Upgrade to 2010 R2?

I had no problem with a clean install of R2. When I tried to update a current installation I received the set of errors listed below right after the ‘Install Microsoft . . . ‘ was selected. Any ideas?

Until next post!

Leslie

Watch David Musgrave's Moves on You Tube!!

David Musgrave

Shattered is the image of David Musgrave staring intently at his computer screen putting yet another finishing touch on the Support Debugging Tool.

Here's the scene - the Convergence Reception reaches a fevered pitch, the music starts to pound, and then David breaks loose with some moves all his own!

The Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta was the 'Place to Be' on Tuesday night (April 12, 2011) where Musgrave moved to the beat in a way that was nothing less than astonishing. Sheila Jefferson-Ross, always ready with a camera, captured this legendary display for your viewing pleasure.
Watch, as David reveals yet another of his hidden talents!

Be sure to post your comments so that David can see how much you support him in pursuing a place on "Australia's Got Talent!" See the video here

Enjoy!  Until next post!
Leslie Vail

SOP order and POP document in the same order

Just a quick post from Convergence.

Yesterday I was asked if it was possible for the PO created from a SOP document to retain the line item order of the PO. Their customer matched up the invoice with their PO when approving the bill. You certainly don't want any delay in receiving our customer's payment, so having the two documents match is essential.

The answer, yes you can!

Microsoft Professional Services sells a tool that will cause the PO to be created in the same line item order as the SOP document that created it. At last call the tool was a mere $500. This tool is not on the regular GP product offering so you must submit a support request (non-chargeable) to acquire it.

There are several other tools available from Microsoft that solve problems we have been laboring over for years. I have more detail at: http://dynamicsconfessions.blogspot.com/2010/02/tools-available-from-professional.html

Until next post!

Leslie Vail

House passes repeal of new Form 1099 reporting rules!

We were all holding our breath waiting for this to happen! It’s hard to imagine, but there were some who voted against it. Go figure. 

CCH® PAYROLL — 03/08/11

The House passed the repeal, on March 3, 2011, of a section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) that required businesses to file Form 1099 for all transactions valued at $600 or more, that is, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011 (H.R. 4). The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The Senate passed its version, as an amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill on February 2, 2011 (S.B. 223) (see CCH Payroll Management Guide Report Letter 1333/2185, dated February 8, 2011).

The Obama Administration raised “serious concerns” about the method of paying for repeal of the Form 1099 reporting requirement for small businesses under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) contained in a House bill. The administration in a written policy statement, said the proposed offset in the Comprehensive 1099 Tax Protection and Repayment Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011 (HR 4) would increase taxes on certain middle-class families that incur unexpected health care tax liabilities even though they followed the rules.

A provision repealing the same information reporting requirements in the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act also drew criticism by the administration. The aviation bill would pay for the repeal with an unspecified rescission of $44 billion which, the administration noted, could seriously disrupt services provided

by the federal government. The administration said it will continue to work with Congress to find an acceptable offset for repealing the bookkeeping requirement. (House Ways and Means Committee Report on the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011 (HR 4).)

Payroll Tax Round 4 for 2011 tax year

Time to update those tax tables again! This update does require a code change, so give yourself some time

Download them here:

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 - Build 10.00.1727
This page contains the latest U.S. Payroll Tax Update for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0.
https://mbs2.microsoft.com/public/insights/ReadArticle.aspx?rcpt_id=17551421&ja_id=49904

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 – Build 11.0.1708
This page contains the latest U.S. Payroll Tax Update for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.
https://mbs2.microsoft.com/public/insights/ReadArticle.aspx?rcpt_id=17551421&ja_id=49905

Until next post!

Leslie

The Vendor ID is Missing or Invalid

This will be a short post. When I come upon an error message in a third party product I am going to post it if a resolution does not come up on a search.

This error was received when using the Ethotech Commission Plan product. The error is presented when you try to Preview or Process commissions. If a salesperson is a contractor, s/he must be associated with a Vendor ID. The message is telling us something is wrong with that association. Open the Salesperson Maintenance window (Sales > Cards > Salesperson) and check for the existence of a Vendor ID.

Zoom back on the Vendor ID. To zoom, hover your mouse over the word ‘Vendor ID’, when the mouse pointer changes to a pointing finger , click. A menu will drop down that says Vendor Maintenance at the top. Click on the menu and the Vendor Maintenance window will open with the vendor associated with that salesperson displayed.

