Hi Jeff,
In both Adagio and Accpac, an 'account' has a key comprised of an account number up to 6 characters and a department number up to 6 characters. At the same time, a separate data file contains a list of 'departments' which should match those found in the Chart of Accounts.
I believe you can add a new account and enter a non-blank department, without requiring that the department already exists before hand. I'm not sure if importing would do the same, but it might. In either case, adding accounts with a department does not create the underlying department code. You may have lots of accounts (with non-blank department portions) but no departments at all.
So if you print the Department list report, this results in a blank file...
For 2004, you will want to manually add the department codes, perhaps before importing accounts.
To answer your last question, importing accounts will not add departments.