I am chair of a charity and an accountant. We use Sage 50 and Sage Drive so I can prepare management figures for the charity. When trying to start Sage I get a message that file queue.dta is in use. I have checked with head office (where our main machine is) and Sage is not in use there. I have re booted several times without any joy.Anyone any ideas?
I have contacted Sage who refuse to help because we don't take Sage support. My argument is that this is an error with the program not a user problem. I know this as I have used sage for more years than I care to remember and the queue.dta file has always been a problem. In the old days you could get into the data file and delete it, then it would work fine. So in my view they should support this issue even though we dont pay for support. Anyway, we all know what Sage are like now and any hope of them being helpful has long gone. So we are on our own unless anyone can help. As chair I have a duty to keep admin costs down, so we wont be paying for support. As chair I need to make sure the admin function runs properly, so a move to another program looks to be on the cards.
Any help would be gratefully received.
A google search has since found a possible solution, but I will leave the post as a warning to anyone who is collecting data on software providers......
Replies (21)
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Rename it?
Can you get to the folder where it is held and rename it as queue.dtaold and then try again. I that doesn't work simply rename it back to the original.
Restart the data services
Try restarting the sage data service on the master machine and your machine , you need to go into services.
There is also a recent update 7 that needs to be run on all machines
Be aware of Sage Drive costs
Also be aware that if you do not have SageCover support or an ongoing subscription then you will soon have to pay for Sage Drive as a chargeable extra.
From Sage - Sage Drive is included for 12 months for perpetual upgrade customers (after which the customer has three options):
1. Continue using their software without any Sage Drive functionality.
2. Purchase Sage Drive on a monthly contract for £25 per month and remain on their current version.
3. Move to subscription and benefit from the latest software and Sage Drive included.
When using Line 50 v13 (about 7/8 years ago) - advice from SAGE was to simply delete queue.dta
Are you locked out totally
Hi
I have several clients using sage drive and that message comes up a few times but is does not lock us out . I have to say I have enjoyed using the sage drive.
How ever I have noticed that if I don,t shut down my computer and leave it on it sometimes comes up with data unavailable how ever if I restart the computer it is fine. I do not think it likes if you leave your machine on. I am on windows 10 and all my sage or working fine from 2010 to 2015.
Sage and Windows 10
I was under the impression that only the latest version of Sage worked on Windows 10 - the old future-proof issue. Am I missing something?
Queue.dta
Is held locally, or rather where-ever the program is running and not on the Sage Drive.
It depends on how you are accessing Sage, but if the program is on your computer simply search for it and either delete it or rename it to queueold.dta. Be careful if you have more than one company set up as there will be more than one queue.dta, so ensure you know which Number Company it is.
If you are accessing over a terminal server type set-up then you will need to contact whomsoever runs the TS to delete/rename the queue.dta
I agree that Sage is pricing itself, and its product out of the market place and Sage Drive is not that good. Personally though not a lover of Quickbooks, but Xero might be the easiest solution, and they often run a free conversion option from Sage.
I think the OP is a little harsh on SAGE - on the basis that they don't pay for support but feel it should be given anyway.
Also, I assume you took the charity discount (is it still a third off etc?). If not, make sure you do next time................
Harshness
Depends on what you think 'support' is for I guess.
I tend to think it's for complex 'how do I' questions or the very issues you've had (fixing faults with the software, or more specifically its integration with your systems). Others think it's a general advice line to be used in lieu of proper training. I'm not suggesting that this is your view - just setting the range of expectation as I see it.
So if your data corrupts, or there is a conflict caused by an incompatibility between your hardware/software and SAGE, then they should fix it IF you have cover - but if you haven't then you are on your own.
I don't see this as being an inherent problem with the software affecting everyone, so don't agree that it is a 'SAGE problem' in the way that you see it.
A different approach
Hi David, SAGE have always struggled with the type of problem you describe. If for whatever reason the files that SAGE uses do not get closed 'cleanly' then it can create all kinds of mayhem. Moving SAGE to a centrally access location can help tremendously and I have seen great success using Microsoft Remote Desktop services. In fact our business has been helping Accountants do just that for a great many years.
Sage Drive Queue.dta file lock out
Hi David.Some have already told you the solution but more detail needs to be added for you to clear the problem.
First , right click on the shortcut for your Sage program, then click on properties. This will tell you where the program is stored on you computer. Even with a networked program, Sage is, I believe from memory, installed on your local computer. Sometimes not, but by now your IT person will know where Sage's files are.
If on your computer, open file explorer - Click on C drive - click on program files - find Sage program (Sage, Line 50, 2009, 2011 or whatever version you are running) - click on ACCDTA and scroll down to the QUEUE.DTA file. Right click on it and delete it. Don't worry, it is a regenerated file when you restart Sage but it will have cleared your problem.
It really is as simple as that. Close file explorer and start Sage as you normally would and you will be in.
In fairness to Sage, it is a protection if Sage is not closed down correctly, there is a power cut or something unusual happens. In this case, because it is so simple, they really should just email instructions, but it is probably a good money earner.
I've been using Sage, without support since 1990 ish - very simplistic DOS program then on an Amstrad computer! (Those weren't the days!!). I have a client who still uses Sage V.4 another on V.7 - it still works in Windows 10 - not all the bells and whistles though. But it adds and subtracts perfectly and does what they need.
If program is held remotely, just let your IT people have a copy of this.
If worried about deleting QUEUE. DTA file, right click and rename QUEUEOLD. DTA as others suggest - then restart Sage. Works the same.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Adder1
Missed an A
Hi David.
Oops! ACCDTA has another A - please read as ACCDATA.
Cheers,
Adder1
Sage support is a disgrace
Software manufacturers are obliged to make sure their product works for users as it is intended, especially when the software is something designed to work in business critical applications. It is an absolute disgrace that such a poorly programmed, bloated and flawed program as Sage has no support offered at all to users who don't pay frankly ridiculous fees.
I agree that having seen how a lot of people misuse and abuse Sage through a lack of knowledge of the software or of general bookkeeping practice there is a market for paid support that aids the end user in operating the software in the correct manner but to my mind this should be an entirely separate thing to users who have paid a lot of money for a functioning product and are having problems related to the sloppy way Sage is constructed.
If I buy software and through no fault of my own it doesn't work then I shouldn't have to pay again to get it fixed, the seller has not held up their end of the deal in the first place.
And don't even get me started on their ludicrous lack of backwards compatibility...
Windows 10
I have versions 20 and 21 running quite happily on Windows 10. I haven't yet had cause to load earlier versions via ADM but will report back if I do so.
Windows 10
Older versions of Sage are not supported for Windows 10 but that doesn't mean they won't run, just that if things go wrong then even the paid support won't cover you unless you're on the latest version.
Windows 10
Hi
I am using windows 10 and all my versions from 2010 up work on my windows 10 . At the beginning it had issue with the date but you just change the date setting to suit sage.
Sage
I used to work for a supplier of software to the medical profession. The product that they were running down was a total embarrassment to support. I'm just glad that they weren't demanding refunds for their support fees for this.
When I left and tried using Sage for more than just the AAT Computerised accounting, it kept coming up with errors and data not saving. I called Sage and found them very unhelpful as they did a very minimum with me over the phone as I had no extra paid for support. I do not mind paying for support for "How do I do this?" queries, but I object to paying out when the basic product is not working. Also I found that trying to put reports together in Sage from the data I had inputted nigh on impossible. I did not find Sage intuitive to use and am surprised that it is used by so many.
As and when I might have to get some proper business accounting software, Sage will be at the bottom of my list.