Book Review - Building Dashboards with GP 2013 and Excel 2013

Well, our friend Mark Polino has hit another one out of the ball park with his latest release - Building Dashboards with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 and Excel 2013, affectionately known as BDaMDGP13aE13 :)

Yes the book's title is a mouthful but my, oh my, the content of the book is a library full.  If there's anything you want or need to know about leveraging the BI capabilities that GP 2013 and Excel 2013 bring to the table, you need this book.

 

From creating refreshable Excel reports to drilling back to source data in GP to utilizing PowerPivot, this book has it all.

 

I've just completed my first read of this awesome reference and am applying my new-found knowledge already. 

 

I highly recommend Mark's new book to anyone who has a desire to create and publish extremely powerful, interactive BI tools for GP 2013.

 

Way to go Mark and thanks for sharing your expertise!

You can purchase the book directly from Packt http://www.packtpub.com/building-dashboards-with-microsoft-dynamics-gp-2013-and-excel-2013/book or on Amazon.

How to add those pesky images to Report Writer

I was struggling getting an image to paste into Report Writer recently.  My good friend and colleague David Duncan offered this advice, which works like a charm.

1.     Open Picture Definition window in Report Writer and type in new name of image

2.     Open image in Paint application

3.     Use Select to select entire border around the image

4.     Right click inside the selected area and select Copy

5.     Return to Picture Definition.  Tab from the Picture Name field to the Picture field (border will be selected). Click CTRL+V to paste the image.

Ahhh, the vagaries of Report Writer . . .

Thanks David!

Convergence 2013 is here

With the sun setting over the city of New Orleans last night, we wrapped up our first day here, which was filled with getting out and about, seeing the sights on a perfect, sun-filled, 80 degree day.  The real fun starts tomorrow with the kickoff of the GPUG-hosted GP Partner Connection events and then some partying later in the evening to celebrate St. Patty's day. 

Green beer for all!

Convergence 2013 Just One Week Away!!

I sure am hoping I'll see all my friends and colleagues in The Big Easy this year.  It promises to be a fun and fabulous time for anyone with a desire to learn, network and partay!

This year, in addition to a number of sessions that I'll be presenting or participating in, I have the honor of helping to man the I.B.I.S. booth with many of my co-workers, including the ever-entertaining Mark Polino and two lovely members of the fairer sex, Ms. Abby Moore and Ms. Sandra Dodge, who can tell you all you ever wanted to know about Dynamics GP Project Accounting, and more!

Visit us in Booth #2522 and learn about I.B.I.S.' DynamicsCare services and our exclusive Advanced Distribution Software built on Dynamics AX.  We'll have lots of great give-aways, including a drawing for a cutting-edge technology prize that includes the word Surface in it.

See you there!

Convergence Sessions

Convergence 2013 in 'Nawlins is fast approaching.  Here's a preview of the sessions I'll be involved in or presenting . . .

This session will repeat at 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 21st.

This session will repeat at 5:30 PM on Thursday, March 21st.

Hope to see you all there!

Prevent Users from changing User Date

Some companies have a need to disable the ability to change the User Date in GP.  Out of the box, there isn't a great way to handle this requirement but Ian Grieve, over at Azurecurve in the UK, has a simple, yet elegant solution for this.  Check out Ian's blog post here - User Date.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous 2013!

 

 

Upgrading to GP 2013 in the near future? Read this first . . .

If you're planning a GP 2013 upgrade anytime soon, take a look at this excellent article at MSDynamicsWorld for some upgrade Tips n Tricks - GP 2013 Upgrade.

GP 2013 RTM (Release to Manufacturing) on December 19, 2012

Read David Musgrave's blog to learn more about the culmination of over 78,000 hours of development by the Microsoft Dynamics GP team - Dynamics GP 2013.

SmartList Divider Splitter Control

If you're like me and have been frustrated to no end over the years because you couldn't drag the divider in SmartList to allow more space in the results pane, our frustration is near its end.  I test drove this Splitter Control by David Musgrave a few months ago before it was approved for release and it works like a charm.  Fellow MVP Mariano Gomez elaborates on his blog - SmartList Splitter Control.

 

Go forth and enjoy and send a hearty thanks to Mr. Musgrave!

Transaction Prefixes in Cost Adjustment Batch

Wonder what the prefixes mean in Cost Adjustment batches?  Well, wonder no more!  The following is a list of the prefixes you would see in the Reference field of a transaction in a cost adjustment (GLTRX) batch and a description of why that prefix would be used. The Reference field can be found in the Transaction Entry, Detail Inquiry, and Journal Entry Inquiry windows.

a. BOM – This comes from a Bill of Materials transaction. For example if a BOM Assembly transaction consumed an item from inventory and the cost was later changed due to a POP purchase price variance (PPV) or an average cost ripple, you would see this reference.

b. INV – This comes from an Invoice transaction created from the Invoicing module. For example if an Invoice transaction (in Invoicing) consumed an item from inventory and the cost was later changed due to a Purchase Order Processing PPV or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

c. IVT – This comes from an Inventory Transfer Transaction. For example if an item was consumed via the Item Transfer and the costs were later changed due to a PPV or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

d. IVA – This comes from an Inventory Adjustment transaction. For example if a decrease Inventory Adjustment transaction consumed an item from inventory and the cost was later changed due to a PPV on an invoice match or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

e. IVV – This comes from an Inventory Variance transaction. For example if a decrease Inventory Variance transaction consumed an item from inventory and the cost was later changed due to a PPV on an invoice match or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

f. SALES – This comes from a Sales Order Processing Invoice transaction. For example if a Sales Invoice consumed an item from inventory and the cost was later changed due to a PPV on an invoice match or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

g. PRTN – This comes from a Purchase Order Processing return transaction where doing the return changes the cost of the item.

