The Output Mode Enables you to Choose How Reports, Letters and Documents are Printed from Sage 200
You can send them to a printer, preview them on-screen, or save them to the Spooler to print later.
If you’ve just been set up in Sage, you may find that you try to print a document and nothing seems to happen. This means that your output mode isn’t set up as you might want it to be.
In this Tip of the Week, we show you how to set up the output mode in Sage 200.
Additionally, you can watch the short tutorial here to help better your understanding.
Setting Up the Output Mode
If you go to the Tools option and click on the cog icon top right of Sage 200, you have an option for ‘Choose Output Mode’.
As you can see, there are 3 options available:
Printer
This sends all layouts or documents that you produce from Sage straight to the printer. This is the least popular choice, as if you accidentally produce a report that’s 300 pages long, you probably don’t want to print it straight off and use all your paper!
Spooler
This saves all reports or layouts in the Spooler for you to come back to and preview, print or export later. This can be accessed by the printer icon top right of Sage. This is also the default option when you are set up with a Sage user, so anything you may have already tried to print should be sat in here waiting for you.
Preview
This is probably the most popular choice. This will produce the layout for you straight on to screen. You can then send this to the spooler if you wish to store for later, or you can print, export or email straight from the preview itself. This option will also let you know if there are any issues with the report you are trying to produce by giving you an error, whereas reports that cannot be generated but are set to go to Spooler will not error but also will not produce.
Your output mode can be changed at any time so you’re not committing to anything, have a go and see which option works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Setting Up the Output Mode in Sage 200
What is the Output Mode in Sage 200?
The Output Mode determines how reports, letters, and documents are produced in Sage 200. You can choose to send them directly to a printer, preview them on screen, or save them to the Spooler to print or export later.
Why does nothing happen when I try to print a report in Sage 200?
If you click Print and nothing appears, your Output Mode is likely set to Spooler. This is the default for new Sage users. Your reports are probably sitting in the Spooler waiting to be viewed or printed. You can access the Spooler via the printer icon in the top‑right corner of Sage.
Why are my Sage 200 reports going straight to the printer without showing a preview?
When reports go straight to printer without showing the preview is due to the Output Mode, usually when the Output Mode is set to Printer instead of Preview. Switching to Preview in the Output Mode settings stops reports from auto‑printing and lets you check them before sending them to a printer.
Which Output Mode is best for everyday use?
Most users prefer Preview because it lets you see the document instantly, print it, export it, or send it to the Spooler. It also alerts you to any report errors, whereas errors may not appear if the Output Mode is set to Spooler.
Why can’t I export a report to PDF from Sage 200?
If your Output Mode is set to Printer, Sage won’t show export options. Switch to Preview or open the report from the Spooler, and the export tools (PDF, Excel, CSV) will appear in the toolbar.
Why do my reports appear in the Spooler but won’t open?
This often happens when:
- The report was generated by a different Windows user profile
- The Spooler has become full or corrupted
- The Output Mode was set to Spooler unintentionally
Clearing old Spooler items or switching to Preview usually resolves the issue.
Written by: Gary Butler, Sage Support Team Mentor at PKF Smith Cooper Systems
Reviewed by: Gary Butler, Sage Support Team Mentor
Last reviewed: June 2026
If you would like more support concerning setting up the output mode or your Sage system, you can contact us via the enquiry form or contact our support team at sagesupport@pkfscs.co.uk.
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