Because the Vendor Maintenance window opened displaying a vendor, we know the vendor is valid. Further investigation of the window revealed that the Status of the vendor was Inactive. Changing the vendor to Active status solved the problem.

GP2010 R2 - More Information Released with Tech Conference Materials

Tech Conference materials are available for download. Get all of the information from the 2011 Technical Conference in Fargo, including details about GP 2010 R2!

Very exciting features are coming with R2, download the resources and see for yourself!

https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/newsevents/events/conferences/msdygp_techconference2011.htm?p=5

Dynamics GP 2010 R2 Features

We have tons of new features to look forward to with the release of GP 2010 R2. There are some VERY exciting things planned for version ‘12’ as well.

Take a look at all of the R2 new features!



Be watching CustomerSource/PartnerSource for the official announcement and a special ‘Feature of the Day’ series of articles explaining each of the new enhancements.

Fargo Tech Conference – Day One, Wednesday

Although we have been here for 3 days, this is officially Day 1 of the Conference.

 

David Musgrave and MVP Mariano Gomez delivered their first presentation of the conference today. Of course, they were stellar. Who’da thunk you could have this much fun listening to the finer points about a debugging tool! Actually debugging code? You’ve got to be kidding! I thought everyone just used the ‘let’s try this’ approach.

 

After the conference, about 25 of us braved the cold and walked over to the mall to meet up at Grizzley’s for dinner. OK, from the hotel to the mall was about 300 yds (275 meters), BUT IT’S MINUS 5F OUTSIDE ! (that’s –21C)  and that doesn’t even count the wind chill factor from the 14mph winds! Suffice it to say it was bitterly cold.

 

I made it across, but there was definitely a taxi in my future if I was expected to walk back. That’s right, a 300 yd taxi ride. Hey, I’m from Texas; we don’t do this kind of thing in Texas. David took a lot of pictures, I imagine some will show up on his blog. I did get a ride back to the hotel, so thankfully, I didn't have to call a cab.

 

Tomorrow is the 2nd presentation by the Dynamics Duo. That also means that tomorrow night is the Expo. David will undoubtedly instigate a Tim Tam Slam competition. What’s a Tim Tam Slam you say? Read on  . . .

 

Tim Tam Slam Instructions

 

Things You'll Need:

• Tim Tams
• Milk, Hot Chocolate, Tea, Coffee
• Sweet alcoholic beverage (optional)
• Cup
• Camera!

1.  
   Get hold of a Tim Tam! This may be easier said than done if you're outside Australia or New Zealand, but trust me - they're worth the effort. If you don't have friends willing to ship you these goodies, you can get some here:
   http://www.about-australia-shop.com/timtams.htm

    
2. 
3. Bite two of the four corners off your Tim Tam. You'll want to pick two corners that are diagonal to each other, lengthwise.
4.  
   Put one of the short ends of your Tim Tam into a glass of milk, coffee, hot chocolate, tea or Baileys, and then suck inward, like you're using the cookie (biscuit) as a straw. Once the liquid touches your tongue, shove the whole thing in your mouth (the Slam!) or it will collapse and make a huge mess.

While you are buying your Tim Tam’s, pick up some chocolate Chicos http://www.aussieproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NECH19

The Masters at Work!

Here’s David Musgrave and Mariano Gomez honing their presentation on development tools (what else!). They have picked a quiet table in the corner of the bar at Basies. Hey, it’s never too late to prepare for your presentation, right?

David Musgrave & Mariano Gomez

We worked there all day, and David got to experience an ‘object reference not set’ error and couldn’t uninstall Dynamics from his computer. He was off to the races then trying 'things', but the computer was winning. After 6 hours we got a new set of eyes looking at it. David Eichner to the rescue. David E. suggested some pretty agressive 'fixes', but everything started working again at last. And it only took 6 hours! Welcome to my world David!

After our day at the bar, Mariano needed to get some fresh air. I guess two solid days inside the Ramada in Fargo was starting to close in on him. David M, David E, Mariano and me ventured across the street in the cold to Granite City Food & Brewery to get some dinner and exchange more stories and laughs.

We have an early day Monday, so we all headed upstairs to our rooms at about 10:00 pm.

Until next time!

