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Friday, December 28, 2012

Published at last! Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications

 

0264EN_mockupcover_normal

If anyone has noticed my absence on the newsgroup, this is why. This book was published on Christmas Eve! – too late for Santa, but just in time for Valentine’s Day!

You can try out seven different development tools in this book. There’s a small project using each of the following:

  • Dexterity
  • VS Tools
  • Modifier
  • VBA
  • SmartList Builder
  • Extender
  • Drill-down builder

If you’ve ever wanted to dabble, now’s your chance to work a little bit with each tool. There’s no other publication like it that includes a little about so many different tools; I hope you enjoy it.

I want to thank my technical reviewers, Mohammad R. Daoud, Jivtesh Singh, Vaidhyanathan Mohan, and Frank Hamelly, for their valuable time, ideas, and insights. This is a much better, more complete book because of them and their willingness to help and advise me. How could I miss with that kind of talent backing me up?

The book was only supposed to be 300 pages, but 300 pages just wasn’t enough. Even at 600 pages, there’s so much more I wanted to add. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on how I can make the book better next time.

I look forward to getting back with the Community!

Kind regards,

Leslie

Calling all Developers! Get ready for GP 2013 - Dexterity Training in St. Lake City! December 17th–21st, 2012


16447-White-Person-A-Workaholic-Floating-On-A-Yellow-Inner-Tube-In-The-Ocean-While-Typing-On-A-Laptop-Computer-Clipart-Illustration-Graphic
This is short notice, but if you can come, it'll be worth it! All of you VS Tools and VBA programmers, you really need to learn this stuff!

I’ll be doing a one-week class that will incorporate two weeks of training material. If you ever wanted to drink Dexterity through a fire hose, then this class is for you.

We’ll go non-stop for one week passing through very basic scripts, up to cross-dictionary work. No previous experience in Dexterity is required except going through the Quick Start manual that is included with the Dexterity documentation.

You’ll start writing integrating sanSript the first day of class!

This class was architected by T Hoecherl, a senior developer with Premier Computing, Inc. T is the man with all of the answers when it comes to logistics and cost. He can be reached at the following numbers:
Office: 801-487-8400, ext. 130
Cell: 801-259-7786
T tells me his classroom can hold eight people and he has a couple of spots left that he would like to fill. So, come to Salt Lake City on December 17th and get that training you need before GP 2013 hits the shelves!

The one-week Dexterity Basics class is still scheduled to go in Orlando in February of 2013, but here’s an earlier offering if February just seems too far away.

I hope to see you in Salt Lake City!

Kind regards,

Leslie Vail 972-814-8550




Monday, November 12, 2012

Dexterity Basics training February 11–15, 2013 in Orlando



Looking for Dexterity training? Come to Orlando!

I will be teaching the Dexterity Basics class at Integrated Business Group (IBG). The training will take place in Orlando, Florida from February 11th to February 15th, and will provide the basic foundations any Dexterity programmer must have.

This is an opportunity for all of you VSTools programmers to learn how to build your user interface in Dexterity instead of WinForms so that your application will run with the new GP 2013 Web Client. Your existing code will hook right up to the Dexterity events,  you may even like the Dexterity forms designer even better than VS Tools!

For more information, contact the training coordinator, Roxanna Alvarez at ralvarez@ibgnet.com or at her direct line +1 (407) 965-9299.

Hope to see you  in Orlando!

Monday, October 8, 2012

**ERROR: Batch level errors were encountered.

 

If you have ever received the above error on a posting journal or edit list, check to make sure the fiscal period for the batch you are trying to post is open. The posting journal/edit list should have another clue about what was causing the error at the top of the report.

The image below shows the error and the hint.

Batch level errors

Until next post!

Leslie

Monday, September 17, 2012

When things go Wrong - I need to delete a printed SOP document

Dynamics GP presumes that any document that you print becomes a critical document in the business cycle and typically, does not let you delete it. But sometimes, you must delete it.

What to do?


The SOP module keeps track of the number of times you have printed a document. If you print it once, and printing to screen counts as printing, you cannot delete it. Therefore, you need to set the system back to believe it has never been printed in order to delete it.

Of course, this is not a supported solution, so use it at your own risk. The first step is to back up your System (DYNAMICS) and company databases. The name of your company database is displayed on the Company Setup window.

USE YourCompanyDatabase
GO

UPDATE SOP10100
SET TIMESPRT = 0
WHERE SOPNUMBE = 'your_SOP_Doc_Number'

When things go Wrong - Error registering table GL_Account_MSTR

Here's what happened.





 



You've just installed the workstation, you launch it and are greeted with this:


What to do?

You'll be delighted to know that this is an easy fix. The problem comes up when folks copy the Dynamics.set file to one worksation from another before they synchronize the existing Dynamics.dic to the systems account framework.

All you need to do is change the dex.ini file so that the following entry exists:

Synchronize=TRUE

Most likely, yours says FALSE

You need to make sure you only have one of these entries in your Dex.ini file. If you have more than one, the first one rules.

After you change the Dex.ini setting (in the Data folder of your application folder), you'll need to launch Dynamics Utilities in order to complete the synchronization process.

Once the synchronization process is complete, the error should go away, and Dynamics GP should launch.

Don't ya' love all of the 'should's' in that dialog?

Live the Dream!

Leslie

Thanks to David Musgrave's keen eye I changed this post to the correct setting. I had it backward originally. Unforgivable for the dex.ini queen.



When things go wrong - Batches cannot be posted



Here's the scene. You're trying to post a batch of GL entries and you get the following error:

"Batches cannot be posted while the year-end close is in progress"

But, of course, the year-end closing process is not happening. What to do?

You need to change the system's mind about that closing process by running the following scripts:

First, and always, back up your system and company databases, and then:

USE DYNAMICS
GO
DELETE SY00800
DELETE SY00801

USE TEMPDB
GO
DELETE DEX_SESSION
DELETE DEX_LOCK

UPDATE:
Here's a post from David Musgrave that allows you to clear up the batch error with everyone still logged into the system:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/developingfordynamicsgp/archive/2008/12/03/releasing-stuck-batches-and-transactions-without-exiting-all-users.aspx


Hope this clears it up for you.

