Setting Up AccountLinx for Sage 100 Contractor (formerly Master Builder)

David N

December 15, 2025 22:17

AccountLinx is an application we offer that bridges the connection between ExakTime Connect and Sage 100 Contractor. With AccountLinx you can:

Data map between the corresponding entities of ExakTime and Sage 100.
Enable various settings to help tailor your time data for Sage 100.
Export time and expense data from ExakTime Connect into Sage 100 for reporting, payroll, and more.

SyncLinx is the other half of AccountLinx, which allows you to import entities from Sage 100 into ExakTime. If you would like steps on setting up SyncLinx and importing Sage 100 entities into ExakTime, refer to our article that covers connecting the applications and the importer settings.

This guide assumes that you have Sage 100 Contractor version 20+ setup and that AccountLinx/SyncLinx has been installed and successfully connected to your ExakTime Connect database. If you need assistance with the installation and initial setup of AccountLinx/SyncLinx, you can refer to the following article.

As each company can set up its company file in unique ways, we have provided generic steps below to try to cover the basics, and we may not be able to address all scenarios. It is advised to read through all the steps for each section before proceeding to provide context.

Creating an "API" user in Sage 100 Contractor
- What to do in Sage 100 Contractor
- What to do in SQL Management
Configuring & Using AccountLinx
Reviewing Time (and Expense) Data in Sage 100

Before Updating Sage 100

If you have a working connection between AccountLinx/SyncLinx and Sage 100 Contractor, it is advised to consult us before updating Sage 100 Contractor to a newer version to ensure that we are compatible.

In the worst-case scenario, if Sage 100 Contractor is updated and AccountLinx/SyncLinx is not yet compatible, AccountLinx will not be able to export to Sage 100 Contractor, and you will have to manually enter time data into Sage 100 Contractor and/or SyncLinx will not be able to import data from Sage 100 Contractor.

As of 12/15/2025, AccountLinx 4.7.8.1142 is compatible with Sage 100 Contractor version 27.2.8.1. For more information about updating AccountLinx, refer to the following article.

If you want to update Sage 100 and are unsure of compatibility with SyncLinx/AccountLinx, feel free to use the "Request Support" link at the top of the page to submit a ticket to our support team.

Requirements For Direct Connection

SyncLinx and AccountLinx allow you to have a direct connection to pull key data from and push time data into Sage 100. To establish a connection between Sage 100 Contractor and our applications, a user must be created in Sage 100 Contractor that SyncLinx/AccountLinx can use. Some steps may require the assistance of your IT professional depending on how Sage 100 has been installed and set up. If you have already created the "API" user, skip to the next section to set up SyncLinx.

Creating an "API" user in Sage 100 Contractor

The "API" user is created in Sage 100 Contractor and will be utilized by SyncLinx/AccountLinx to import and export data between Sage 100 Contractor and ExakTime.

What to do in Sage 100 Contractor

Log in to Sage 100 Contractor with existing company administrator credentials.
Go to Utilities, click Company Security, then click Security Groups.
Create an "API" security group with a unique number, such as 99.
Go to Utilities, click Company Security, then click User List.
Select a Sage 100 user and assign the "API" security group to the user. AccountLinx/SyncLinx will use the user credentials for the user with the "API" security group to access Sage 100 information.
- You cannot use the "Supervisor" user for this.
- We generally advise creating a dedicated user in Sage 100 Contractor with a name such as "APIUser" with the "API" security group. This ensures that AccountLinx/SyncLinx will continue to work with Sage 100 in perpetuity and through staffing changes.
- If you choose to use an existing user instead (such as an existing accountant user, HR official, etc.), we recommend that you note this. If the Sage 100 user credentials we rely on are made inactive or have their permissions changed, the Sage 100 credentials entered into AccountLinx/SyncLinx should be updated to another viable Sage 100 user so SyncLinx/AccountLinx can continue communicating with Sage 100.
Give the Sage 100 user any other desired permissions/security groups and save your changes.

What to do in SQL Management

After creating/editing a Sage 100 Contractor user with the "API" user group, the user will also need to be granted elevated permission for the SQL database.

Open Sage 100 Contractor Database Administration.
Go to Company Admins/SQL Logins...
Click Modify Company Administrators
In the drop-down menu, choose the appropriate company file.
Check the box next to the user that was given "API" security group.
Click Update Admin Users.
On the left-hand side, go to Modify SQL Server Administrators
Check the box next to the user that was given "API" security group.
Click Update Sysadmins.

Now that the user(s) have the appropriate permissions, the user credentials can be used for AccountLinx/SyncLinx.

