8.5 Error: Account number cannot be empty string or NULL; unable to write distribution record

Summary:

Posting purchase adjustments fails in 8.5 with the error "Account number cannot be empty string or NULL; unable to write distribution record -- [set nocount on exec dbo.USP_WRT_DIST_REC"

Cause:

      The Receivings Accrual account in Setup/System/Accounting Interface on the A/P tab is not defined.  This is a required field in 8.5.

Solution:

This error is observed in 8.5 when attempting to post a purchase adjustment which has already been vouchered.  

• • If this error is seen during ticket posting, click here for the workaround/fix. 

In 8.4.x or earlier, the G\L correction account was used for distributions when a vouchered receiver was adjusted.  8.5 adds the required field Receivings Accrual account for A\P transactions. 

The A/P Receivings Accrual account is used to distribute any excess balance due on an A/P voucher. 8.5 no longer automatically         distributes this amount to the Invoice Variance Account specified in A/P setup. 

When vouchering the remaining balance on a Receiving at a later time, the software creates distributions using the Receivings Accrual account. The Invoice Variance account is used when the receiving is vouchered for less than the amount due. The difference between the amount on the receiver and what is vouchered is credited to the invoice variance account.

The field for the Receivings Accrual account was not present in 8.4.x and will be null for upgraded databases. Set this account to a valid posting account if this error is observed following an upgrade to 8.5. 

• Assign an account in Setup/System/Accounting Interface  - Receivings Accrual account on the A/P tab. This is a required field in 8.5.0.