Live the Dream!

Leslie

When things go wrong - Another user closing the year



You're trying to close the year and you get an error message:

"Sorry, another user is closing the year"

However, no other user is trying to close the year. What to do?

     Make sure everyone is logged out of Dyanamics GP

     Backup your company Database

     Run the scripts

     Use 'YourCompanyDatabase'
   Go
 
   Delete GL50100

When things go wrong - This batch is being posted by another user


You get this message even though nobody is logged in to the database so that it's impossible for the batch to be being posted by somebody else. What to do?
  1.  Back up the DYNAMICS and company databases.
  2. Change the batch status so that it no longer thinks it's being posted.
USE YourCompanyDatabaseName
GO

UPDATE SY00500 set BTCHSTTUS = 0 WHERE BACHNUMB = 'YourBatchNumber'

Depreciation - When things go Wrong

Sometimes we set up depreciation and the CPA firm decides it should have been done a different way. Of course, that information comes to us at least two years after we set it up. It's the nature of the beast; they're accountants, they can't help it.

The following scenarios will be covered over the course of four posts:
  • Wrong 1st yr Convention
  • Basis Reduction Required
  • Wrong Depreciation Method - fully depreciated as of previous year end
  • Wrong Depreciation Method - not fully depreciated as of previous year end
Stay tuned.

Until next post!

Leslie

Use PSTL without being 'sa'

https://connect.microsoft.com/dynamicssuggestions/feedback/details/762593/run-pstl-as-a-non-sa-user-create-a-pstl-user

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to perform PSTL activities without having to log in as 'sa'?

Vote for the above post if you agree. Now that we all have this tool, it's becoming more of an issue. With security being such an issue this day and age, casually asking for the 'sa' password so that we can change a Vendor ID seems rather extreme.

It's time to give the Controller the right to control the accounting system's details without the ability (and liability) to drop all of the company's databases.

This must be 'hard-coded' into the Dexterity script, let's vote to get that coding removed!

Live the Dream!
Leslie

Be sure to Invoice Match every Receipt

https://connect.microsoft.com/dynamicssuggestions/feedback/details/669719/gp-never-forget-to-match-that-purchase-order-again

I'm on a roll tonight. I love version 2013, but still there are some basic items I think need to be addressed. If you think so too, cast your vote by using the link above.

Are you tired of your Accrued Purchases account not matching your Received but not Invoiced report? How many times has a vendor payable been entered without matching it to the receipt?

Wouldn't it be nice if Dynamics GP warned you if you were entering a payables transaction for a vendor that has an outstanding PO or Uninvoiced receipt?

Too often a vendor invoice comes into the company and it's entered into A/P without going through the invoice matching procress in POP. We need a method for the user to be alerted if a vendor's invoice is entered to the Payables transaction entry window while there is an outstanding uninvoiced receipt.

The risk is that we end up with uninvoiced POs or worse, the vendor is paid twice by mistake.

Let me know what you think, or if you have devised a non-policy workaround.

Until next post!

Leslie

Perform a 'Credit Card' run like a Check Run


https://connect.microsoft.com/dynamicssuggestions/feedback/details/763004/perform-a-credit-card-run-just-like-a-check-run

If you want to pay your vendor invoices with a credit card in a batch AND be able to reconcile the credit card statement like you do a bank statement, please vote for the above product enhancement by clicking on the shortcut above.

Paying vendors with a credit card is the standard for many companies. You can get downloads from the credit card companies and import vendor payables. We need to keep track of the actual vendors for better expense management.

The problem is that the only way we can pay vendor invoices with a credit card is to enter a manual payment. A manual payment is not a viable solution for a company with more than just a few credit card transactions.

We need to be able to use a credit card as the payment source for a 'check run'. As part of that process, we need to be able to reconcile the credit card source with the credit card bill much like we do with bank statements and checkbooks.

If you agree, please vote for the enhancement using the link above.

Thanks!

Until next post!

Leslie

Product Suggestion. Add item to all sites

Multi-site users Unite!

Dynamics GP allows you to assign all items to a single site, but it does not let you assign an item to ALL sites.

I think it's time we had a window where we could pick an item, or a group of items and assign them to the site(s) of our choice with the click of a button. If you think so too, vote for the suggestion using the link below.

https://connect.microsoft.com/dynamicssuggestions/feedback/details/763003/assign-an-item-to-all-sites#tabs

Let's get these details cleaned up Microsoft, we have the best product - let's prove it.

Until next post

Leslie

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Resurgence of Dexterity - - Dexterity Lives!!


Learn it while you still can!

dex logo
Here at the Technical Airlift, VSTools programmers and VBA programmers alike have learned that support for these two products will not be included in the phase 1 release of the 2013 Web Client.

So what’s a guy to do??? For VSTools, the answer is simple. You need to create your user interface in Dexterity; all of your .NET code should work just fine. Well, you will also need to modify your code to point to the new events, but that should be a piece of cake for a .NET programmer.

For VBA, it’s a little more challenging; but just a little. You need only to transform your VBA code into sanScript. Nothing more than a little syntax change. If  you have any VBA forms, you need to fashion them into Dexterity forms. You’ll find Dexterity is even easier to work with than VBA; and it looks better too.

What you need to do now, is learn Dexterity. But where? How? These are the important questions.

You’re in luck!

There is a Dexterity Basics class running in Orlando, Florida the week of October 8th. Just think, you could have all of your code converted before the Holidays. Just in time for the 2013 release! There are still some spots in the class available for you.

The Dex I class is being held at the facility of Integrated Business Group, they are a Certified Learning Resources partner and have the best classrooms I have ever seen. Comfortable chairs and lots of room.

Spend the week with me in Orlando and you’ll learn everything described in the synopsis below.

For more information and to register for the class, call Roxanna Alvarez @ 407-677-0370 or e-mail her directly ralvarez@ibgnet.com.