h. MCTE – This comes from a Manufacturing Component Transaction. For example if an item was issued (consumed) in the Component Transaction Entry window and the cost was later changed due to a PPV or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

i. MRCT – This comes from a Manufacturing Receipt Transaction. For example if an item was backflushed and consumed in the Manufacturing Receipt Entry window and the cost was later changed due to a PPV or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

j. MCLS –This comes from Closing a Manufacturing order via the Close process or during a Quick MO (quick MOs are automatically closed). For example if a user closes an MO and there are items that are set to backflush (consumed) and the cost was later changed due to a PPV or an average cost ripple you would see this reference.

k. STCK – This comes from Item Stock Count Variance transaction. For example if a Stock count adjustment consumed an item from inventory and the cost was later changed due to a PPV or an average cost ripple, you would see this reference.

l. FSSC – This comes from selling a Part on a Service Call. For example, an Item was Received into Inventory at one cost and the cost was later changed due to an Invoice Match you would see this reference.

m. FSRMA – This comes from an RMA. For example, you have a quantity of an item at one cost. You create a Credit RMA and receive the item in. You then Scrap the item ( which removes the one already in your inventory ) and later the cost of that item changed due to an Invoice Match you would see this reference.

n. FSRTV – This comes from an RTV. For example, you create a Credit RTV. You Ship an item at one cost and the cost was later changed due to an Invoice Match you would see this reference.

o. FSWO – This comes from using a Part on a Depot Work Order. For example, you create a WO and Use an item from the Parts Information window at one cost and the cost was later changed due to an Invoice Match you would see this reference.

p. PA – This comes from a Project Accounting transaction. For example if a PA Inventory Transfer consumed an item from inventory and the cost was later changed due to a PPV on an invoice match or an average cost ripple, you would see this reference.

q. POP –- This comes from a Purchase Order Processing shipment receipt. For example if an item was consumed through an override in any module and later the shipment was brought in at a different cost than it was when it was consumed (overrode), you would see this reference

r. RECON – You would see this reference if the outflow being revalued was created by the Inventory Reconcile Utility. One reason IV Reconcile would need to create an outflow record is if there are not enough quantities in the IV10201 to support the quantity sold in the IV10200.

s. CONV – You would see this reference if the outflow being revalued was created by the upgrade. The upgrade from an older version of Microsoft Dynamics GP to 9, 10 or GP2010 may need to create an outflow if a receipt record was partially sold at the time of the conversion.

t. PRCT- You would see this reference if the item was overridden on an In-Transit Transfer transaction and then later brought in at a different cost.

Revenue/Expense Codes in Job Costing

A question came up in my 'Using Job Costing as Project Accounting Lite' presentation at GPUG Summit regarding how to determine what bucket in Job Costing a particular Revenue or Expense transaction appears.  Here's the answer:

Manufacturing>>Job Costing>>Transaction List

 

 

 

1.  Enter your new or existing Job Transaction List

2.  Select the Trx Source

3.  Select the Transactions that you want to assign to specific Revenue/Expense Codes

4.  Choose whether to have the transaction Auto Applied to the job when the transaction is selected for the job.

 

If you need more Revenue/Expense Codes, set these up in Manufacturing>>Job Costing>>Rev/Exp Codes.

 

Using these setups, you can determine which revenue or expense buckets in the Job Maintenance window and Job Costing reports your transactions are coded to.

 

Thanks Debbie Clark at Entertainment One Television in Ontario, CA for the question!



GPUG Summit 2012 is Fast Approaching!

This year I'll be presenting 4 sessions:

• Using Microsoft Dynamics GP Job Costing as 'Project Accounting Lite'
• 13 MORE Classic, Underused Features in Dynamics GP
• Word Up! Learn How to Setup and Use Word Templates and Email in Dynamics GP 2010
• Stay Alert with Business Alerts!

 

See you in Seattle!

 

 

How do we add new reports to My Reports?

I had this question from a client today and thought it may good to refresh this topic because the process is not that intuitive.
 

There are two methods, depending on the type of report you want to add.  We’ll look at adding a GP report first.
 

The first step is to open the report window you want to add.  Select the appropriate report and report option and click ‘Modify’.  In the Report Options window, click the ‘My Reports’ button.  This adds the report to your My Reports list on your home page.

Next, let’s look at how you add a SmartList Favorite to your My Reports list.
 

In the Navigation Pane, expand the ‘Report Shortcuts’ folder.  Select ‘SmartList Favorites’.

 

 

The Navigation List for SmartList Favorites opens.  Select the desired Favorite by placing a checkmark next to it and then click the ‘Add To’ button in the middle of the List Ribbon.

 

 

You’ve now added the Favorite to your list in My Reports.
 

Simple.  But not necessarily straightforward.

Field Service Business Alerts

I had a question come up during a GPUG Lunch 'n Learn session last week on Business Alerts.  A user wanted to know how to set an alert using the Field Service tables.  I had never tried that before and found that the Field Service tables were not available in the Business Alerts Wizard.  Thank goodness for the Dynamics GP Forum and Leslie Vail.

 

Leslie explained that the tables must be added via Business Alerts Table Maintenance (Administration>>Utilities>>Business Alerts.)  See the image below -

 

 

Select your Dictionary, Series, and Table(s), click Process and you're good to go.  Now the Field Service tables are available in the BA wizard.

 

Thanks Leslie!

My Son's Wedding

I don't typically post personal info on this blog, but I'm so proud of my son Brad and new daughter-in-law Susanne, I couldn't resist.  They were married on Sunday, September 2nd, 2012.  Here's the handsome couple . . .

Congratulations Brad and Susie!!