Dec 3, 2014

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 - Identity Management

One of the new feature added to the newly released GP 2015 is Identity Management where customers and partners waited to get this feature included.

So what is Identity Management ?

The identity management enhancement enables you to log into your Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Client user account with your organizational account (Azure Active Directory (AD) account). This alleviates the need to log in separately to access your network, SQL Server database and Microsoft Dynamics GP, relying instead on a single secure log in to deliver access to your GP workspace.

What's New in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015

Source : Microsoft

System Wide Features
  • Service Based Architecture 2015
  • Identity Management 2015
  • Enhanced Workflows
    • GL Approval
    • Payables Batch Approval
    • Vendor Approval
    • Receivables Batch Approval
    • Employee Skills Approval
    • Direct Deposit Approval
    • Employee Profile Approval
    • Expense Report Approval
  • Copy Home and Area Page to Other Users
  • Navigate to MR directly from GP
Financials
  • Intercompany Enhancements
  • Payment Terms Enhancements
  • FA Year End Closing Reports
Distribution
  • Email Enhancements for Historical documents
  • Payables Warnings
  • Invoice for Web Client
HR, Payroll & Self Service
  • Project Employee Expense Report
  • Employee Profile Edit
  • Employee Profile Workflow
  • Manager Term Profile
  • Employee Skill & Training
  • Employee Skills Workflow
  • Managers Skill & Training
  • Employee Benefits Inquiry
  • Employee Paystubs Inquiry
Business Intelligence
  • Refreshable Excel Reports


Watch out for detail write up on Dynamics GP 2015 enhancements in my next article.


Microsoft Dynamics GP Roamdmap

Source : Microsoft


Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 is now available

Source : Microsoft

Benefits of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 include:
  • Expanded workflows to help streamline financial, purchasing, sales, payroll, and project expense related approvals. These new native workflows enable customers to quickly customize their solutions and accelerate business approvals.

  • Single sign on through integration with Microsoft Azure Active Directory to help users work seamlessly across Microsoft Dynamics GP, Office 365, and other cloud-based applications.

  • Service based architecture to lower the cost and time required for customers and partners to create and modify business solutions built on Microsoft Dynamics GP.

  • Microsoft recently released Business Analyzer R7, a "companion" tablet application available from the Windows, iOS, and Android app stores.

  • As part of Dynamics GP 2015 release, Microsoft is also introducing a lower-cost self-service user license type for users who need only very light functionality within Dynamics GP. The self-service user CAL is a named user that will be applied per individual.

Sep 4, 2014

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 Functionality Discontinuation

Source Microsoft
Microsoft Operations would like to inform you that with the launch of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015, Business Portal and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 runtime will be discontinued from Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015.
For Business Portal modules similar functionality will be available in within the core code base of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015. More information on licensing guidelines will be provided as we approach the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 release.
As a result of the discontinuation, Business Portal and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 runtime will not be available to customers purchasing Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 or those upgrading to the same. This functionality discontinuation impacts Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 under the Perpetual Licensing model.
Further information on these modules, impact on existing customers and transition upgrades, please refer to the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2015 Functionality Discontinuation.

Aug 18, 2014

SQL Script to Assign SPECIFIC Items to a given Vendor in Microsoft GP

--------------------------------------------------------  
-- Assign SPECIFIC Items to a given Vendor     
-- Code by Venugopal G A     
-- mail me for any queries venuasg@gmail.com
-- Change the vendor variable to your vendorid     
--------------------------------------------------------    
DECLARE @VENDORID VARCHAR(15)
DECLARE @ITEM VARCHAR(100)
DECLARE @ITEMDESC VARCHAR(100)
SET @VENDORID = 'ACETRAVE0001' -- CHANGE TO YOUR VENDOR ID

DECLARE ITEMMASTER CURSOR FOR 
SELECT ITEMNMBR, ITEMDESC  FROM IV00101 WHERE ITEMNMBR IN ('ITEM1','ITEM2','ITEM3') -- REPLACE HERE TO ADD ITEMS
OPEN ITEMMASTER
 FETCH NEXT FROM ITEMMASTER INTO @ITEM, @ITEMDESC
 WHILE (@@fetch_status <> -1) 
            BEGIN
  INSERT INTO [IV00103] ([ITEMNMBR],[VENDORID],[ITMVNDTY],[VNDITNUM],[VNDITDSC])
  VALUES(@ITEM,@VENDORID,1,@ITEM,@ITEMDESC)
            
