Import into Sage from Excel to create a multi-line sales invoice in the Invoicing module

The standard response from most is that if you want to create an invoice in the Invoicing module, then the built in import routines do not allow it, so you'd need a 3rd party import program. You can import the invoice as a transaction to the Audit Trail using the Audit Trail Excel import template though.

However, there is a way to create an invoice in the Invoicing module using standard Sage routines - just not using the Excel import templates supplied by Sage. Sage help files outline the process whereby sales invoices can be created in either Sage Line 50 or Sage Instant here. Whilst this process requires Sage 50 Accounts Professional to raise a Purchase Order, instead, we can create a "virtual" Sage 50 Accounts Professional Purchase Order using only Excel.

A summary of the process is given below. In the summary, Company B is the company wishing to create multi-line invoices in the Invoicing module.

• Company A (or someone in Company B) creates a virtual Purchase Order using Excel and sends it using Transaction email to Company B. Company B receives this as a Sales Order.
• The Sales Order details are matched and updated.
• Then Transaction Email automatically creates a Sales Invoice in Sage 50 Accounts / Sage Instant.
• Company B sends this Sales Invoice to Company A using Transaction Email. Company A receives this as a Purchase Invoice.

The folks at Onion Reporting Software have a free Excel template to create the "virtual" Purchase Order needed for this process.