Date and Location:
  • When: October 8th – October 12th
  • Where: Orlando Florida
This class is very hands-on and starts at the beginning; no previous Dexterity experience is necessary.
You can download a synopsis of the class Here:

http://www.4shared.com/document/gK3muz4n/Dexterity_I_Synopsis_.html

I have pasted the synopsis below if the download doesn't work.

I hope to see you there!

Until Next Post!

Leslie Vail

Dexterity I – Product Fundamentals
Synopsis:
Dexterity Product Fundamentals will teach you about the development environment used to build the Microsoft Dynamics GP family of products. This course will provide you with the foundation you need to build integrated, database-independent applications. In addition, you will learn how to provide powerful application functionality for Microsoft Dynamics GP.  By actively participating in these classes, you should learn:  Basic programming techniques used by Microsoft Dynamics GP to develop their core modules.
  • How to modify existing Dynamics GP forms and reports in order to make customizations for customers.
  • How to develop add-on applications that will interact with the Dynamics GP products to meet specific requests by customers.
  • How to package and ship your dictionary allowing Microsoft Dynamics GP to make updates to Dynamics GP without affecting the developer's dictionary.
  • How to register your product with Microsoft Dynamics GP using a unique Product ID to ensure no duplication of add-on applications with the same name.
  • How to develop add-on applications that will "look and feel" like Dynamics GP and provide seamless interface between the applications to ensure a professional finished product.
  • How to use object triggers, which are scripts in your applications that are invoked by events in Dynamics GP, allowing several developers to deliver enhancements to the same Dynamics GP form.
General Prerequisites Some knowledge of basic programming concepts.




Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Beta release available for download


1055544-Royalty-Free-Clip-Art-Illustration-Of-A-3d-White-Person-Running-With-A-Yes-Flag
Let me throw my hat in the ring and announce the GP 2013 beta code has been released for us to download.

I know everyone will rush in and install the GP 2013 client and the Web Client, but let’s not forget about all of the other goodies on that DVD. Install the SDK, and Dexterity too!
You can download the code from HERE

https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/support/selfsupport/productreleases/MDGP2013_TAPReleaseDownload

Enjoy!  Let us know how much you enjoyed installing the Web client Smile

Until next Post!

Leslie

Installing the GP 2013 Web Client–roll up your sleeves!


2013 banner

On Monday, I went to the Jump Start training class where we learned about the new Web Client for 2013. In the afternoon, we actually installed the client. This post consolidates the 20 page installation process into 13 easy steps.

Before you get started, you need adequate hardware.

Server Requirements

  • Windows Server 2008R2 – 64 bit only (Server 2008 is not good enough)
  • All machines (including clients) must have valid certificates (SSL)
  • You need a Web Server that is IIS enabled (does not need to be on any other machine that the web server)
  • RAM – 16 G
  • CPU – TBD
  • NICs – TBD

Network Requirements

  • Open Ports for inter-machine services communication
  • Windows Firewall exceptions [Installer should open the required ports]
  • Router changes for external traffic into DMZ
  • DNS changes to support internal and external name resolution (so, you need two)

Client Requirements

  • Internet Explorer 8 or 9, 32 bit or 64 bit
  • Silverlight plugin installed
  • Windows 7 or higher. No to XP, don’t know about VISTA. But, be reasonable, who’s running Vista?
  • Office 2007 or better
  • Changes are needed to the Registry so that the Silverlight App to interact with the file system. (It needs to make a command and execute shell call)
Now that you have your equipment in place, let’s install the Web Client.

Installing the Dynamics GP 2013 web client 

1. Install Dynamics

    feature page
  • Run the same setup file as if you were installing the rich client.
  • When you get to the features window scroll down and mark the Web Client Runtime feature
  • Go through the normal installation process, launch utilities to synchronize the dictionary, and then open Fabrikam. Close Dynamics after verifying that you can log in successfully.

2. Create a New Digital Certificate Template

      • You need a new one because the default template doesn’t allow you to export private keys

3. Issue the new Template you just created

      • You need to issue the template so new certificates can make use of it.

4. Generate a certificate from the new template

5. Export the Server Certificate you just generated

    • Once you have created the certificate, you need to export it to a file that can then be copied to each member server that needs the certificate installed.

6. Import the Server Certificate that you just exported.

    • The IIS site(s) where the Web Client and Web Management Console will be installed need to have an SSL certificate binding
    • Import the certificate created by Active Directory Certification Services

7. Create an IIS web site for the GP 2013 Web Client

    • The GP 2013 Web Client resides on a web site in IIS. You need to manually create this site before you can install the Web Client

8. Register .NET Framework 4.0 to the new IIS site

9. Create SSL Binding on GBWEB IIS Site

    • Now, you need to use the digital certificate you imported to bind an SSL port to the GPWEB site in IIS Manager

10. Create Domain Users and Groups

    • Even though you may be logging in to the server using a domain administrator account, you will want to create service accounts that run the Web Application Pools. Windows Service accounts should NOT be administrator accounts.

11. Install Dynamics GP 2013 Web Client Components

    • Use the same installation media as you do to install the full workstation client. You have already installed the full workstation client, therefore, this step will involve adding the Web Client Components to the existing client.
    • Click on the same setup.exe file you use for the full desktop client.
    • Chose to install the Web Client from the list of Additional Products.

    • web client install

    • Select the Custom installation option

    • Leave all of the features selected and accept the default installation path.

    • Enter the Domain Group(s) that you created to access the Web Client and the Web Management Console

    • Accept the default settings on the GP Configuration window

    • Click the drop-down next to the Web Site and choose the web sit you created for the web client installation.

    • Enter the domain account that was created for the identity of the web client web site

    • Enter the name of the SQL Server where the Web Management Console database will be created.

    • In the Web Management Cole Database window, provide the connection information to the database for the web management console; accept the default database name.

    • In the Session Central Service window, provide the configuration information for the Session Central Service.

    • In the Session Service window, provide the configuration information for the Session Service.

    • In the Runtime Service URL window, provide the information for accessing the Runtime Service.

