How to Reset the BWPrinter.dat File in Sage BusinessWorks

How to Reset Printer Settings in Sage BusinessWorks

Occasionally, printing issues in Sage BusinessWorks can be traced back to a corrupted BWPrinter.dat file. This file stores your saved printer and form preferences for BusinessWorks, and if it becomes damaged, it may prevent forms from printing correctly.

In this software tip, we’ll walk through what the BWPrinter.dat file is, when you may need to rename or delete it, and how to safely recreate it.

What Is the BWPrinter.dat File?

The BWPrinter.dat file is a workstation‑specific file that stores default printing settings in Sage BusinessWorks, including:

• Selected printers
• Saved form choices
• User‑specific print preferences

This file is tied to the local Windows user, meaning each workstation and user has its own version of the file.

If the file becomes corrupted, renaming or deleting it allows Sage BusinessWorks to generate a new, clean version.

When Should You Rename or Delete This File?

You may consider renaming or deleting the BWPrinter.dat file if you experience:

• Forms not printing correctly
• Printer selections not saving
• Unexpected printing errors in BusinessWorks

Renaming the file is recommended before deleting it, so you can restore it if needed.

Step 1: Open File Explorer

You can open File Explorer in either of these ways:

• Click the yellow folder icon on the Windows taskbar

• Right‑click the Windows Start button and select File Explorer

Step 2: Navigate to the BWPrinter.dat File Location

In File Explorer, follow this path:

• Open This PC

• Open the C: drive

• Open Users

• Select your Windows user folder

Step 3: Show Hidden Folders

The AppData folder is hidden by default.

• Click the View tab in File Explorer
• Check Hidden items

You should now see the AppData folder.

Step 4: Locate the BWPrinter.dat File

Continue navigating to:

• AppData → Roaming → Sage → Sage BusinessWorks

In this folder, you will find the BWPrinter.dat file.

Step 5: Rename or Delete the File

Right‑click the BWPrinter.dat file and choose one of the following options:

Option 1: Rename (Recommended)

• Rename the file to BWPrinter.old
• This preserves the original file in case you need it later

Option 2: Delete

• Permanently removes the file

Renaming is usually preferred so the original settings can be restored if needed.

Step 6: Recreate the Printer Settings

The next time you open Sage BusinessWorks and print a form:

• Select your Printer
• Select your Form
• Click Print

Sage BusinessWorks will automatically create a new BWPrinter.dat file using your new settings. These preferences will then be saved going forward.

Renaming or deleting the BWPrinter.dat file is a simple troubleshooting step that can resolve many common printing issues in Sage BusinessWorks.

Once recreated, your new printer and form settings will be saved automatically as you print.

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