Using Excel Charts and BI

Over at Inside Microsoft Business Intelligence, Patrick Husting reminds us to take the time to rethink how we visually represent data. Don't be satisfied with the default charts in Excel but don't get so creative that you obscure the message.

Microsoft BI Conference

I see that the Microsoft BI conference is set for the week of June 7, 2010 in New Orleans and is co-located with TechEd.

Stop Unexpected Transaction Growth in SQL

Mohammad Daoud points us to a great Microsoft Support article on Stopping Unexpected Transaction Log Growth in SQL Server. I still see an awful lot of this in IT departments that should know better.

Get the YTD Account Balance in GP via SQL

In the newsgroup Victoria Yudin provided SQL code to get the YTD account balance for an account in the GL. This is useful when building reporting using Excel or other outside reporting tools.

Dynamics GP Blogster's 2009 Top 10

Mariano has posted his top 10 articles from 2009. Make sure you check out this great list.

Weekly Review: Dynamics GP Map Functionality

A feature that we often forget about is map functionality in Dynamics GP and later versions of Great Plains. (8.0 for sure, 7.5? I can't remember)

On a variety of forms you'll see a small yellow and green push pin icon next to an address ID. Clicking this takes you to Windows Live local maps powered by Virtual Earth. In most cases you get a map, and ariel view and often the ability to see the location just above street level.

It's one thing to give your delivery guys a map. It's a whole new twist when you can give them ariel photos with landmarks around their destination!

Dynamics GP Integration Manager Pain

The power of Integration Manager is it's flexibility. With that flexibility comes the power to turn Integration Manager into Integration Mangler. Steve Endow recounts a case where what appeared to be a simple upgrade of integration manager turned into a monster. As a result, he includes an Integration Review Template to help others avoid this mess.

Custom VBA Lookups in Dynamics GP

Steve Endow looks at creating a custom lookup window in Dynamics GP using VBA. Get the scoop and the code at Dynamics GP Land.

New Year End Webinar 1/5/10

I'm doing a year end webinar on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 as part of I.B.I.S.' DynamicsCare Expert series. We'll be looking at the year end close for Dynamics GP and focusing on a couple of key questions, specifically, what order to close the modules in and what gotchas to look out for. Anyone is welcome to attend this one hour webinar.

Top 5 DynamicAccounting.net Posts of 2009

As the year winds down, I thought I would take a look at the top 5 most viewed articles on DynamicAccounting.net in 2009.

1. GP 11 Sneak Peek...the Beginning of Report Writer's End.

   Apparently a lot of folks will not be sad to see Report Writer go. Unfortunately, it will still be there in version 11.

2. Weekly Dynamic: Module Homepages in Dynamics GP 10
   

   As folks upgraded to v10, the original v10 posts from way back in 2008 gained more viewers
   

3. Weekly Dynamic:Excel Reports in Dynamics GP 10
   

   It's no surprise that Excel reports showed up in the top 10. They are easy to deploy and incredibly powerful.
   

4. Crystal Reports vs. SQL Server Reporting Services
   

   Crystal vs. SSRS is one of those "it depends" questions in the short run but in the long run, SSRS is the winner.
   

5. Dynamics GP 10 Service Pack 2 is Out!
   

   This post from 2008 was a surprise. I can only assume it was viewed by people who upgraded in 2009 and went looking for Service Pack 2

Honorable Mention at a very close number 6:

Weekly Dynamic: Budget Wizard Bug in GP10

This was so close to number 5 that I wanted to highlight it. Hundreds of people got an answer to a budget wizard bug last year from DynamicAccounitng.net.

Job Candidate for Tampa Area

I've got a job candidate who used to work for me looking to relocate from Orlando to the Tampa area. The candidate is senior accountant/senior analyst level with Dynamics GP experience, bachelors, masters and part way through the CPA exam. I will happily vouch for their work ethic and experience. If you're looking for a candidate that you can plug in and put to work right away, email me at mpolino@gmail.com.