    • Finally! Click the Install button to install the Web Client components. Exit when the installation completes.

12. Open your browser

13. Go to the URL of your Web client, and then log in.

Be amazed at the new GP 2013 Web Client!

  • New web client

Piece of cake! (Eeek!)

 
Until next post!
 
Leslie

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Fix is In! Bring back your SmartList Reminders.





stick_figure_thumbs_up_pc_400_wht

The problem with SmartList Reminders crashing GP has been fixed! I initially described the problem brought about by GP 2010 SP 3:

SP 3 will Crash GP

Microsoft has just released HotFix KB2731285 to correct this issue. You can download the fix at:

https://community.dynamics.com/product/gp/gptechnical/b/dynamicsgp/archive/2012/09/07/the-smartlist-builder-reminders-fix-is-now-available.aspx

Application of this HotFix does not change the build number of Dynamics GP, SmartList, or SmartList Builder. To install the HotFix,

  1. Extract the .zip file

  2. Copy the SLBldr.cnk file and paste in into the application folder for Dynamics GP. The default is %path%\Microsoft Dynamics\GP2010.

  3. Launch Microsoft Dynamics GP.

  4. Click YES if prompted to install new code.

  5. Repeat steps 2-4 at all client workstations.


Many thanks to Nicole Albertson at Microsoft for staying on top of this and letting me know when the problem was resolved. You’re a Rock star, Nicole! Until next post Smile

Leslie






Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Restarting a File Transfer

Today I started several file transfers and then I needed to suspend them and take my computer away. I turned off my computer and off I went.

When I returned, I wanted to resume the file transfers. Hmm, how do you re-start the transfer manager?

I tried downloading a few files hoping the transfer manager would open and then I could just resume from there. But, alas, that did not work.

After flailing around a little bit, I discovered the answer.
To restart the transfer manager, execute this:

%windir%\Downloaded Program Files\TransferMgr.exe

Works like a champ!

Until next post!
Leslie

Dexterity Basics class is scheduled for October 8th–12th 2012

Come to beautiful Orlando and spend 5 days in the plush training center of Integrated Business Group (IBG). IBG is a Certified partner for Learning Resources and have the best classrooms I have ever seen. Comfortable chairs and lots of room to spread out!

The Dexterity basics class takes you from opening the book for the first time to creating a small integrating application with Dynamics GP.

It’s that time of year for another fun-filled week immersed in the world of Dexterity.
For more information and to register call Roxanna Alvarez @ 407-677-0370 or e-mail her directly ralvarez@ibgnet.com.

Date and Location:
  • When: October 8th – October 12th, 2012
  • Where: Orlando Florida
  • This class is very hands-on and starts at the beginning; no previous Dexterity experience is necessary.
     
Who should attend?

Customers or Partners who will be customizing or building add-on or standalone applications to integrate with the Microsoft Dynamics GP products. VSTools programmers who will need to design their windows using Dexterity instead of WinForms will also benefit from this training. You will learn how to create windows and also how to create Dexterity tables.

A synopsis of the class is below this post.

I hope to see you there!

Until Next Post!

Leslie Vail

The basics class covers the following topics:
Dexterity I – Product Fundamentals
Synopsis:

Dexterity Product Fundamentals will teach you about the development environment used to build the Microsoft Dynamics GP family of products. This course will provide you with the foundation you need to build integrated, database-independent applications. In addition, you will learn how to provide powerful application functionality for Microsoft Dynamics GP.
By actively participating in these classes, you should learn:

Basic programming techniques used by Microsoft Dynamics GP to develop their core modules.
    • How to modify existing Dynamics GP forms and reports in order to make customizations for customers.
    • How to develop add-on applications that will interact with the Dynamics GP products to meet specific requests by customers.
    • How to package and ship your dictionary allowing Microsoft Dynamics GP to make updates to Dynamics GP without affecting the developer's dictionary.
    • How to register your product with Microsoft Dynamics GP using a unique Product ID to ensure no duplication of add-on applications with the same name.
    • How to develop add-on applications that will "look and feel" like Dynamics GP and provide seamless interface between the applications to ensure a professional finished product.
    • How to use object triggers, which are scripts in your applications that are invoked by events in Dynamics GP, allowing several developers to deliver enhancements to the same Dynamics GP form.

     

Friday, August 31, 2012

Warning! Install GP2010 SP 3 and lose your SmartList reminders!

This issue has been fixed, look at The-fix-is-in-bring-back-your-smartlist.

If you do not want to run the risk of losing some of your SmartList reminders, then do not install SP 3. To my chagrin, I learned yesterday that there is a bug in SP3. In my world, that bug is a train wreck to many of my clients. Microsoft tech support acknowledged the existence of the bug and does not have any clue as to when it might be corrected.
Here’s what happens. Let’s say you create a SmartList object using SmartList Builder. Your users fashion favorites based on the created SmartList and then use those favorites in Reminders. After you install SP 3, the users with reminders based on objects built in SmartList Builder will not be able to log in to the system. That’s it, the system crashes, and crashes hard!
If you remove the reminders based on the SmartList Builder objects, your users will be able to log in just fine. So the “work around” is to delete the reminders. What! Yes, that’s the work around, you cannot use the feature. I don’t know how it affects you all, but that bit of news is a crushing blow in my world.
This problem has been a difficult one for Microsoft to isolate. They told me that they didn’t know if the problem was being caused by SQL code, Dexterity scripts, or the VSTools addins. All three are in play with SmartList Builder.
The error is easy to duplicate, and it fails just as the system begins to draw the home page window. If you are already logged in when you created the linked reminder, as soon as you refresh your home page you will get the error below, and GP will fail.
crashed
The next time you try to log in to GP, right after the navigation pane comes to your window, the system will crash. The partial screenshot below shows you what I mean.
error on big window
To identify the SmartList reminders you have at risk, you can query the DYNAMICS database. Type the statement below in the query window of Management Studio.
SELECT * FROM SY01404 WHERE DICTID = 3830
SmartList builder’s product ID is 3830.
This problem does NOT require you to disable SmartList Builder itself, you just cannot build any Reminders off of the SmartLists you create. You can:
  • Create and use Reminders that are not based on a Favorite belonging to an object created in SmartList Builder.
  • Create Favorites based on an object created in SmartList Builder.
  • Create and use Reminders based on a SmartList object that came with GP.
The bottom line is that you still have access to the custom Favorite, you just can’t create a reminder based on it.
While there are many ways to present the information that was captured by the Reminders, I haven’t been able to come up with an alternative that is as elegant and user-friendly as the SmartList Reminders.
I welcome anyone’s ideas on how to easily replace the SmartList Reminders until the time we get a fix from Microsoft.
Go forward with caution! Consider yourself warned.
Until next post!
Leslie Vail
Dallas, TX