  FETCH NEXT FROM ITEMMASTER INTO @ITEM, @ITEMDESC
            END
CLOSE ITEMMASTER    
DEALLOCATE ITEMMASTER

SQL Script to Assign ALL ITEMS IN THE ITEM CLASS to a given Vendor in Microsoft GP

-------------------------------------------------------------------------  
-- Assign ALL ITEMS IN THE ITEM CLASS to a given Vendor     
-- Code by Venugopal G A     
-- mail me for any queries venuasg@gmail.com
-- Change the vendor variable to your vendorid     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------    
DECLARE @VENDORID VARCHAR(15)
DECLARE @ITEM VARCHAR(100)
DECLARE @ITEMDESC VARCHAR(100)
SET @VENDORID = 'ACETRAVE0001' -- CHANGE TO YOUR VENDOR ID

DECLARE ITEMMASTER CURSOR FOR 
SELECT ITEMNMBR, ITEMDESC  FROM IV00101 
WHERE ITMCLSCD IN ('CLASS ID 1','CLASS ID 2') -- REPLACE HERE TO ADD ITEM CLASS ID
OPEN ITEMMASTER
FETCH NEXT FROM ITEMMASTER INTO @ITEM, @ITEMDESC
WHILE (@@fetch_status <> -1) 
     BEGIN
 INSERT INTO [IV00103] ([ITEMNMBR],[VENDORID],[ITMVNDTY],
                     [VNDITNUM],[VNDITDSC])
 VALUES(@ITEM,@VENDORID,1,@ITEM,@ITEMDESC)
            
 FETCH NEXT FROM ITEMMASTER INTO @ITEM, @ITEMDESC
      END
CLOSE ITEMMASTER    
DEALLOCATE ITEMMASTER

Aug 11, 2014

Missing Sub-ledger distribution in Microsoft GP

It is noted that when you drill-down the AP transactions sometimes you notice that the distribution is missing or is blank and you may also get issues while inquiring the document through Payable Transaction Inquiry.

Cause: Most of the time this happens when the posting process is interrupted for various reasons and the user has killed the session to reset GP, during which the tables are partially updated.
Resolution: There is no direct approach as GP Checklinks will not fix this issue and alternately SQL script will do by inserting the missing records. You can refer PM80600 table to re-insert the information through SQL script into PM30600 (PM Distribution History File) for historical distribution because it is easier.  And use the GL20000 for PM Open documents going into the PM10100 table (PM Distribution WORK OPEN) - most information is available in the GL table assuming that the posting set up is either Post To or through.
If you compare the content of these tables, most of the information is almost identical.  It is just a matter of rearranging the field to suit the tables. Any missing fields can then be mapped to a constant value just like when performing Integrations.
Start with a simple select statement from the source table and making sure that the result of the query reflects the expected information before going into the destination table.
Using the record from the sample screenshot in the original post, you can find the distribution detail in GL by running the select statement below:
SELECT * FROM GL20000 WHERE ORCTRNUM = 'Trx No' AND ORMSTRID = 'Customer/Vendor ID'

Jul 2, 2014

What's New in Microsoft GP 2013 R2

Microsoft GP 2013 R2 has been released and has bunch of new features and enhancement in the UI, New Version looks better and powerful. You can find the what's new document published by Microsoft here.

Below are some of the features listed

  • Foundation enhancements
    • Purchasing Requisition functionality has been brought into the desktop side of the application with GP2013 R2
    • Workflow is being completely redesigned and rebuilt to be based in Dexterity rather than SharePoint.
    • The identity management feature for GP 2013 R2 has some addresses a couple of immediate needs with the web client but will also provide additional identity capabilities as we move into companion apps and a service based architecture.
    • Improved Web Client Functionality.
    •  Enhancement to SmartList Designer that release with SP2.  Enables user to create GoTo’s to forms, navigation lists, SmartLists and Web Pages from a SmartList record.
    •  Take Company Offline.
    • Print Reaming Documents for Email.
    • Email or Print any reports in Microsoft Word.
    • Email functionality added to the Customer Email Options to allow the end-user to point to specific email addresses to use based on the document type.
    • Users now will be able to attach physical documents directly from a scanner.  
    •  The OLE file attachment functionality on the notes will be replaced with Doc Attach Functionality which will work on both the Desktop Client and the Web Client. 
    • For users that have OLE file attachments on Notes in Dynamics GP, HR or Manufacturing, running this utility will extract those files and them import them into the SQL tables for Doc Attach. 
    • Microsoft SQL Reporting services on Transaction forms.
    • With R2, we are freshening the user interface on the desktop client by adding ribbons to the forms and updating the font to a more current look.  
  • Financial enhancements
    • Reverse Fiscal Year - Undo the GL Year End Process.
    • FA default Asset ID from Asset Class.
    • Integration of Multi-Currency revaluation with AA.
    • Copy and Paste to GL Entry
    • Reprint Outstanding transactions report from Bank Reconciliation..
    • Default sort order for payables check.
  • Distribution enhancements
  • Human Resources and Payroll enhancements
  • Field Service Series enhancements
  • Project Accounting enhancements