Leslie

Tech Conference in Fargo–Cold Cold Cold

Fargo was cold (zero degrees F) when I arrived from 70 degree Dallas on Saturday. After enduring a two-hour delay in Chicago for de-icing, I was rewarded by meeting up with Haseet Sanghrajka at the Fargo airport. Haseet came in from England and was also on his way to the Ramada.

Mariano Gomez, Leslie Vail & David Musgrave

When I finally walked into the Ramada I was greeted by the best of the best – David Musgrave and Mariano Gomez! It was well past dinner time when I finally arrived, but David and Mariano waited for me to get there so we could all sit down together for a meal at Basies. Mariano was looking mighty hungry though.

All inconveniences of the cold and the delays soon vanished from my mind. David Eichner joined us for conversation and mashed potatoes during dinner and we gabbed until after 1:00 am.

What a great day to catch up and ready ourselves for the Conference!

Until next post!

Leslie

Dexterity Training in Orlando (May 16th to 20th, 2011)

Come join us in Orlando for Dexterity Basics training. We have nine people signed up so far!

It’s –1 F (-18 C) in Fargo, Orlando sure sounds a lot nicer!

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.

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

Date and Location:

• When:  May 16th – May 20
• 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.

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.

General Prerequisites:

Prior to attending the course, it is highly recommended that students prepare for the course by going through the Dexterity Quick Start reference manual and working through the lessons in that manual. The Quick Start manual is located on the second CD of Dynamics GP and can be found under the Help-Online Manuals option from within Dexterity. Also, necessary is knowledge of basic programming concepts.

Price: $2,995 for 5 day course

Accepted Payment Methods: Check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express

NEW! Keys.ini file Control your Macro's Date and Time

How to Test Date Driven Features in GP

I have added a new file to the .ini collection – the Keys.ini

This information comes compliments of Alice Newsman from the GP Test Team. Alice explains how to use the file, where to put it and why you NEED to use this file when testing date driven features http://blogs.msdn.com/b/developingfordynamicsgp/archive/2009/12/18/testing-date-driven-features-in-gp.aspx

Download the new file here: http://www.4shared.com/document/Dn7XeHVj/KEYSini_file_settings.html


Dex.ini Settings

Several settings in the Dex.ini file control the application and enable more consistency to be driven into tests.  The below settings will allow you to specify whether you want to use the Control Panel settings for date, time and currency values as well as allowing you to set the preferred format.

StdInternationalInfo
This setting allows the operating system settings for date, time, and currency formatting to be overridden.

TRUE = Use Dexterity standard formats for date, time, and currency values
FALSE = Use control panel settings for date, time, and currency values

StdInternationalInfoDateCentury
This setting allows control over the year portion of the date values used by StdInternationalInfo

TRUE = Four digits will be used for the year portion of date values
FALSE  = Two digits will be used for the year portion of date values

StdInternationalInfoDateZeroPrefix
This setting allows control over the date format for SdtInternationalInfo

TRUE = Single-digit day and month values will be prefixed with a 0 (zero)
FALSE = Single-digit day and month values will not be prefixed

Keys.ini Settings
The Keys.ini file contains commands that are run at startup to configure various system behaviors. The commands in the Keys.ini are run only if the file is included in the command to launch Microsoft Dynamics GP.

You create this file using a text editor such as Notepad. The Keys.ini file is typically stored in the Data folder of the Microsoft Dynamics GP installation.

To work properly, the Keys.ini file must also have a blank line as the last item in the file. The following commands allow the user to set a static system date and time.


SetEbDateTo
This command specifies the date value to use for the system date.  Note that for this setting the '=' is not included in the switch, it is here just for definition readability. Examples are included to clarify.

'o/s' = Use the operating system date
MM/DD/YY/DOW = Use the date specified, where MM is the month, DD is the date, YY is the year, and DOW is the day of the week

Example: SetEbDateTo date 01/01/1965


SetEbTimeTo
This command specifies the time value to use for the system time.  Note that for this setting the '=' is not included in the switch, it is here just for definition readability. Examples are included to clarify.

'o/s' = Use the operating system time
time HH:MM:SS = Use the time specified, where HH is the hour (from 0 to 23), MM is the minute, and SS is the second

Example: SetEbTimeTo time 4:15:00

Here is an example of how the switches would look in the Keys.ini file

      SetEbDateTo date 01/01/2001
      SetEbTimeTo 'o/s'

Once the above settings have been specified you will then be able to setup your starting data including specific dates for orders, items, etc to create in-depth testing for date driven features.