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Demystifying GP Tables and Transaction Flows

    

Table Names and Transaction Flow

WORK to OPEN to HISTORY


This article started (as so many do) from a question posted on the newsgroup about how data flows through the system and how you can figure out what the tables contain. I did a little research and concluded there wasn’t any summary of data flow and table conventions available. This post is a result of that research.

Tables – what’s in a name?

First, a short explanation of table names is in order. Each table has three names. Sometimes they are the same, but most of the time they are different. The Dexterity programmer determines the names for the tables. The three different table names are:
  1. Technical Name
  2. Display Name
  3. Physical Name

Technical Name

The Technical Name is the name used by the Dexterity programmers in Dexterity code. You will often see the Technical Name in error messages such as:

A Get/Change Operation on table 'UPR_Year_End_WORK_HDR'failed accessing SQL data.

In the above error message, 'UPR_Year_End_WORK_HDR' is the Technical Name for the Payroll Year End Header table.

Display Name
The Display Name is also known as the ‘friendly name’. Display Names use whole words with spaces between them. Display Names protect the user from needing to translate Technical Names or Physical Names into real words. You see Display Names when you are working with a tool that is normally used by the end user. Tools such as SmartList Builder, Excel Report Builder and Report Writer use Display Names.

The screenshot below shows a list of Display Names on the Add Table window of SmartList Builder:
 
Physical Name

The Physical Name is the name seen by the database. Any type of error at the SQL level, for instance, will use the Physical Name. The error message below uses the Physical Name:
 

Also, if you launch the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio application you will see the Physical Names of the tables. The screen shot below shows you how the table names appear in the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.
 
Most of your independent reporting tools, like Crystal Reports, use Physical Names.
 

Tables –naming convention for physical tables

A client recently told me that they were very confused by the table names of the Dynamics GP tables. I’m so used to those legacy table names that I don’t appreciate what a wonder it must be for a new user trying to write reports or follow the data flow.

In fact, any class I train that involves pulling data from tables (Extender, SmartList Builder, Excel ReportBuilder, ListBuilder, Report Writer, SSRS, Crystal Reports, etc.) sooner or later results in the question “How do we know which table to use?”. This query spawned the on-line class I developed for GPUG (Great Plains User Group) entitled “Finding the Dynamics GP Data you Need”
So, what do the table names mean? The old table names were limited to eight characters; remember it was the late 1980’s when this was being developed. The field names were also limited to eight characters.
 
In order to bring some sanity to that eight-character limitation, a pretty straightforward naming convention was created. This convention was followed religiously for the modules actually written by Great Plains vs. those that were acquired from other developers.
 
I actually think it’s a very good naming convention for the Dynamics GP data tables. This is only a convention, however. It is followed by the Great Plains programmers pretty diligently, but not so much by 3rd party developers.
 
Here are the basics, the first 2 or 3 characters will indicate the module name, and the numbers indicate the type of table.
 
Some of the more popular module abbreviations are in the table below.


Prefix
Module
GL
General Ledger
AF
Advanced Financial Analysis
PM
Payables Management
RM
Receivables Management
SOP
Sales Order Processing
POP
Purchase Order Processing
IV
Inventory
IVC
Invoicing (NOT SOP)
UPR
US Payroll
CM
Cash Management (Bank Rec)
LK
Linked Transactions
ME
EFT
PA
Project Accounting
FA
Fixed Assets
AA
Analytical Accounting
DTA
Multi-dimensional Analysis *
SY
System or Company
AHR
Advanced HR
HR
Human Resources
BM
Bill of Materials
DD
Direct Deposit
EXT
Extender
MC
Multicurrency
SVC
Field Service
ASI
SmartList Favorites
ERB
Excel Report Builder
EXT
Extender
SLB
SmartList Builder
CPY
Canadian Payroll **
PDK
Personal Data Keeper **
 
 
*
Thanks to Victoria Yudin
**
Thanks to Beat Bucher
 
After the module abbreviation is a five character (normally 5 characters) number that indicates the table type.
 
Knowing what these numbers stand for will help you zero in on the correct table. The table below sets out the numbering convention for the table types.
Table Number
Table Type
00000
Master Tables
10000
Work Tables
20000
Open Tables
30000
History Tables
40000
Setup Tables
50000
Temp Tables
60000
Relation Tables
70000
Report Options Tables
80000
Posting Journal Reprint Tables
90000
Mixed bag – no standard type
 
Master Tables (00000) are mostly what you find under the ‘Cards’ area. These are your Customers, Vendors, Inventory Items, GL Accounts and the like. For instance, the information you see on the Customer Maintenance window is stored in the RM Customer MSTR or RM00101 table.
 
Work, Open and History (10000, 20000 and 30000) These tables are explained in the next section of this document.
 
Setup Tables (40000) include choices you have made to initiate a module. For instance, the information entered on the Payables Management Setup window is stored in the PM Setup File or PM40100 table.
 
Temp Tables (50000) are tables that are used temporarily by the system and the records in those tables can normally be deleted without issue. For instance, the Net Profit Temporary table or AF50000 is used by the Advanced Financial Analysis module to hold the Net Profit amount that will be used on one of the statements. Once the statement has been printed, the number is irrelevant.
 