Mar 11, 2014

Optimize SmartList Performance in Microsoft Dynamics GP

SmartList Usage

SmartList and SmartList Builder are intended to be used as a query tool only.  If you decide to increase the maximum record count, be aware that query processing will be slow and you may experience errors.  Therefore, we recommend that you use the default record count limit of 1,000 when you execute queries.

SmartList Search Criteria

SmartList allows vast amounts of searching options that users can apply to the SmartList query data. With this flexibility comes the potential for very high I/O costs if the query / database design was not optimized for a specific search criterion. Review the suggestions below to reduce I/O cost when designing SmartList search criteria:

·      Avoid using the "is not equal to" filter
·      Use the "equal to" instead of "contains" filter
·      If the Smartlist includes WORK, OPEN and HISTORY tables and the user is only interested in WORK data, use the "Document Status" or similar search criteria to skip searching OPEN and HISTORY tables.

Default SmartList Objects vs SmartList Builder Objects

Default SmartLists may not always be the best option as the query is generic.  Given the amount of flexibility and amount of data to search it may be better to utilize a custom SmartList Builder that is optimized for the necessary results. 

SmartLists with Extender Data Added

Adding Extender fields from an Extender Window, Form, or Detail Form can cause a SmartList to return data slower.  The linking required to include the Extender data adds complexity to the SmartList.  It may be beneficial to look at using SmartList Builder to build a custom SmartList that includes the Extender data to optimize the SmartList.

Export of SmartList Data to Microsoft Excel
The export of SmartList data to Excel can take some time depending on the amount of data you are trying to export.  The number of columns included in the SmartList as well as the number of rows can influence the export performance.  A SmartList exports to Excel field by field to ensure the formatting is also brought across with the data.  Therefore, the export can take longer for all of the data to appear in the Excel spreadsheet.  If you are running SmartLists for the purpose of exporting the data to an Excel spreadsheet, you may want to consider the default Excel Reports that can be deployed in Microsoft Dynamics GP.  They are setup very similar to the default SmartLists, however the data is directly pulled into Excel so that you do not have to export from SmartList.  The additional benefit to this is that the data is refreshable in Excel so you do not have to continually export the data from SmartList.




PJOURNAL jobs in Microsoft Dynamics GP

                      The PJOURNAL table captures records as posting occurs in Microsoft Dynamics GP.  This table can grow to be very large depending on posting volume.  The Microsoft Dynamics GP installation creates a SQL Server Agent Job to truncate the PJOURNAL table in each company.  Verify the SQL Server Agent service is running in the SQL Server Management Studio.  Expand SQL Server Agent in the SQL Server Management Studio and verify the "Remove Posted PJOURNALs From All Companies" job exists and is enabled under the Jobs folder.   By default, the table is cleared every 30 minutes.  If the "Remove Posted PJOURNALs From All Companies" job does not exist, execute the PJJOB.SQL script in the SQL Server Management Studio to create the jobs.
  
The PJJOB.SQL script can be found in the Microsoft Dynamics\GP\SQL\Util folder

Database Maintenance Plans for Microsoft Dynamics GP


Once Microsoft Dynamics GP is installed and all company databases are created, a database maintenance plan should be configured for each database.  Database maintenance plans create a workflow of the tasks required to make sure that your database is optimized, is regularly backed up, and is free of inconsistencies. The Maintenance Plan Wizard allows you to easily create an Integration Services package, which is run by a SQL Server Agent job. These maintenance tasks can be run manually or automatically at scheduled intervals. Refer to the article below for recommended maintenance plans for Microsoft Dynamics GP.


CustomerSource: Download Here
PartnerSource: Download Here

Optimizing and Maintaining Performance for Microsoft Dynamics GP

Performance problems are a unique type of issue.
Therefore, Microsoft has published a detailed white paper for optimizing and maintaining Dynamics GP Performance. This white paper goes over everything related to performance for Dynamics GP covering any known issues as well as setup recommendations.


Click here to download the the whitepaper.