Fix for Smartlist Builder Permission Issues

Up now at Dynamics GP Land, Christina Phillips covers issues with Smartlist Builder exports and security. In short, set permissions BEFORE importing a Smarlist Builder XML file. Get the details over at Dynamics GP Land.

Dynamics GP Land Looks at Table Import

Christina Phillips takes a fresh look at the underutilized Table Import feature for Dynamics GP. Take a look at her post up now at Dynamics GP Land.

More New Items at DynamicAccounting.net

The new blog site is up and looking good. Twitter and Facebook sites are running full steam. The podcast has restarted. So what else is new at DynamicAccounting.net?

What's new:

• Daily Tips. Frank Hamelly's daily tips have been added to the front page of the site
• Newsletter! Sign up to get more Dynamics GP goodness delivered to your inbox monthly
• Tag Cloud. The old listing of tags has been replaced by a much cooler cloud where larger items have more posts
• Cleaner look. The right side has been cleaned up significantly to make navigation easier
  

What's coming:

• Improved tags. Tags are being reworked to provide faster links to information
• Book. My book on Dynamics GP is due out in 2010. More details to come.
• More Analytics and Excel information related to Dynamics GP
• More Accounting and Admin information related to Dynamics GP
• Full coverage of the release of Dynamics GP 11 and everything that goes with it
  
• Secret stuff I can't talk about yet

What's staying:

• Weekly Dynamics. The weekly tips continue to help you improve you solution
• Weekly Reviews. Highlights of past Weekly Dynamics have become a favorite and there are plenty more to go around
  

If you use Dynamics GP, you need to be following DynamicAccounting.net.

Weekly Dynamic: SOP Quick Print

Have you ever needed to pop out a quick invoice from Sales Order Processing to the printer? Use the Quick Print functionality in Dynamics GP. From the Sales Transaction Entry window select Options->Quick Print or pick CTRL+Q.

There's a setup for Quick Print also under the options menu to control how Quick Print works. So what are you waiting for? Get printing!

Merry Christmas!

To all of you who follow this site, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dynamics GP Analytical Accounting Primary Key Script

Mohammad Daoud points us to a SQL Script for updating the Analytical Accounting Index Master Table in the event of corruption issues.

Dynamics GP and Password Expiration Warning

Michael Johnson debuts a process using VST to warn Dynamics GP users that their password is going to expire. The code is free and it's a great addition to the community. Thanks Michael!

Weekly Review: Custom Links

Custom Links were first available in v8 for GP and continue on in v9. A custom link let you associate a link with an item in GP. For example, you can associate a bank website with a checking account. Then, when you click on the hyperlink to the account, you get a choice to go to the external link or the account in GP.

Custom links are setup in Tools-Setup-Company-Custom Link.

• Click New to add a link
• Select the item to add a link to. For demo purposes, pick checkbooks
• Give the link a description like "Website"
• Pick an associated item, in this case a bank account
• Enter the link. You don't have to enter Http://. You can just enter the address like www. dynamicaccounting.net.

Now if you go into Bank Transaction Entry, start a transaction, pick the bank account from above and select the blue hyperlinked checkbook, you'll get a dropdown dialogue showing your custom link.


This works well for things like bank websites, currency sites, vendor sites, etc. It's more universal than a shortcut and easier to make available to everyone.

Originally Posted by Mark 7/06/2006 10:37:00 AM    

DynamicAccounting.net Now has a Facebook Name!

We needed a few more Facebook fans to put the site over the limit and allow us to name the Facebook fan page. Kudos to Wendy Pickup Enke of epartners who put us over the top. You can now be a Facebook fan of DynamicAccounting.net at http://www.facebook.com/DynAcctNet.

The Facebook fan page is getting some exclusive content pieces like the new poll on whether you are going to Convergence. So join the movement, become a fan now.

The New DynamicAccounting.net is Up!

