Error: "You must post and print before closing."

The error "You must post and print before closing" occurs in Sage 50 Accounting when trying to run the Year-End Wizard.

CAUTION: Use caution when working with the below product functionality. Always create a backup of your data before proceeding with advanced solutions. If necessary, seek the assistance of a qualified Sage business partner, network administrator, or Sage customer support analyst.

 

 NOTE: Perform these steps on the computer the hosts the data. 

1. Post all journals

1. Make a backup of your company data files. Always back up to a new file name. Never overwrite an existing backup.
2. Click Tasks, System, Change Accounting Periods, and change to Period 01.
3. Select Maintain and then Company Information.
4. Check your posting method at the bottom of the window. If you’re set to Batch or SmartPosting, continue with the next step. If your posting method is Real-time, click the arrow on that line and change the Posting Method to Batch posting. Then click OK, and OK again.
5. Click Tasks, System, Post, and post each individual journal one at a time.
6. Close the Year. If the issue persists proceed to the next section.

2. Run Data Verification

1. Click Tasks, System, Change Accounting Period, and change to Period 1.
2. Click File, Data Verification.
3. Select the option for Both Tests and click Start.
4. Make a back-up by clicking Save when prompted.
5. When the test completes, close your year. If the message appears again, proceed to the next section.

3. Run the Chart of Accounts/Journal synchronization test

See How do I run the Chart of Accounts Journal Synchronization test?.

4. Beginning Balances aren't posted correctly

1. Click Maintain, Company Information and change to Batch Posting.
2. Click Tasks, System, Change Accounting Period, and change to Period 1.
3. Click Tasks, System, Unpost.
4. Leave the All Journals box checked, then click OK.
   • This process can take a long time
5. Once this completes, click Maintain, Chart of Accounts, Beginning Balances.
6. Select the period you entered Beginning Balances in and click OK.
7. In the beginning balance screen, click in the field that contains the first value. Press the Enter key on the keyboard to cycle through all the account balances.
8. Stop on the last line and click OK to save and close the window.
9. Select Tasks, System, Post, and click OK to re-post all the journals.
10. Close the Year.

For hands-on instruction for closing a year, see Closing your fiscal and payroll years.