Jan 28, 2014

50+ Microsoft GP Add-on Tools available with Professional Service Tools Library (PSTL)

As with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Professional Services Tools Library (PSTL) is available free. Now you can utilize these useful tools to modify, consolidate and change critical data throughout their entire system, without reentering data in multiple places.  A brief description of each tool is below, sorted by series.

Finance Series Tools
·         Account Modifier/Combiner – change an old account number to a new account number, or combine like accounts into a single account without manually keying in the data.  This tool includes both the account modifier and combiner.
·         Fiscal Period Modifier – change fiscal year definitions effortlessly. It allows you to change the fiscal year by changing the year stamp on transactions.
·         Checkbook Modifier – change existing checkbook Ids to new checkbook IDs.  All work, open and history records are updated with no loss of data.
·         Fixed Asset Modifier – reclassify an asset code within the fixed assets module and reflect that change in all tables throughout the system.
·         General Ledger Master Record Triggers – avoid data entry by adding a general ledger account when you replicate records to another database.
Purchase Series Tools
·         Vendor Modifier – change an existing vendor ID to a new vendor ID with the click of a button.  Instead of having to key in a new vendor Id and re-key open invoices, you are able to update all work, open and history records seamlessly.
·         Vendor Combiner – combine a vendor ID into another existing vendor ID.  All the work, open and history records combine into the new vendor. No data is lost and the summary balances are recalculated. The original vendor ID is removed from the system after it is combined into the other vendor ID.
·         Vendor Name Modifier – change an existing vendor name to a new vendor name with a click of the button.  All work, open and history records are updated seamlessly.
·         Payables Select Checks Combiner – use this tool to consolidate checks to the same vendor when users are appending to an existing checks batch. This can be of great value if users frequently build batches of payables checks and select different document number ranges or different date ranges.
·         Payables Minimum Check Utility – Pick a minimum amount for your payables checks created through the select checks process. It will prevent any checks being created under the minimum amount specified.
·         Payables Management Master Record Triggers – avoid data entry by adding a vendor record and vendor address when you replicate records to another database.
·         Minimum PO/Receipt Number – Prevent purchase order processing from defaulting the next PO number or receipt number to a number that is previous to the current PO number – when an existing PO number is deleted.  Option to set a minimum PO number default, so the system won’t default to anything below the minimum.
·         1099 Modifier – change documents to 1099 documents if you have incorrectly set up your vendors, or if you forgot to mark the 1099 vendor option on your vendor card for a year or a portion of the year. After marking the option, you can run this tool, which will mark all documents for that vendor as 1099 documents. It will then reconcile these amounts into your summary records so they print on your 1099 reports.
Sales Series Tools
·         Territory Modifier – change territory IDs in the system. The result is a new territory ID with no loss of data.
·         Territory Combiner – combine a territory Id into another territory ID without losing any work, open or history records. after the completion of the tool, the old territory is removed from the system.
·         Customer Modifier – change customer numbers in the system. you can change from an existing customer number to a new customer number. Instead of having to key in a new customer number and re-keying all your open invoices, you can update all work, open, and history records with the click of a button.
·         Customer Combiner – combine a customer number into another customer number without losing any work, open or history records. The old customer number is removed from the system after the completion of the tool and the summary records are recalculated to include both customers’ summary information.
·         Customer Name Modifier – This tool enables you to change an existing customer name to a new customer name with a click of the button.  All work, open and history records are updated seamlessly.
·         Salesperson Modifier – change salesperson IDs. The result is a new salesperson ID and no data is lost or has to be re-keyed into system.
·         Receivables Management Master Record Triggers – avoid data entry by adding a customer record and customer address record when you replicate records to another database.
·         Receivables Management Transaction Unapply – unapply documents in the history table and automatically move the records back to the open table, allowing you to reapply the records as needed. This is a good alternative to removing history and re-keying data if the records are applied incorrectly.
Payroll Series
·         Employee Modifier – change an employee ID without losing any work, open or history records.  A new employee ID is introduced to the system, while the existing one is removed.
·         Certified Payroll Report – add a project number to employees’ hourly transactions and track these hours on a per/project basis. The transactions are then printed on a weekly report and are separated by project number with a breakdown for each employee by department, job title and pay code.
Inventory Tools