Relation or Cross Reference Tables (60000) are tables that are used to store information that spans more than one module. For instance, the SOP/POP Link table (SOP60100) holds the information about POP documents linked to SOP documents.
 
Another example is the Sales Customer Item Cross Reference (SOP60300). This table reflects the information as to how customer item numbers relate to regular item numbers. There are not that many tables in the 60000 range.
 
Report Options Tables (70000) contain all of the information you enter in any of the report options windows. The image below comes from the Payables Trial Balance Report Options window (PM70500).

 

Posting Journal Reprint Tables (80000) contain all of the information you need to reprint your posting journals. So don’t feel like you MUST print all of those reports. They are here waiting for you should you ever need to reprint them.
 
Miscellaneous Tables (90000) this group is a mixed bag of information. The table below contains the Display Names of several 90000 tables.
 
Physical Name
Display Name
CM90000
CM Transmission Log
CM90001
Checkbook EFT Log
CN90000
Collections - User Preferences
ERB90100
Data Connection Products
ERB90200
Data Connection Series
ERB90300
Data Connections
ERB90400
Data Connection Restrictions
ERB90450
Data Connection Restriction Values
ERB90500
Data Connection Security
EXT90101
Product List
EXT90101
Resource Cache - Product List
EXT90102
Product Series List
EXT90102
Resource Cache - Product Series List
EXT90103
Form List
EXT90103
Resource Cache - Form List
EXT90104
Window List
EXT90105
Report List
EXT90106
Resource Cache - Table List
EXT90106
Table List
PA91301
PA Contract Segment Override Header
PA91304
PA Contract Segment Override Detail
PA92301
PA Contract Template Seg Override Header
PA92304
PA Contract Template Seg Override Detail
PDK90003
PDK File Error Log
PDK90100
PDK Security
PP900000
Deferral Opened Periods
PTO90000
PTO Pending Master Conversion
SE90001
Account Rollups Account List Accelerator
SE988977
Account Rollups Options Columns
SLB90000
Third Party GoTo Types
SY90000
SY_User_Object_Store (Dynamics User Object Store)
SY90100
Default Chart of Accounts
 
There are, of course exceptions even within the Dynamics.dic dictionary. Additionally, the DYNAMICS database has its own naming scheme. So now you know; if you were looking for the customer master table, you would start with the RM00*** table and go from there.

Victoria Yudin has some fantastic information on the popular tables from each module. If you are creating reports, or crafting SQL queries, it is information you can use http://victoriayudin.com/gp-tables/.

Victoria also has some very helpful SQL queries available for you to download.

Let’s move on to our WORK/OPEN/HISTORY discussion
 
Data Flow (WORK, OPEN and HISTORY progression)
I put together this document attempting to address the progression of transaction data for the following modules:
·         GL (Financial – general ledger journal entries)
·         CM  (Bank Transactions)
·         RM (Receivables Management – A/R transactions)
·         PM (Payables Management – A/P transactions)
·         SOP  (Sales Order Processing)
·         POP (Purchase Order Processing)
·         Invoicing (Basic invoicing, nothing to do with SOP)
·         Inventory
 
Dynamics GP transactions typically have three states:
  1. Unposted
  2. Posted
  3. Historical
    These different states determine, to a large degree, whether the data is in the WORK, OPEN, or HISTORY table.
     
What causes the information to move through these tables varies. The progression is not consistent across modules and it’s easy to get bewildered trying to figure it out.
 
Below you will find a short summary of how the data moves through these tables. Also included under each section is a list of the more common tables for that module’s WORK, OPEN and HISTORY tables. The lists are not comprehensive, but they’ve captured the major tables.

GL (financial– general ledger)

WORK
Unposted GL Transactions
 
Table Number
Description
GL10000
Transaction WORK
GL10001
Transaction Amounts WORK
GL10002
Transaction Clearing Amounts WORK
GL10100
Quick Journal WORK
GL10101
Quick Journal Amounts WORK
GL10300
General Ledger Tax WORK
GL12000
Budget Transaction WORK
GL12001
Budget Transaction Amounts WORK

A transaction lives in the Transaction WORK table before it has been committed to the ledger. You can still edit or delete a transaction when it is in the WORK tables.
 
OPEN
Posted GL Transactions
Table Number
Description
GL20000
Year-to-Date Transaction OPEN

Once a transaction is posted, it is committed to the ledger. The header information is added to each line such that each leg of the journal entry is a complete record. The posted transaction moves to the transaction OPEN table. For GL, each record in the OPEN table represents a single leg of the journal entry.
 
HISTORY
Transactions from a closed year
Table Number
Description
GL30000
Account Transaction HISTORY
GL32000
Budget Transaction HISTORY

Until the year closes all of the GL transactions are in the Year-to-Date Transaction OPEN table (GL20000).  I don’t mean when the year ends, but rather after the year-end closing routine is done. After the closing routine, the posted transactions move to the transaction HISTORY table (GL30000). You cannot move them back to the OPEN table after the year end closes. In addition, you cannot ‘unpost’ a transaction and move it back into the WORK table.
 
As with all rules, there are exceptions. Here's one. Using the Fiscal Periods Modifier tool in the Professional Services Tools Library you can indeed open a previously closed year. However, the data does not move from the Account Transaction HISTORY table (GL30000) over to the Year-to-Date Transaction OPEN table (GL20000).