Enjoy!

Leslie Vail

Dex.ini Downloadable File Updated

Hello everyone,

I have updated my Dex.ini collection. The file name is the same, but it contains a few new switches. As before, please comment and correct me if the descriptions are wrong or give me some new ones that I can add to the list!

I’m still looking for an explanation for the two below. If anyone knows what they mean, please – speak up!

NextEntryID =

NextGroupID =

You can access the latest Dex.ini file on Box. Download here: DEX.ini. Here’s the link done the long way: https://app.box.com/s/xkgae2rz1vil1ap4o579

Until next post!

Leslie Vail

Remembering the Company, not the User

GP 2010 brought with it a couple of new features involving security. Mariano wrote a nice article about several new features on his blog last year:
http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2010/01/microsoft-dynamics-gp-2010-security.html

I would like to add a comment about security that I have seen misinterpreted quite a bit lately. There are two new options, (1) Remember user and password & (2) Remember this company. These two options are not related in any way.

Remembering the user and password can be turned on and off through System Preferences (see below). Turning off the ‘Remember User’ option does NOT turn off the ‘Remember this company’ option.



The Remember user and password checkbox is disabled in the Welcome window because it is not enabled in System Preferences.



The checkbox for ‘Remember this company’ is not controlled by System Preferences. You can always check this box. When the box is checked, you still have to log in to the system but then you are automatically logged on to the remembered company after your password is accepted.



I like the option to remember the company. I think remembering the user and password is too big of a security risk to be viable. For anyone who has Field Level Security, I recommend you hide the field (L) RememberMe on the Login form/window.

Until next post!

Leslie

Dexterity Training Rescheduled

The Dexterity Basics class that was originally scheduled for the week before Tech Conference has been rescheduled and moved to Orlando, FL.

The class is being held at the facility of Integrated Business Group (they are a Certified Learning Resources partner)

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

New Date and Location:

• When:  May 16th – May 20
• Where: Orlando Florida

No previous Dexterity experience is required nor suggested. This class starts from the ground up. We only ask that you have some familiarity with programming in general.

You will be surprised at how much fun you can have in a programming class – and we are close to Disney World!

You can download a synopsis of the class here:  http://www.4shared.com/office/gK3muz4n/dexterity_i_synopsis_.html

I hope to see you there!

Until Next Post!

Leslie Vail

Update path is back for 9.00.0388 to GP 2010

The only path from 9.00.0388 is to 11.00.1667

Version 11.00.1667 is the resulting build after the installation of the 2011 US Payroll Round 2 Tax Update.
Download the tax update patch HERE. KB2477921

Dexterity – Learn it – Love it

With all of this discussion about the fate of Dexterity, I thought I would remind everyone that you can come to the Dexterity Basics class in Fargo the week before Tech Conference and decide for yourself .

Personally, I do not think Dexterity is going to disappear so long as Dynamics GP is alive. Remember the ill-fated project ‘Green’? As Tim Gordon reminds us ..." it  (Dexterity) was designed specifically as a language for building an accounting system…"


Dex is in a class by itself!

Until next post,
Leslie

GP Reports Viewer moves into the Shipping Lanes!

MVP Victoria Yudin just released a fabulous product that will remove so much pain that is now part of herding together all of the various reports in Dynamics. Wow, below is a list of what it can do (stolen directly from Victoria’s blog ).

Download a trial copy and see for yourself! http://www.flex-solutions.com/gpreports.html

Run Crystal and SSRS Reports directly from Dynamics GP

Organize your Crystal and SSRS Reports into Batches and run them all at once

Reports can be run from our GP Reports Viewer screen or from any window in GP - via the Print Button or Extras menu

Your report can automatically use data from the GP company you are in

Auto detection of report parameters and ability to pass parameters directly into reports from GP windows

Assign built-in GP lookups to parameters or easily create additional lookups as needed

Technorati Tags: reporting

Download GP 2010 Payroll Tax Round 2!

It’s finally here for real – GP 2010 Payroll Tax round 2 – and you can download it HERE
GPUG has a nice announcement on their site http://www.gpug.com/member-resources/payroll-update-news

Dexterity Training is coming to Fargo!

