The following steps explain how Sage Accounts uses the Company file.
The Company file is located in the relevant folder within the Accounts settings directory:
| Sage Accounts version | Default data path |
| Sage Accounts v30 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2024 |
| Sage Accounts v29 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023 |
| Sage Accounts v28 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2022 |
| Sage Accounts v27 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2021 |
| Sage Accounts v26 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2020 |
The Company file is a text file with no extension, created during the initial setup of Sage Accounts. The information in the Company file depends upon the installation type.
Standalone installations
On standalone installations, the data path in the Company file is in the relevant year of the program installed and by default reads:
| Sage Accounts version | Default data path |
| Sage Accounts v30 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2024\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v29 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v28 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2022\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v27 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2021\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v26 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2020\Company.000 |
Network Installations
On network installations the Company file on the server computer by default reads the same as on a standalone installation. The Company file on a client computer holds details of the network path or mapped drive that points to the data held on the server computer 
EXAMPLE: F:\Accounts\2023\Company.000
Multi-company installations
On multi-company installations each company has an Accdata folder that holds all of the data files for that company. This means that multi-company versions of Sage Accounts have a separate line in the Company file for each company. Sage Accounts then displays a complete list of available companies in the Select Company window when it is opens. When a new company is created the Company file on that computer automatically updates with the new data path.
EXAMPLE: if you have three companies the Company file may read the following:
C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023\Company.000
C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023\Company.001
C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023\Company.002
Check or edit the Company file
- Press Windows key + E and then browse to and double-click the last folder in your Settings Directory. EXAMPLE: C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023.
- Double-click the Company file then choose Select the program from a list and click OK. This is a text file with no extension.
In the Open With window select Notepad then click OK. - If the data paths are correct, please proceed to step 5.
- If the data paths are incorrect, type the correct path to your data files for example F:\2023\Company.000, and remove the incorrect path.
To save the changes click File and then Save. - Click File and then Exit.
You have now checked or corrected the Company file.
Delete and recreate the Company file
As the Company file is a text file, recreating the file ensures the file saves correctly with no extension. You must ensure that Sage Accounts is closed before following this procedure.
- Close Sage Accounts.
- Browse to the relevant directory:
| Sage Accounts version | Default data path |
| Sage Accounts v30 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2024 |
| Sage Accounts v29 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2023\ |
| Sage Accounts v28 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2022\ |
| Sage Accounts v27 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2021\ |
| Sage Accounts v26 | C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2020\ |
Right-click on the COMPANY file select Delete then click Yes. - Click File and then New and select Text Document.
- Name the file COMPANY.txt and press Enter
- Double-click COMPANY.txt.
- Enter the path to the accounts data not including Accdata from the end of the path and press Enter.
| Sage Accounts version | Default data path |
| Sage Accounts v25 | Windows 10, 8 and 7 - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2019\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v24 | Windows 10, 8 and 7 - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2018\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v23 | Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2017\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v22 | Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2016\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts v21 | Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2015\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts 2014 (v20) | Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2014\Company.000
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sage\Accounts\2014\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts 2013 (v19) | Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2013\Company.000
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sage\Accounts\2013\Company.000 |
| Sage Accounts 2012 (v18) | Windows 10, 8, 7 and Vista - C:\ProgramData\Sage\Accounts\2012\Company.000
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Sage\Accounts\2012\Company.000 |
You must enter the path on a new line and press Enter at the end of the path.
- To save, click File then Save
- To exit, click File and then Exit.
- Right-click COMPANY.txt and click Rename, remove the .txt extension so the file name is COMPANY.
- Click Yes and then File then Close.
The COMPANY file has now been deleted and re-created. When you next open Sage Accounts it reads the contents of the new COMPANY file and connects to the specified data.
Common Issues
ActiveSetup Wizard
If the Company file has an incorrect, or invalid, data path Sage Accounts cannot connect to the data. When you open Sage Accounts the ActiveSetup Wizard may appear, or you could be asked for product registration details, as the software attempts to create a new set of data files.
Multi-company network installations not showing all companies at startup
When a new company is created on the server PC the Company file on each client PC doesn't automatically update. To correct this, open the File menu, choose Open then choose Company. From the Open Company window, click Add Company then select the path to the new company, for example, F:\2023\Company.001.
Once the additional company has been selected the details are written to the Company file and the next time Sage Accounts is opened the new company appears in the Select Company window.
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