CM (Bank Transactions)

WORK
Unposted Deposit Transactions


Table Number
Description
CM10100
Deposit header information
CM10101
Each item to be deposited
ECM10003
ECM_Committed_Detail
ECM10002
ECM_CPO_Inquiry
ECM10001
ECM_Inquiry
ECM10110
ECM_Line_Ctrl
ECM10005
ECM_ReqItemList
 OPEN
Posted Bank Transactions
Posted Deposit Transactions
Reconciliations


Table Number
Description
CM20203
Checkbook EFT Transaction Batch
CM20202
Checkbook Transaction Electronic Funds Transfer
CM20400
CM Distribution
CM20100
CM Journal
CM20300
CM Receipt
CM20501
CM Reconcile Adjustments
CM20500
CM Reconcile Header
CM20200
CM Transaction
CM20201
CM Transaction Totals
CM20600
CM Transfer
 
HISTORY
There is no HISTORY table

PM (Payables Management – A/P transactions)

WORK
Unposted PM Transactions


Table Number
Description
PM10100
PM Distribution WORK OPEN
PM10200
PM Apply To WORK OPEN File
PM10100
PM Distribution WORK OPEN
PM10400
PM Manual Payment WORK File
PM10201
PM Payment Apply To WORK File
PM10300
PM Payment WORK
PM10500
PM Tax WORK File
PM10000
PM Transaction WORK File
OPEN
Posted PM Transactions
Posted Purchasing Invoices
 


Table Number
Description
PM10100
PM Distribution WORK OPEN
PM10200
PM Apply To WORK OPEN File
PM10100
PM Distribution WORK OPEN
PM20401
PM Scheduled Payment LINE
PM20400
PM Scheduled Payments Header
PM20000
PM Transaction OPEN File

Posted transactions stay in the OPEN table until they have been fully applied. OPEN means there is still an amount outstanding. If you write a check that partially pays an invoice, that invoice would remain in the OPEN table. The check, however, if its entire balance was applied, would move to the HISTORY table.
                
HISTORY
Posted, Fully Applied, or Voided PM Transactions


Table Number
Description
PM30300
PM Apply To HISTORY File
PM30600
PM Distribution HISTORY File
PM30200
PM Paid Transaction HISTORY File
PM30401
PM Scheduled Payments Header HISTORY
PM30700
PM Tax HISTORY File
PM30800
PM Tax Invoices

Transactions automatically move to HISTORY when the document becomes fully applied (a transaction is a check, credit memo, invoice, etc.) For a check or credit memo, fully applied means the entire balance of the check or credit memo has been matched to an invoice. For an invoice, it is when the balance is fully paid off (or written off), or a credit memo takes the balance to zero. Voiding a document in the OPEN table will automatically move the voided document to HISTORY.

Documents in HISTORY can also be voided thereby moving them back to the OPEN table. Documents cannot be 'unposted' and moved back to the WORK table. Likewise, documents cannot be “unvoided” and moved back to the OPEN table.

RM (Receivables Management - A/R Transactions)

WORK
Unposted RM Transactions


Table Number
Description
RM10201
RM Cash Receipts WORK File
RM10501
RM Commission WORK File
RM10101
RM Distribution WORK File
RM10301
RM Sales WORK File
RM10601
RM Tax WORK File
 
OPEN
Posted RM Transactions
Posted SOP Invoices
Posted SOP Cash Receipts
Voided RM Transactions


Table Number
Description
RM10101
RM Distribution WORK File
RM20201
RM Apply OPEN File
RM20101
RM OPEN File
RM20400
RM Scheduled Payment Header
RM20401
RM Scheduled Payment Line
 
HISTORY
Posted and Fully Applied Receivables Transactions


Table Number
Description
RM30501
Commission HISTORY
RM30301
Receivables GL Distribution HISTORY
RM30201
RM Apply HISTORY File
RM30502
RM Batch HISTORY
RM30101
RM HISTORY File
RM30401
RM Scheduled Payment Header HISTORY
RM30601
RM Tax HISTORY File

Unlike PM transactions, RM transactions do NOT automatically move to HISTORY. You need to run the 'Paid Transaction Removal' routine in order to move the fully applied transactions to HISTORY. Nothing automatically moves to HISTORY, not voids, not write-offs, not payoffs, nothing. Only 'fully applied' documents will be moved via the 'Paid Transaction Removal' routine.
Therefore, if you still have a balance on an invoice, it stays in the OPEN table. If a credit memo or receipt has not been matched up to an invoice, it will stay in the OPEN table. To get it out of the OPEN table and move it to HISTORY, run the 'Paid Transaction Removal' routine. The fact that the customer's net balance is zero does not impact whether or not the document moves to HISTORY.

When you run the Paid Trx Removal you specify a cutoff date that applies to:
     ·         NSF checks
     ·         Voided documents
     ·         Waived (finance charges)
     ·         Paid Transactions

You specify a separate date for:
     ·         Checks

Once RM transactions are moved to HISTORY - they cannot be voided thereby moving them back to OPEN. This is why the checks have a separate date - what if they bounce!
 
Documents can be 'unapplied' only while they are in the OPEN table, not after they have been moved to HISTORY. For instance, if you applied a cash receipt to the wrong invoice, you can change it to the correct invoice only if it has not been moved to HISTORY. Documents can be voided only while they are in the OPEN table. Voided documents stay in the OPEN table until they are moved to history via the 'Paid Transaction Removal' routine. You cannot void a document in the HISTORY table.
 
But here’s one HUGE exception.  Using the Professional Services Tools Library (PSTL) you can indeed “unapply” an amount from a document in HISTORY.  If, for example, an invoice had been completely paid off and moved to history and then you realize the cash was applied to the wrong invoice. Using the (PSTL) tool you can ‘unapply’ the cash thereby moving both the cash receipt and the invoice back into the OPEN table.
 
Once you have the documents back in the OPEN table you can apply the check to the correct invoice, void the document, write off the document or do anything else you can ordinarily do with an OPEN document.

SOP (Sales Order Processing)

WORK
Unposted SOP documents


Table Number
Description
SOP10100
Sales Transaction WORK (SOP Header)
SOP10200
Sales Transaction Amounts WORK (SOP Line Items)
SOP10102
Sales Distribution WORK and HISTORY (Debits and Credits)
SOP10202
Sales Line Comment WORK and HISTORY (Comments on Line Items)
SOP10101
Sales Commissions WORK and HISTORY
SOP10203
Sales Order Bin Quantities WORK and HISTORY
SOP10103
Sales Payment WORK and HISTORY
SOP10201
Sales Serial/Lot WORK and HISTORY
SOP10105
Sales Taxes WORK and HISTORY
SOP10106
Sales User-Defined WORK HISTORY

An unposted document includes not only Invoices and Returns, but also Quotes, Orders and Backorders.
 