That’s right!  A Dexterity training class is being held the week before Tech Conference (Feb 21-25) in Fargo. If you have been wanting to get started with Dexterity, now is a great opportunity for some classroom training. Details of what is covered and other particulars can be had by contacting IBG.

It’s coming up fast, but it’s worth the trip. We are running the Dexterity I class covering the basics in Dexterity, it’s an introduction to the language aimed at a developer who has not worked with Dexterity before. You will learn how to create user interfaces having the exact same look and feel as Dynamics GP, how to create resources and interact with the core applications. This class will bring it all together for VSTools programmers and new Dexterity developers alike.

Don’t forget to bring a coat

For details and to sign up contact ralvarez@ibgnet.com. You could also fill out the ‘Request Information’ form on their web site. Their web site is http://www.ibgnet.com/.

You can download a synopsis of the class using the link below. http://www.4shared.com/document/gK3muz4n/Dexterity_I_Synopsis_.html
I hope to see you there, if not I will see you at the conference.

Until next post!

Payroll Tax Round 2 for GP2010 for year 2011 UPDATE

The KB article announced on January 26th (KB2477921) is still a no-show. That means the GP2010 Round 2 (aka, we’ve fixed the 4.2 – 6.2 FICA problem) is not available. The version 10 code is available, but that seems to be all.

We all wait with anticipation for the release of the real code update.

Stay tuned!

Find anything GP thank you Mark Polino!

MVP Mark Polino is at it again. As if it wasn’t enough to write the ultimate tips and tricks book in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Cookbook, he has developed a new web search called My GP Search. This is an amazing piece of work! Find it HERE. It’s a simple one-stop search engine for GP related information. I do not know where he finds time to do so much. Just three years ago we didn’t have blogs or communities or all the sites we rely on today for GP information. Today we can find nearly anything. So much information is now available that it is hard to find everything. Well, those days of going from blog to blog are over! Check it out!

How is FICA/S wages and withholding calculated?

It’s that time of year again! W-2s are due out early next week and we are just now looking at the numbers. You know who you are!

Have you ever noticed a difference between the Social Security Wages and withholding reported on the Form W-2 and the amounts in the Employee Summary record?

Understanding the relationships between the components listed below can be challenging. This post intends to clarify the inter-relationship between these items and the amounts recorded as Social Security wages and Social Security tax withheld.

Below are the components I discuss:

• The Year-end Wage Report
• The W-2 Validation Report
• The amounts displayed in the Edit W-2 window
• The amounts that print on the W-2
• The amounts that print on the W-3

Payroll Year-end close

1. When the year is closed the year-end wage file is created. The system captures the actual amounts from the employee summary record. The FICA limit and percentage in effect when the year-end wage file is created are also captured.

2. The Year-end Wage Report reads from the year-end wage file, so it shows the actual amounts withheld regardless of the limits

3. The Validation Report does two things

a. Compares the FICA wages recorded in the year-end wage file to the FICA wage limit that was captured when the year-end wage file was created

b. Calculates what FICA withholding should have been in accordance with the FICA wage limit and percentage captured when the year-end wage file was created

c. Any differences are reported on the Validation Report

4. The W-2 form that appears in the Edit W-2 window is reading the year-end wage file, so it shows the actual amounts withheld

5. The amount that appears in the Social Security Wages W-2 box is the lessor of:

a. The Social Security Wages from the year-end wage file or,

b. The FICA limit captured when the year-end wage file was created.

6. The amount that appears in the Social Security Withheld W-2 box is the lessor of:

a. The amount actually withheld as captured in the year-end wage file or,

b. The amount of the FICA limit in the year-end wage file times the FICA % captured in the year-end wage file. This amount is calculated without regard to the amount recorded in the year-end wage file as Social Security wages.

7. The amounts appearing on the W-3 are the sum of the amounts on the W-2s. The W-3 amounts are not the same as the Year-End wage report amounts.

Have fun with it!
Until next post!

v 9.00.0386 Upgrade Path to GP2010 Gone

Microsoft announced yesterday that currently there is NO upgrade path to GP2010 from version 9.00.0386 (2010 Canadian Payroll Year End Update & 2011 Round 2 Tax Update KB 2492902) until the release of the 2010 Canadian Payroll Year End Update & 2011 Round 2 Tax Update for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.

Click HERE to get the latest update document.

Click HERE to download the latest patch for Microsoft Dynamics GP2010.