Connecting AccountLinx to Sage 100

Go to Tools and click Exporter Settings.
Select the "Sage 100 Contractor [Master Builder]" exporter and click OK.
Click Configuration... on the Exporter Settings window.
Make sure that the version, server, and country are correct. Click Change Company File.
Enter the Sage 100 user credentials with the "API" security group and click Connect To Server to retrieve a list of company files in the "Company" drop-down menu.
Use the "Company" drop-down menu to select the company file you are exporting time data into.
Click Login.

AccountLinx Settings for Sage 100

Go to Tools and click Exporter Settings.
Click Configuration... on the Exporter Settings window.
The "Exporter Settings" window will offer 5 tabs:
- General Tab
  - Sage 100 Version - Specify the Sage 100 Contractor version, server, and country.
  - Company File Login - The current company file that AccountLinx is connected to and a button to change the company file.
  - Required Pay Type Settings - The default pay type will be used when time records are exported via AccountLinx if there are no available alternative pay types. The pay type value entered must exist in Sage 100 Contractor to avoid any issues when exporting. The values are commonly 1 for Regular, 2 for Overtime, and 3 for Premium.
  - Map Pay Type To - Specify an alternative pay type to be used if an employee, location, or cost code is used for an exported time record. If an entity does not have an alternative pay type, it will use the default pay type instead.
    - For example, if the Location determines the pay type, this field should be set to "Location" and use the "Map Locations" window to specify the pay types to use.
  - Location mapping required - If enabled, a time record cannot be exported if the location used with the time record has not been mapped.
  - Cost Code mapping required - If enabled, a time record cannot be exported if the cost code used with the time record has not been mapped.
  - Export Salary Employee - Associated Salary Employee with the selected entity. Any values are entered from the related mapping menu.
  - Map PayGroups to - Associate PayGroups with the selected entity. Any values are entered from the related mapping menu.
  - Department to - Specify the department that should be associated with an entity when the time record is exported.
- Service Order Tab
  - Map Service Order Number - Associate service orders with the selected entity. Any values are entered from the related mapping menu.
  - Include Service Invoice Status
  - Service Order Default Job - The default service order number to be used.
- Workers' Compensation Tab
  - Map Workers' Compensation to - Associate a workers' compensation code with the selected entity. Any values are entered from the related mapping menu.
  - Workers' Compensation Default Code - The default workers' compensation code to be used.
- Comments/Notes Tab
  - Select type of notes or comments to include with the exported time record - Specify the comments/notes that should be associated with exported time data.
  - Select where in Sage 100 Daily Payroll Entry should the comments appear - Specify where the comments/notes from the above setting should be entered in Sage 100.
- Phase Tab
  - Map Phase to - Associate phases with the selected entity. Any values are entered from the related mapping menu.
- Expenses Tab
  - Export Expense - Check this box to enable exporting expenses with time data for the same day for the employee.
Save your changes.

Data Mapping

After setting up your Sage 100 exporter settings, you will need to map your data in AccountLinx so that the time data from AccountLinx will export to the corresponding entities in Sage 100. The mapping process is fairly consistent for all applications we integrate with, and some variations depending on your export settings.

For more information about mapping, you can refer to the following dedicated article.

Expenses

Expenses are an optional feature for the Sage 100 exporter, which allows you to export expense records along with time data for the same date(s). As expenses will only be exported with time records of the same day for an employee, you will need to export at least one time record for the day to export an expense for the same day and employee. After enabling expenses from the exporter settings, you will need to map your expenses. If you are unfamiliar with mapping expense data, you can expand the section below.

How to Map Expense Types

Click Map Expense Types from the main menu of AccountLinx.
Enter the appropriate expense pay type that Sage 100 will recognize in the provided field. "8" is typically used for per diem in Sage 100.
Select the ExakTime Expense Type from the left and the equivalent Sage 100 Cost Code from the right. Click Map to map the data.

Exporting Time (and Expense) Data

When your exporter settings and your mappings have been completed, you can begin exporting your time data. The export process is consistent for all applications we integrate with. For assistance with exporting time data, you can refer to the following dedicated article.

If you have enabled expenses, when a time record is exported for an employee, any expenses for the same day will also be exported for the employee.

Reviewing Time (and Expense) Data in Sage 100

After you have exported the time data (and expense data, if enabled) from AccountLinx, you can review the time/expense data in Sage 100 by navigating to Payroll, going to Daily Payroll, and clicking Daily Payroll Entry from the side menu.

On the Daily Payroll Entry screen, select the appropriate date to review the time and/or expense data exported by AccountLinx. You can also make any adjustments that AccountLinx cannot accommodate from this menu. Keep in mind that any changes made directly on the "Daily Payroll Entry" menu will not carry over to ExakTime Connect.

ALX - Sage 100 - Exported.png

From this point, any further assistance with using and/or manipulating data in Sage 100 should be requested from Sage as they would be more knowledgeable.

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