Fixed Assets CS switches to the straight-line method under these circumstances.
note
You set this option on a client-by-client basis in Fixed Assets CS; you set this option on a treatment-by-treatment basis in Sage Fixed Assets.
Converted items—Sage Fixed Assets ACRS straight-line codes SA and ST
When you used this method in Sage Fixed Assets, you had to enter the recovery class life used to depreciate the asset instead of the class life of the asset. In Fixed Assets CS, you'll need to enter both the class life and recovery class life to depreciate an asset. Fixed Assets CS uses the class life for the grouping and reporting of assets on Form 4562 and other reports for ADS assets.
The following table specifies how the conversion program determines the class life of an asset based on the ADS life you entered in Sage Fixed Assets.
Class life of asset based on ADS life in Sage
Recovery class life entered in Sage Fixed Assets
ACRS class life converted to Fixed Assets CS
3 years
3 year property
5 years
5 year property
10 years
10 year property
12 years
5 year property
15 years
15 year property
18 years
18 year property
19 years
19 year property
25 years
5 year property
35 years
15 year property
45 years
15 year property
All others
5 year property
note
To manually change the life for an asset, select the proper life for each asset in the Depreciation tab.
Converted items—Indian reservation
Fixed Assets CS allows for 200 percent and 150 percent Indian Reservation property. If you used a different MACRS method in Sage Fixed Assets, the asset converts as MACRS – Indian Reservation with the applicable recovery period.
Converted items—Asset dispositions
Information in the Partial Disposal, Cash Proceeds, Non-Cash Proceeds, and Expenses of Sale fields on the Disposition screen in Sage isn't converted. The date on which the asset was disposed converts. If the asset was a casualty sale in Sage, the asset converts with a disposal method of Casualty/Theft no replacement; if the asset was abandoned in Sage , the asset converts with a disposal method of Out-ofService; and any other disposition converts as Sold / Scrapped and a property type of 1245 – Trade or business property. To manually enter or update the information, enter the proper information for the asset in the Disposal tab in Fixed Assets CS.
note
Due to differences in Sage Fixed Assets and Fixed Assets CS, you'll need to delete assets that were disposed of in a prior year from Fixed Assets CS after you convert the data. The Import window shows a description of “Date of disposal must be within the current fiscal year” for these assets.
Converted items—Inactive assets
Assets for which the Asset Inactive field is marked in Sage Fixed Assets convert as active assets. You'll need to manually enter the disposal method in the Disposal tab in Fixed Assets CS for these assets.
Converted items—Listed property
Due to differences in file structures between Sage Fixed Assets and Fixed Assets CS, assets convert as follows.
Fixed asset property conversion: Sage to Fixed Assets CS
Sage Fixed Assets property type
Fixed Assets CS property type
Automobile
Luxury auto (Passenger)
Lt Truck and Vans
Van or light truck
Personal, Listed
Listed property (Non-vehicle)
Real, Listed
Listed property (Non-vehicle)
All other assets with a business use percentage other than 100 percent convert as Other business & personal.
note
Fixed Assets CS has different types of codes for listed property. To manually change this code for each asset, select the proper code in the Vehicle / Listed tab.
Converted items—Associations
Sage Fixed Assets field
Fixed Assets CS field
Asset ID
Tag #
Serial number
Serial #
Class
Group
Location
Location
Property Type*
Type
Department
Department
Purchase Order*
Purchase Order
Vendor
Vendor
Quantity*
Quantity
Invoice*
Invoice
Owner
Custodian
G/L Asset Account*
G/L Asset Acc
Custom Field 1-10*
Custom Field 1-10
Custom Date 1 & 2
Custom Date 1 & 2
note
*These items don't convert for entity types Canadian Organization and Government or Nonprofit Organization.
Tax Class doesn't convert for entity type Canadian Organization.
Converted items—Section 168(k)
Fixed Assets CS automatically complies with section 168(k) (bonus depreciation) for qualifying assets. You can elect out of bonus depreciation on a single asset, per class life, per treatment, or per client.
Converted items—Business use
The current-year business use percentage converts. The prior-year business use percentages don't convert and is defaulted to 100 percent in Fixed Assets CS. If necessary, you can modify the prior business percentages in Fixed Assets CS after the assets have been imported.
Converted items—Section 179
The section 179 amount converted in the current year even if you exceeded the limit in Sage Fixed Assets. Modify the amount as needed in Fixed Assets CS.
Converted items—Mid-quarter
The mid-quarter convention is applied for all treatments in Fixed Assets CS if the convention is selected for the Federal book in Sage Fixed Assets. You can manually select or deselect mid-quarter convention on a treatment-by-treatment basis after the conversion.
Items not converted
We didn't convert the following items due to application differences between Sage Fixed Assets and Fixed Assets CS.
General information, such as client ID, company name, fiscal year-end dates, and short-year information. You'll need to manually enter this information when you add the client.
General ledger account numbers. GL asset account, GL depr. / amort. exp. acct., and GL accum. depr. / amort. acct. numbers in the Detail tab in Sage Fixed Assets. You must set up the journal entry accounts in Fixed Assets CS to create asset cost and corresponding depreciation journal entry information.
Customized depreciation reports. Custom reports are available in Fixed Assets CS.
Custom depreciation methods.
Asset notes.
Asset images.
Asset history information.
ITC basis reduction and ITC code.
Amortization code section number.
Disposition information. Information entered in the Partial Disposal, Cash Proceeds, Non-Cash Proceeds, and Expenses of Sale fields on the Disposition screen in Sage.
Review the converted data
After you complete the conversion for a specific client, we recommend that you follow these steps to ensure the accuracy of your converted fixed assets data.
Make any necessary changes identified in the “Items not converted” section of this document.
Print the
Depreciation Expense Report
in Sage Fixed Assets.
Print the
Tax Asset Detail Report
in Fixed Assets CS.
Compare the totals for basis, accumulated depreciation, and current depreciation expense.
Print and review the
Client Data Transfer Reports
.
note
These reports are created for each client to identify any differences in the data that resulted from the conversion process. Most items included on the report are strictly informational; however, you may need to manually update certain items (such as abbreviations and truncations) in Fixed Assets CS. In most instances, no action is required.
You can print or view these reports using My Computer or Windows Explorer to navigate to the folder in which the client’s original Sage Fixed Assets data and conversion files are stored. Double-click the XXXXXXXXXXX_D.PDF file, where XXXXXXXXXXX represents the client ID. Note that if the client ID is more than 11 characters, only the first 11 characters appear.
We recommend that you print and review the Client Data Transfer Reports and store the reports with the client files in your office. These reports are PDF files. To view and print the reports, use Adobe® Reader®. To install Adobe Reader, select Help, On the Web, then Adobe Reader in Fixed Assets CS, which opens the Adobe website from which you can download and install the Reader.
Get help
If you have any questions about your converted data, access Live Chat at CS.ThomsonReuters.com/MyAccount or call CS Support at 800.968.0600 and follow the prompts. Normal weekday support is from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm ET.