Just in time for Christmas, DynamicAccounting.net has a fresh new look. This is Phase 1 of the rebuild  of DynamicAccounting.net. Phase 2 is well underway and it involves a rework of existing posts to make finding the information you need even easier. That should be finished in the first Quarter of 2010. The blog no longer feels stodgy next to the shiny new Twitter and Facebook pages.

One of the additions is a sign up sheet for my new monthly newsletter. I'm launching a newsletter to reach even more of the Dynamics GP community with ways to improve their solution. So please sign up! This list is only for the newsletter, no selling, renting, etc. of names.

There is a lot of exciting things coming next including full coverage of the release of Dynamics GP 11 and more ways to improve versions 9 and 10. Make sure you're following DynAcctNet to get the most out of Dynamics GP.

Four Myths About Dynamics GP Integration Manager

In his latest article at MSDynamicsWorld, Mariano Gomez takes on Four Myths About Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration Manager. I agree with Mariano and generally like Integration Manager. It's got it's quirks for sure but generally, it works pretty well.

2010 EU Tax Changes and Updates

The Touchstone Group has information on extra Microsoft code designed to generate the required sales listing to accompany the VAT100 report. They've got more information over at In Touch with Dynamics (GP)

New Podcast Episode is Up!

A new episode of the DynamicAccounting.net podcast is available. I'm relaunching it with the DynamicAccounting.net branding instead of GP Rocks. The reasons why are in the episode. I also take a look at some of the cool things coming for DynamicAccounting.net in 2010.

Recording an Unused Check in Dynamics GP

Frank Hamelly has a new post up on a process for recording an unused check. For example, a voided check often has to be provided for things like setting up ACH transactions or FSA accounts. I remember having to provide five (5) blank, voided checks for FSA and self insurance setup. Frank's method (actually it's Leslie Vail's and he gives her credit) provides an option to ensure that those check numbers are properly accounted for in Dynamics GP.

Manufacturing Accounting Entries in GP

Waqas Butt has coverage of Dynamics GP Manufacturing transaction entries and how they work.

Resources for the new Power Pivot

For those of you playing with the Power Pivot reporting and analysis tool with the Office 2010 beta, Inside Microsoft Business Intelligence has a list of resources available to help bring folks up to speed.

Dynamics GP - Splitting SOP Batches

Mariano Gomez provides coverage of a solution he provided that is designed to manage the movement of Sales Order Processing batches to meet a client's workflow needs. Nice solution Mariano!

New Add on to Unite Bing and Dynamics GP

Matt Landis has coverage of a new add on designed to use Bing to populate information in Dynamics GP. Make sure you check out the video!

MSDynamicsWorld Top 10 Microsoft Dynamics Stories of 2009

MSDynamicsWorld is out with their Top 10 Microsoft Dynamics Stories of 2009 and articles from both Mariano and I made the list. Mariano's Four Microsoft Dynamics GP Project Team Blunders article and my Three Steps for Taming Smartlist Sprawl both made the list this year. Make sure that you check out the whole list.

FRx 6.7 SP 11 Pulled Due to Bug?

FRx 6.7 SP 11 is currently NOT available for download. It appears to have been pulled due to a bug but the only coverage I can find comes from In Touch with Dynamics. There doesn't appear to be any coverage on CustomerSource but as of this post, SP11 is NOT available for download.

SQLServerCentral.com has SSRS Expression Tips

For those of you using SSRS with Dynamics GP, SQLServerCenteral.com has a new article up with tips and tricks when using expressions in SSRS. There a lot of date related help in here as well.

Weekly Dynamic: Match 1 or More in Smartlists

Clicking Search in a Smarlist provides the option to limit the records being returned by the Smarlist. By default, the Search Type setting at the bottom is set to Match All. This represents an "And" type search where all of the options must be valid. For example in Document Type=Invoice AND Document Date is greater than 1/1/09, record is not returned unless both criteria are met. This is appropriate for most searches.

