Import from Sage desktop

You can import data from Sage by generating a zip file using the Caseware Cloud Import Utility, then importing it into your engagement. We currently support the following Sage accounting software:

  • Import from Sage 50 Accounts (Sage-Line50)

  • Import from Sage 50 Accounting CDN Edition (Simply)

For a list of versions we support, see Supported third-party accounting packages.

Note: Accounts with zero balances do not automatically import into Caseware Cloud apps with the exception of IDEA. To include zero-balance accounts, you must manually add and assign them to the designated groups.

Generate the import file for Sage 50 Accounts (Sage-Line50)

Before you start, make sure that you have the necessary import files:

  • Profile Information: ACCDATA\ACCOUNT.DTA

  • Chart of Accounts: ACCDATA\NOMINAL.DTA

  • CoA Index: ACCDATA\NOMINDEX.DTA

  • GL Detail: ACCDATA\SPLITS.DTA

  • Company Information: ACCDATA\SETUP.DTA

  • Account Types: ACCDATA\COA

  • Bank Information: ACCDATA\BANK.DTA

  • Ledger Index: ACCDATA\HEADER.DTA

  • Department Information: DEPARTM.DTA

To generate the import file for Sage 50 Accounts (Sage-Line50):

  1. Download the Caseware Cloud Import Utility.

    2. Caseware Cloud Import Utility(.exe)

  2. Open the Utility, select Other Data Source and select Next.

  3. In the Import From and Version drop-downs, select Sage 50 Accounts and the version you're importing from.

  4. In Import Path, select Browse and navigate to the folder that contains the ACCDATA folder, where the .DTA files you want to import are located.

    The Cloud Import Utility.

  5. Determine the remaining settings for the import.

    The settings vary based on the version you previously selected.

  6. Select Next, then Finish.

  7. Save the generated zip file using the displayed prompt.

    To continue the import process, see Import the data into your engagement.

Generate the import file for Sage 50 Accounting CDN Edition (Simply)

Before you start, make sure that you install either Sage 50 Accounting (CDN Edition) or the Sage 50 Connection Manager utility from MyCaseware. You must have one of these applications to perform the import; however, do not install both.

To generate the import file for Sage 50 Accounting CDN Edition (Simply):

  1. Download the Caseware Cloud Import Utility.

    2. Caseware Cloud Import Utility(.exe)

  2. Open the Utility, select Other Data Source and select Next.

  3. In the Import From and Version drop-downs, select Sage 50 Accounting CDN Edition (Simply) and the version you're importing from.

  4. In Import Path, select Browse and navigate to the folder containing the client file you want to import. Client files for Sage have the .SAI file name extension.

    The Client ID field automatically fills with the name of the client file.

    The Cloud Import Utility.

  5. Determine the remaining settings for the import.

    The settings vary based on the version you previously selected.

  6. Select Next, then Finish.

  7. Save the generated zip file using the displayed prompt.

Import the data into your engagement

After you generate the zip file using the Caseware Cloud Import Utility, you can import the data into your engagement.

To import the data into your engagement:

  1. Open your Caseware Cloud engagement file. When you first open the engagement, the Engagement properties popup appears. Set Year end date to be the same as the data you are about to import.

    The year-end date is the last element of the name of the zip file you generated in either Generate the import file for Sage 50 Accounts (Sage-Line50) or Generate the import file for Sage 50 Accounting CDN Edition (Simply). For example, for the file named UNIVERSAL CONSTRUCTION 2025-06-30.zip, the year-end date is June 30, 2025.

  2. On the Data page, go to the Import tab and select Accounting Software or Structured File.

  3. If this is the first time you’re importing data into the engagement, select New data source. If you’ve previously imported data, select Add data.

  4. If your engagement is consolidated and has internal subsidiary entities, select which entity you want to import data for from the list.

  5. Select Desktop Accounting Software from the list of data sources, then select Next.

    If the option is not visible, you can use the search box to find it.

  6. At the Upload stage of the import wizard, select or drag-drop the zip file you generated using the Caseware Cloud Import Utility, then select Next.

  7. At the Configure Data stage of the import wizard:

    • Reporting period is automatically filled with the reporting period of the data.

    • Start Date is automatically filled with the start date of the data.

    • End Date is automatically filled with the end date of the data.

  8. In Select dataset type, choose the type of dataset you are importing. Select Trial balance if you are importing a trial balance and General ledger if you are importing transactions.

  9. If you selected Trial balance, collapse the list of dataset types by selecting the Collapse icon (). Notice the Import the last 5 years of TB option appears. Select it to import up to five years of trial balance data if it is available in the zip file you generated.

  10. Select Next.

  11. At the Confirmation stage of the import wizard, review the information and select Import.

To view the imported financial data, go to your engagement's Data page.

Reimport the trial balance

After you complete the import, you can reimport the trial balance data at any point in time by going to the Data page, and selecting Import, then one of the available options:

  • Reimport Trial Balance - Select this method to reimport the data with the original import method that you used. For example, if you previously used Xero to import the trial balance data, the Xero import method displays when you attempt a reimport.

  • Reimport from different source - Select this method to reimport the data with a different import method. For example, if you previously used Xero, but now want to import the trial balance data from a CSV file.

When you reimport the data, accounts from the new data are matched to the old data using the account name and number. Balances for matching accounts are overwritten with the new data. Accounts that only exist in the old data and not the new data are deleted.

Note: If you reimport the data from a different source and there are accounts in the existing data that are not in the new data, the balance of these existing accounts is set to 0.

Note: In engagement files created from carry forward, account balances from prior years are not overwritten or deleted by the new data from reimport.