What are offline files?

Offline files enable you to access your files when not connected to your network. For example, working away from the office. The network files temporarily save to your local computer and copy back to the network when you reconnect.

 NOTE: We recommend you don't use offline files with Sage Accounts. If you do, it can cause inconsistencies with your data or data corruption.

Indications that you're using offline files.

• Client computers show different data even though they connect to the same location
• Transactions are missing from activity windows
• Sage folders have a green icon stating Online in the bottom left-hand corner
• Duplicate files with the Windows user name in brackets
• Duplicate files with a date and time stamp in the file name

Check if the computer is using offline files

Follow this step on each computer across the network. 

1. Click Help, click About, then click the Data Directory.
2. Check the bottom left-hand side of the folder, for Online and a green icon. 
   

To turn off offline files

NOTE: The following options are only available on client computers.

1. Browse to the shared Sage folder on the network.
2. Right-click the shared Sage folder.
3. Select always available offline.
4. Click Yes, I no longer want this folder and its subfolders available offline.
5. Click OK.  

Alternatively

1. Browse to Control Panel.
2. Open Sync Center.
3. Click Manage Offline Files.
4. Open the general tab.
5. Select Disable offline files.

To remove duplicated files

1. Click Help, click About, then click the Data Directory.
2. Check for duplicate .dta files with the windows user name in brackets.
3. Highlight the duplicate file, right click and Delete. If using windows 11, this will be a bin icon.  

If you have duplicate copies of .dta files, it is likely you'll have errors in your data.

Click File, Maintenance and Check Data. If errors appear, read our A-Z of Check data errors, warnings and comments.