However, sometimes users need to see records that meet one of the criteria. They want to see any transactions on 1/1/09 or 1/5/09 or 1/31/09 but nothing else. The Search Type of Match 1 or More changes Smartlist searches to an "Or" type search. If any one of the criteria are found, the record is included. However, this doesn't work when trying to search for all Invoices on those three dates since the search will look for any transaction that is an invoice, any transaction on 1/1/09, any transaction on 1/5/09, etc.

Next time we'll look at the options for overcoming limitations of both Match All and Match 1 or More

Backing Out a Journal Entry

In his daily tip today, Frank Hamelly takes a look at one of my favorite topics, Backing out a Journal Entry. As a manager this was one of the best features introduced in Dynamics GP a few versions ago.

Development: Testing Date Driven Features in GP

Alice Newsam of Microsoft is back with look at how to test date driven functionality when writing applications for Dynamics GP.

Q&A on Requisition Management, MOSS 2007 and WSS

The DynamicsBlogger has a nice look at Requisition Management in Dynamics GP and how it works with MOSS 2007 and WSS.

How to Reprint a GL Posting Journal

Janakiram M. P. has a new post up looking at how to reprint a GL Posting Journal. New users are often confused because there is not a "Posting Journal" report so Janakiram solves the mystery for users.

DynamicsWorld UK Interview with Mariano Gomez

DynamicsWorld.co.uk is back with their interview series. My friend and fellow MVP Mariano Gomez is the subject of this interview. It's great to learn more about all of the MVP's they've been interviewing.

New Poll: Are you going to Convergence

There is a new poll up on the DynamicAccounting.net Facebook Fan page. I want to know if you are planning on going to Convergence this year. Become a Facebook fan and tell me if you are coming.

eOne Looks at Eating Your Own Dynamics GP Dog Food

Over at the eOne Dynamics GP blog, Martin takes a look at the pros of eating your own dog food when you work with Dynamics GP.

Sure Step 2010 Now Available

From Inside Microsoft Dynamics GP, Sure Step, Microsoft's tool for improving implementations, is now available in it's latest release, Sure Step 2010.

Demand Planner Discontinued

Waqas reports that Microsoft has discontinued their Demand Planner product for GP, AX and NAV. This was a solution licensed my Microsoft and in the wake of cutbacks at MS I suspect that this will not be the last product this happens to.

Weekly Review: Auto Populate Account Description

Dynamics GP v9.0 introduced a new feature to allow you to automatically populate the account description based on the segments. This is a great feature to give you a consistent chart of accounts.

In a nutshell, once you've setup your account segments and their meanings in Tools-Setup-Financial-Segment you're ready to go. There is supposed to be a way to add these on the fly as well but I haven't found it yet.

After this, when you create a new account in Cards-Financial-Account, the description will populated based on the segments. So if your account is 0000-1100-01 and the segment meanings are Cash-Bob's Bank-Operating, that's what will apear in the description. It takes alot of the guess work out of abbreviations.

For those of you with messy charts descriptions like me, Mass Modify (Cards-Financial-Mass Modify) will let you clean up your Segments now as well.

Originally Posted by Mark 7/06/2006 10:24:00 AM    

Are you a DynamicAccounting.net Fan?

If you're a fan of DynamicAccounting.net and Facebook now is the time to show your support on the new Facebook Fan Page. Like the Twitter feed, the Facebook fan page will also get some exclusive DynamicAccounting.net content next year. Sign up now so you don't miss anything.

Developing for Dynamics GP digs up the Past

Over at Developing for Dynamics GP, David Musgrave is digging up the past as he migrates some information from his Winthrop Dexterity site. David is going to be reposting a number of Inside Track newsletters focused on Dynamics GP development. This should prove to be a great resource for developers.

Payroll Year End Close and W-2's

Mariano Gomez has a great new post up with info on Payroll year end, payroll updates and W-2 forms. This is a must read and soon. Year end is approaching fast.

Resolution for SOP "This document has been posted" Error

In a new post, Vaidy Mohan takes a look at a SOP error where the message was "This document has been posted". He provided error details and a resolution.