MuteroDocs

Sage Pastel Accounting (Partner & Express 50c)

Fiscalise Sage Pastel Partner and Pastel Express (v11 through v19, 50c) invoices and credit notes with Mutero Desktop — local ODBC connector with automatic 32-bit/64-bit engine bridge, DSN auto-discovery, offline queuing, SP- numbering, shared FDMS preflight, and FRN writeback. For Sage Evolution or Sage One, see their respective guides.

Local agent on localhost:18989
Mutero Desktop runs a local HTTP agent at http://127.0.0.1:18989. Pastel ODBC credentials stay securely on this PC. The agent polls posted sales documents from HistoryHeader / HistoryLines, queues them locally with SP- / SP-CN- stubs, runs the ZIMRA preflight, and syncs to Mutero Cloud after browser sign-in. Keep Mutero running (window or tray) whenever you use Pastel with Mutero.
Sage Pastel Accounting only (Partner & Express)
This guide is for Sage Pastel Partner & Pastel Express (50c) on Windows via ODBC — not Sage One (cloud API) and not Sage Evolution (SQL Server ERP). Pastel Partner databases are typically powered by Pervasive PSQL / Actian Zen. Mutero Desktop automatically bridges both 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC architectures, eliminating architecture mismatch errors.

Download & install

Mutero Desktop for Windows

Automated Windows setup file (`Mutero-Setup.exe`). No technical setup or terminal commands required.

  1. Download and launch Mutero-Setup.exe on the Windows machine where Sage Pastel Partner is installed.
  2. Select your Theme Mode (Dark, Light, or System) in the setup wizard.
  3. Launch Mutero Desktop from your Desktop or Start Menu.

1. Sign in with browser

Open Mutero Desktop and use Sign in with browser. Pastel never signs into Mutero Cloud directly — the desktop API key is used for fiscalisation.

2. Select one VFD device

Each desktop install supports one active registered VFD. Open a fiscal day before fiscalising.

3. Configure ODBC for Pastel Partner

Credentials & Settings

FieldDetails & Discovery
DSN auto-discoveryClick Discover DSNs in Mutero Desktop. Mutero will scan all registered System and User DSNs across both 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC registries and show interactive buttons for each. Simply click your Pastel company DSN to select it!
ODBC driver & bitnessStandard Pastel Partner installs use 32-bit Pervasive PSQL / Actian Zen. Mutero Desktop includes an intelligent 32-bit / 64-bit bridge, meaning both 32-bit and 64-bit Pervasive or SQL Server DSNs work automatically without architecture mismatch (IM014) errors.
DSN nameThe name of the ODBC Data Source pointing to your Pastel company directory (e.g. PastelCompany or C_Drive_Pastel19).
Connection stringOptional alternative to a DSN — full ODBC connection string if provided by your network administrator. Leave blank when using a named DSN.
Username / passwordOptional. Most Pervasive PSQL / Actian Zen company databases do not require database credentials. Leave blank unless your database engine is password-protected.
  1. In Mutero Desktop → Settings → Sage Pastel Partner, click Discover DSNs.
  2. Click on your detected Pastel company DSN from the badge list, or type your DSN name manually.
  3. Toggle on Enable Pastel Listener and Auto-fiscalise.
  4. Click Test connection to verify tables (HistoryHeader / HistoryLines) can be queried.
  5. Click Sync now to poll pending invoices immediately, or let the background polling cycle run automatically.

4. Document types & how to issue a credit note

Easiest option: Mutero web app
If Pastel feels confusing, open the fiscalised invoice in the Mutero web app, then click Issue Credit Note. That handles the ZIMRA credit note for you. Use the Pastel steps below only when you also want the credit note recorded in Pastel.

The poller watches HistoryHeader / HistoryLines for invoices and credit notes. Mutero numbers them as SP-… (invoices) and SP-CN-… (credit notes).

Steps in Pastel Partner

  1. Post a Credit Note for the customer.
  2. Set OrigDocNumber to the original invoice number (required).
  3. Add a short reason / description.
  4. Save/post it. Mutero Desktop will queue it once the original is fiscalised.

If the original invoice is not fiscalised yet, the credit note waits (WAITING_ORIGINAL) until it is.

5. ZIMRA FDMS preflight (shared)

Pastel uses the same desktop + cloud preflight as Excel, Odoo, and QuickBooks Desktop so documents do not invent VAT or fail late at ZIMRA:

  • Currency — USD or ZiG only.
  • Tax — mapped Pastel tax types, known labels (15%, VAT, Zero Rated, Exempt), or clear rates (0 / ~15). Unknown codes never default to 15% — the row is BLOCKED with a Tax Mapping message.
  • HS codes — zero-rated / exempt lines need a valid 8-digit HS code (from the tax mapping default or line data). RCPT047 / RCPT048.
  • Buyer data — when the Pastel customer has a TIN, Mutero sends ZIMRA buyerData (register name + TIN together, RCPT043).
  • Empty / $0 invoices — auto-terminated; not retried.
Queue status BLOCKED
Open Desktop → Queue and read the error. Fix the Pastel tax type or map it under Dashboard → VFD → Settings → Tax mapping (platform sage_pastel_partner), then Sync again.

6. Tax rates in Pastel & mapping

In Pastel Partner, configure sales tax types that match ZIMRA (company tax setup / tax types — exact menu varies by Pastel version). Map the TaxType values Mutero reads from HistoryLines:

Pastel TaxType (examples)ZIMRA Tax ID
1, 15, 15%, VAT, VAT 15%, Standard, S1 — Standard 15%
2, 0, 0%, Zero Rated, Z2 — Zero Rated
3, Exempt, E, N3 — Exempt

Map custom codes under Dashboard → VFD → Integrations → Tax Mapping (platform sage_pastel_partner). Assign an 8-digit HS default on zero-rated and exempt mappings. Unknown tax types never default to 15% — the queue row is BLOCKED.

7. Writeback & PDF

After ZIMRA confirms, Mutero Desktop writes the FRN and verification URL back into Pastel (default: append to header Description; optional Extra1 / Extra2 fields in Desktop Settings). The fiscal receipt PDF is generated via the shared Mutero Cloud queue path (same as Zoho, Excel, and other integrations).

Troubleshooting

  • ODBC test failed — verify that the DSN name is correct (use Discover DSNs to confirm), that the company data directory is reachable and not corrupted, and that Pervasive / Actian Zen Workgroup Engine is running on the machine.
  • Architecture Mismatch (IM014) — Mutero Desktop automatically bridges 32-bit and 64-bit engines. Ensure you are running the latest Mutero Desktop version.
  • Nothing queued — only posted DocTypes after the AutoIndex watermark are polled. Use Reset watermark in Settings if you want to re-poll historic transactions.
  • BLOCKED (tax / HS) — map the Pastel tax type under Dashboard → VFD → Settings → Tax Mapping or add an 8-digit HS code for zero-rated / exempt items.
  • Credit note skipped / WAITING_ORIGINAL — ensure OrigDocNumber is set in Pastel and that the original SP-… invoice has already been fiscalised.
  • Duplicates — completely safe; Mutero Cloud idempotency keys ensure invoices are never double-fiscalised.
Other Sage Integrations
Mutero supports all three major Sage platforms:
  • Sage One (Sage Business Cloud Accounting): Cloud-to-cloud integration via Sage One REST API with automated company discovery — see the Sage One guide.
  • Sage Evolution (Sage 200 Evolution): On-premise SQL Server ERP connector with automated SSL trust — see the Sage Evolution guide.