OPEN
There is no OPEN file

When a SOP document is posted, the transaction moves to the RM OPEN table and the SOP document moves to the SOP HISTORY table. Only Invoices and Returns can be posted. The posted SOP document becomes an open receivable (or credit) in the RM OPEN table.
 
HISTORY
Posted SOP Invoices or SOP Returns
Voided SOP Documents
Orders whose items have been fully transferred to other documents
Quotes that have had any item transferred to another document
Backorders that have been fully transferred to other documents


Table Number
Description
SOP30200
Sales Transaction HISTORY (Header information)
SOP30300
Sales Transaction Amounts HISTORY (Line item information)
SOP30201
Sales Deposit HISTORY
SOP10102
Sales Distribution WORK and HISTORY (Debits and Credits)
SOP10202
Sales Line Comment WORK and HISTORY (Comments on Line Items)
SOP10101
Sales Commissions WORK and HISTORY
SOP10203
Sales Order Bin Quantities WORK and HISTORY
SOP10103
Sales Payment WORK and HISTORY
SOP10201
Sales Serial/Lot WORK and HISTORY
SOP10105
Sales Taxes WORK and HISTORY
SOP10106
Sales User-Defined WORK HISTORY

SOP invoices and returns automatically move to HISTORY as soon as they are posted. For documents that do not automatically transfer to HISTORY, run the 'Reconcile-Remove Sales Documents' utility to move them.
 
The following documents cannot be posted:
·         Quotes
·         Orders
·        Backorders

POP (Purchase Order Processing)

WORK
Any Purchase Order document that has not been moved to history


Table Number
Description
POP10100
Purchase Order WORK
POP10110
Purchase Order Line
POP10300
Purchasing Receipt WORK
POP10310
Purchasing Receipt Line
POP10150
Purchase Order Comment
POP10160
Purchase Order Tax
POP10340
Purchasing Bin Quantities WORK
POP10550
Purchasing Comment
POP10390
Purchasing Distribution WORK
POP10700
Purchasing Landed Cost
POP10140
Purchasing Manufacturer Numbers
POP10500
Purchasing Receipt Line Quantities
POP10306
Purchasing Receipt User-Defined
POP10330
Purchasing Serial Lot WORK
POP10600
Purchasing Shipment Invoice Apply
POP10360
Purchasing Tax

OPEN
There is no open file
 
HISTORY
Posted Receipts automatically move to history
Posted Purchasing Invoices automatically move to history
Voided Purchasing Documents automatically move to history
Closed Purchase Orders
Cancelled Purchase Orders


Table Number
Description
POP30100
Purchase Order HISTORY (PO Header)
POP30110
Purchase Order Line HISTORY (PO Line Items)
POP30300
Purchasing Receipt HISTORY (Receipt Header)
POP30310
Purchasing Receipt Line HISTORY (Receipt Line Items)
POP30160
Purchase Order Tax HISTORY
POP30000
Purchasing Batch HISTORY
POP30340
Purchasing Bin Quantities HISTORY
POP30390
Purchasing Distribution HISTORY
POP30700
Purchasing Landed Cost HISTORY
POP30330
Purchasing Serial Lot HISTORY
POP30360
Purchasing Tax HISTORY

Posted Receipts, Posted Purchasing Invoices and Voided Purchasing Documents automatically move to history. You must run the Purchasing Routine 'Remove Completed Purchase Orders' to move all of the closed or canceled POs to HISTORY. If a PO is not closed or canceled it will not be moved, so there is no danger of moving a PO that doesn't qualify. You can set restrictions on which POP documents are examined for removal. It is not an ‘all or nothing’ kind of routine.

IVC (Basic Invoicing – not SOP)

WORK
Unposted Documents


Table Number
Description
IVC10400
Invoicing Commissions
IVC10300
Invoicing Distributions
IVC10103
Invoicing Line Comments
IVC10200
Invoicing Payments WORK
IVC10102
Invoicing Serial and Lot Number WORK
IVC10500
Invoicing Taxes
IVC10101
Invoicing Transaction Amounts WORK
IVC10100
Invoicing Transaction WORK
 
OPEN
There is no open file (posted transactions update receivables, like SOP)
 
HISTORY
Posted Invoices
Posted Returns


Table Number
Description
IVC30102
Invoicing Transaction Amounts HISTORY
IVC30101
Invoicing Transaction HISTORY
IVC10400
Invoicing Commissions
IVC10300
Invoicing Distributions
IVC10500
Invoicing Taxes
IVC10103
Invoicing Line Comments
IVC10102
Invoicing Serial and Lot Number WORK

Invoices and Returns automatically move to the HISTORY table when posted. Like SOP, when and invoice or return is posted, the customer transaction record moves into the RM OPEN table. The transaction, therefore becomes an open receivable or credit.

IV (Inventory)

WORK
Unposted Adjustments
Unposted Variances
Unposted Stock Counts
Unposted Transfers
 
Table Number
Description
IV10004
Inventory Bin Quantity Transfer
IV10201
Inventory Purchase Receipts Detail
IV10200
Inventory Purchase Receipts WORK
IV10002
Inventory Serial and Lot Number WORK
IV10001
Inventory Transaction Amounts WORK
IV10003
Inventory Transaction Bin Quantities WORK
IV10000
Inventory Transaction WORK

OPEN
There is no open file
 
HISTORY
Posted Transactions
 
Table Number
Description
IV30500
Inventory Distribution HISTORY
IV30300
Inventory Transaction Amounts HISTORY
IV30100
Inventory Transaction Batch HISTORY
IV30302
Inventory Transaction Bin Quantities HISTORY
IV30301
Inventory Transaction Detail HISTORY
IV30200
Inventory Transaction HISTORY
IV30600
Item Lot Attribute HISTORY
IV30400
Item Serial and Lot Number HISTORY
 
Inventory transactions are automatically moved to history when posted.

That's it! Please let me know of any adjustments you think I need to make to this.
 
Until next post!
 
Leslie