Error: "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" when processing on the payroll on Release 6.0a

After the installation of the Release 6.0a software for Sage VIP Classic and Sage VIP Premier release on 8 March 2023, you process the payroll. The error message appears onscreen for example when you close the Employee Information screen, add employees or import employee data, and closes the system.

"Object reference not set to an instance of an object" referring to the EVSCOMS.ACU and other program files.

The issues is related to records in the data written to the Employment Verification Service database (EVS.vdb6) to update the record, and the system does not find the database in the location defined in the registry.

The database location is found on the following registry key: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\EVS

The issue is mainly experienced by users working in multi-user environments (via RDP or shared network drives)

 CAUTION: Do not replace the program files mentioned in the error with files from any prior version, as this might result in other errors during processing of your payroll. 

The issue was resolved in the software update installer available as from 14/03/2023. 

• Download the latest installation file for Release 6.0a from the Sage Customer Portal (the filename include the date 2023/03/13 as in the example below)

• Create a full system backup of your system prior to installation of the new software
• Access your system folder with File Explorer, and remove the file EVS.vdb6 from the folder (a new file will be created when you launch the system)
• When launch the system on the new software, the application sets the EVS registry key to the location accessed as per the shortcut - this will ensure all users point to the same location, even in a network or RDP environment
• The system will recreate the EVS database (EVS.vdb6) when launching the system
• When processing on the system, the error will not recur

 NOTE: Accessing the system when deleting the EVS file might time to complete, as the file is recreated for all companies.