·         Item Reconciler – reconcile inventory or field service. This tool can increase performance if all items don’t need to be reconciled.  Only those items that need reconciling will be reconciled using Professional Services Tools.
·         Item Number Modifier – change an item number without losing any work, open or history records.
·         Item Number Combiner – combine an item number into another item number without losing any work, open or history records.  After the completion of the tool, the old item number is removed from the system.
·         Item Description Modifier – create a new description for item numbers without a lot of manual data entry.  All work, open and history records are updated.
·         Inventory Site Modifier – change the site/location code without losing any data.
·         Inventory Site Combiner – combine site/location code. It does not post adjustments to the general ledger.
·         Sales Order Processing Customer Item Lookup – Store customer-specific ordering history along with last invoice date and last price used.  A lookup is available from within sales order processing entry and the sales item detail window.
System Tools
·         Toolkit – rebuild the GL00105 without going into SQL query analyzer, turn on/off dexsql.log, rebuild indexes and recreate dex Procs and tables.
·         Database Disabler – allows the ‘sa’ user to disable any company database.  once the database is disabled, the company option is removed from the login window you see when logging into dynamics or eEnterprise. The company database can easily be ‘re-activated.’
·         Shortcuts Copy – copy the shortcuts options from one user to another user. This is especially useful when multiple users have to set up specific, frequently used shortcuts for third-party windows or data entry windows.
·         Menu Inquiry Utility – The Menu Inquiry utility allows you to see all of the commands on the menus, hidden or not, and helps identify where those commands come from (which product) and other properties of the commands.
*Tools Only Available for Dynamics GP 2010 (version 11) or later
·         SOP PO number Check* – Verify customer Po numbers for duplicates as data is entered into the field on both the SOP Entry window and the SOP  customer  detail entry window.
·         POP Cost Defaulter* – use this tool to default in the Standard cost or the current  cost within the Purchase order entry window instead of the vendor specific Last Invoice cost.
·         Default Add Item POP/SOP* – automatically mark the add Item option to be marked in Sales Transaction Entry, Purchase Order Entry, POP Receiving’s Entry and Purchasing Invoice Entry.
·         Doc Date Verify* – Verify document dates fall in a valid fiscal period when entered in Payables Transaction Entry or Receivables Transaction Entry. If the date does not fall within a valid fiscal period, a message will be issued and the user will not be allowed to continue until the date is in a valid period. This customization will also do a validation if the period is closed.
·         Decimal Place Tool* – adjust the check amount in Words to two decimals, for both Payables Management and Payroll checks. This tool is useful when the currencies in Microsoft Dynamics GP have been changed to more than two decimals, which can alter the amount when a check prints.  NOTE:  Report Writer must be used to modify the check report and adjust the currency fields.
·         Update User Date* – automatically update the user date at midnight. The application will run in the background as long as Microsoft Dynamics GP is open.  This tool can be useful when the solution is left open on a machine overnight running integrations or other processes.
*available only on Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 or later.
New Professional Services Tools Now Available Upon Request:
·         Auto Dim – Allows you to launch Microsoft Dynamics GP and run one or more integrations or integration groups and have Microsoft Dynamics GP exit upon completion of the integrations. This tool also supports integrating into several different companies.
·         Auto Post – Allows you to call a COM DLL to post Sales Order Processing, GL Transaction Entry, IV Transaction Entry and RM Cash Receipt Batches.
·         Detail Payroll Activity Tracking – Allows you to track all employee changes made in Microsoft Dynamics GP.
·         POP Over Receipt Tolerance – Allows a receipt tolerance percentage for quantities. A setup window allows the user to enter a tolerance percentage, that percentage is then used when a Purchase Order is received. The highest quantity that can be received is the original quantity ordered plus the percentage amount.
·         PO Returns – When invoicing a receipt in POP, this tool will check the previous quantity invoiced and the quantity returned for the line item. The maximum quantity allowed to be invoiced is based the following formula: Quantity Shipped minus (Previous Quantity Invoiced plus Quantity Returned). This tool will not allow invoicing of more than this amount.
·         RM Auto Apply – Allows the user to Mass Apply posted RM Credit Documents to posted RM Debit Documents. The user can select a range of Customer, Debit Document Dates, Credit Document Dates, and a Credit Document Type restriction if desired.
·         Shipment Notification – Allows drop ship sales orders to be transferred to invoice prior to invoicing the purchase order.
·         SOP Default Per Site Line – This tool defaults the site from the Cards | Inventory | Quantities | Sites for each line item entered in the SOP transaction.
·         SOP Sort Line Items – Allows the user to define custom sorting options to display line items in Sales Order Processing.
·         SOP to POP Line Reordering Utility – This tool will reorder the line items of Purchase Orders generated by the SOP to POP transfer process to be in the same order as they originally were on the Sales Order document(s).