How to Set Up a Test Environment for Tradebox with Sage

Siobhan Bales

May 9, 2025

September 24, 2025

Before fully integrating Tradebox with your live Sage system, it is a good idea to set up a test environment. This allows you to try out the features of Tradebox, become familiar with how it works, and check that everything is configured correctly without affecting your real business data. Whether you are using a multi-company version of Sage or have just a single company licence, there are straightforward ways to do this.

Multi-company

If you have the multi-company version of Sage and an available company slot, the simplest way to create a test environment is by duplicating your live Sage data. Start by taking a backup of your current Sage company. You only need to back up the data files. Then, in Sage, go to File > New > Company and enter your admin password if prompted. Choose the option to restore data from a backup file and select the backup you just created. Follow the steps to restore it, and then log in to the new company. To help you avoid any confusion, go to Settings > Company Preferences and rename the company so it is clearly different from your live one. This duplicate company will behave exactly like your live setup based on the data at the point of backup. It will not affect your existing data, so you are free to experiment.

Single Company

If your Sage licence only supports a single company, you can still create a test environment using Sage’s built in practice data. Every Sage installation comes with a set of practice data that is stored locally on your computer. This data is completely separate from your live company and is ideal for testing. When you open Sage, you should see a screen asking which company you would like to access. Select Practice Data and click OK. If you have disabled this screen in the past, you can still reach it by logging into your live company and going to File > Open > Open Practice Data. The default login for practice data is Manager with no password.

The first time you open practice data, Sage may ask whether you want to continue the existing dataset or start from scratch. If you have already made any setup changes, avoid choosing Start Again unless you are happy to lose them. Once inside, the practice data behaves like a normal Sage company, although some features such as backup and restore are disabled.

Product Records

To get the most out of your test, you will need some product records. You can create a few manually if you are just doing simple checks. But if you are testing stock control or VAT settings, it is useful to import your full product list from your live Sage company. In your live company, go to Products and Services, click on Reports or Documents and Reports, and choose Product Details then Product Records CSV. Click Export, select a location to save the file such as your desktop, and make sure to save it as a CSV file.

Then open the practice company and go to File > Import. Choose Product Records and set the data source as Comma Separated CSV. Browse to the file you just exported and begin the import process. The only required field is stock code, usually column A, but we also recommend mapping the product description column B and tax code column C. Tradebox does not rely on the Sage product price, so there is no need to include price fields.

Once your product records are imported into the test company, you have everything you need to see Tradebox in action. You can test order imports, check how VAT codes are applied, experiment with stock control, and explore how the integration works without touching your live data.

Setting up a test environment like this can save time and give you confidence before going live. If you need help during the setup process or want to make sure you are following best practices, our support team is always on hand to assist.

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