Configuring anti-virus software

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How to configure your anti-virus software not to conflict with Sage

Under certain conditions, the anti virus software you are using to protect your PC may have an adverse effect on the performance of Sage Accounts. When Sage Accounts creates or accesses a file, the antivirus software can lock the file as it performs a scan. This means that Sage Accounts may slow down or appear to hang as the file is locked by the antivirus software. In extreme circumstances, antivirus software can also affect the stability and general functionality of Sage Accounts.
The purpose of this article is to identify the file types used by Sage Accounts that can be excluded from the antivirus software’s scanning routine, so as not to interfere with the performance of Sage Accounts.
This article contains the following sections:

  • Files used by Sage Accounts – Lists the file extensions for the files used by Sage Accounts that you may want to exclude from your anti virus software’s scanning routine.
  • Running Reports – When running reports in Sage Accounts several temporary files are created. The anti virus software scan may lock these files affecting the performance of Sage Accounts. As some of the files created use a file extension that is commonly used by other Windows applications, it is not practical to exclude these files from the anti virus scan. This section explains how to change the location of these files so that the anti virus software can be configured to exclude a specific folder rather than all files with a certain extension.
  • Links to the support areas of commonly used anti virus software websites – A list of commonly used anti virus programs and links to the support areas of their websites.

Files used by Sage Accounts

Note: The file extensions listed in this article may not be unique to files used by Sage Accounts and you may not want to exclude these from your antivirus scanning routine. If in any doubt please refer to your IT Administrator.
Tip: To improve the performance of Sage Accounts, it may not be necessary to exclude all of the file types listed below from the antivirus scanning routine.

Data Files:

  • *.DTA
  • *.DTH
  • *.COA

Report and Layout Files:

  • *.SRT
  • *.SLY
  • *.SLT
  • *.SLB
  • *.RPT
  • *.report
  • *.layout
  • *.letter
  • *.label

Memo Files:

  • *.SLM
  • *.PLM
  • *.NLM
  • *.ILM
  • *.BLM
  • *.CLM
  • *.DLM

Criteria Files:

Note: In the case of criteria files, the * represents the Sage Accounts user name that created the file. For example, Manager.slc

  • *.SLC
  • *.SLI
  • *.PRC
  • *.PRI
  • *.NMC
  • *.NMI
  • *.BKC
  • *.BKI
  • *.SKC
  • *.SKI
  • *.IVC
  • *.IVI
  • *.SPC
  • *.SPI
  • *.PCC
  • *.PPI
  • *.PCI
  • *.REC
  • *.REI
  • *.SAC
  • *.SAI
  • *.IPC
  • *.IPI
  • *.PDC
  • *.PDI

Running Reports

Note: This involves making changes to the Microsoft Windows registry. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require a reinstall of the Microsoft Windows operating system to correct them. Sage cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. If in any doubt, please refer to your IT Administrator.

This section only applies if you are using Sage Accounts v6.xx or above.

  1. Open the Windows registry and locate the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareODBCODBC.INISageLine50v12.
  2. Within this key, create a new String Value called TempPathname.
    Note: TempPathname is case sensitive. Using the wrong case causes an error message when running reports in Sage Accounts.
    Tip: If you are not using Sage Accounts v12, replace SageLine50v12 with the relevant version number. If you are using Sage Instant Accounts the same registry key is used with the relevant version number applied. For example, if you use Sage Instant Accounts v14, the registry key is SageLine50v11.
  3. Modify the String Value and in the Value data box, type in the path to the folder where you want the temporary files to be created.
    Tip: We recommend you create a new folder in the Sage program directory called Reports_Temp and enter the path to this folder in the Value data box.
  4. You can now configure your antivirus software to exclude the following file types specifically in this folder:
    • *.TMP
    • *.000
    • *.001
    • *.002

You have now configured Sage Accounts to create temporary files in a specific folder when running reports.

Links to the support areas of commonly used anti virus software websites

To add these exclusions to your anti virus software please refer to the User Guide or press F1 to open the Help system. Please note that these products are not recommended, produced or supported by Sage.
The list below provides links to the support areas of the some common anti virus programs used:

Note: Synergy Network Ltd. cannot be held accountable for any content or advice given on this website or for any virus that could affect your PC as a result of adding these exclusions.