Payroll Tax Round 2 for GP2010 for year 2011

Microsoft announced that the much anticipated Round 2 for GP2010 is out. The update filename is MicrosoftDynamicsGP11-KB2477921-ENU.msp (for U.S. English).

Read about it here: https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/downloads/taxupdates/usgptu10.htm?printpage=false

The Tax Tables themselves are here: TX.cab Round 2

Here is an excerpt from the U.S. 2011 January Payroll Tax Update For Microsoft Dynamics ® GP Round 2

“Installation is divided into two portions: the tax table update and the program code update. Installing the tax table update is required for all states included in the Round 2 update.

To install the tax table update:

You can run the tax update installation from any workstation. The update installs payroll tax table data on the server computer where your existing Microsoft Dynamics GP application data is located. You need to install the tax table update only once.

To install the program code update:

You need to install the update on the server as well as every workstation that runs Microsoft Dynamics GP.

Installation instructions vary, depending on the release you are using. Follow instructions for the release you are using:

Installing the program code update for Release 9.0 (links to a different part of the document)

Installing the program code update for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 or Release 10.0 (links to a different part of the document)

Before you begin, ask all Microsoft Dynamics GP users to exit the application until the update is complete. Exit all other applications, turn off the screen saver, and back up important data (including Forms.dic, Reports.dic, and Dynamics.vba if they exist) before you proceed with the installation.

Note: The Payroll Update Engine, which is used to install the tax table update, is not supported on 64-bit operating systems when running Release 9.0, or Release 10.0 prior to Service Pack 3. For more information, refer to the Knowledge Base article at

https://mbs.microsoft.com/knowledgebase/KBDisplay.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;947191

(https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/support/downloads/servicepacks or https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/support/downloads/taxupdates/.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0:

The update filenames are:

MicrosoftDynamicsGP-KB2477916-v10-ENU.exe (for U.S. English) and

MicrosoftDynamicsGP-KB2477917-v10-ESLA.exe (for Latin American Spanish).

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010:

The update filename is MicrosoftDynamicsGP11-KB2477921-ENU.msp (for U.S. English) and

MicrosoftDynamicsGP11-KB2477922-ENU.msp (for Latin American Spanish).

The file incorporates all previous code updates, including Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 and Release 10.0 Service Pack 5, the 2010 U.S. Payroll year-end update, and all recent hotfixes. If you are using Canadian Payroll, it also includes the Canadian 2010 Year-End Update/2011 Tax Update, as well as all previous Canadian Payroll tax updates.”

Stay tuned for upgrade path changes.

Until next post!

Change the Date at Midnight without the Dialog

A friend asked me recently how to get the date to advance if you are using the .ini switch SuppressChangeDateDialog=TRUE.

First, let me explain the .ini switch. If GP is open overnight, a dialog displays at midnight asking you if you want to advance the date.

Many firms run integrations overnight and this dialog displaying in the middle of an integration will cause it to crash. To keep the dialog from presenting, the ‘SuppressChangeDateDialog’ .ini switch was developed. If this switch is included in your dex.ini file, the date dialog will not be presented and therefore the integration will not crash.

A byproduct of the .ini switch is that the date does not automatically advance. So, we have a dilemma. In order to force the date to advance while suppressing the Change Date dialog, a tool was developed by Microsoft (then Great Plains). The tool is known as the ‘Update User Date’ utility. There is no charge for it, but you have to ask Tech Support in order to get it.

For versions GP 2010 and beyond, this utility is included as one of the free tools in the Professional Services Tools Library. Every GP installation should include this module because so many free tools are included. You can find the Update User Date utility in the upper left-hand corner of the Professional Services Tools Library window. In order to turn the functionality ‘on’ simply check the box to the left of the radio button.

I hope this helps you with your integrations.

Until next post!

Leslie

Check those 1099s! You may have more than you bargained for!

Version 10 introduced ‘date sensitive’ 1099 reporting. This allowed us to print 1099s for a year without regard to the actual closing date for that year. Prior to this, if you didn’t close A/P right at the year end, it was not possible to cut off payables for the purpose of accumulating 1099 amounts.

The introduction of this new feature brought with it a new ‘gotcha’ in the world of 1099 reporting. If you have a vendor incorrectly marked as a 1099 vendor during the year (and amounts are paid to the vendor in excess of the thresholds), a 1099 will be issued for that vendor even after you change the setting to ‘Not a 1099 Vendor’. In order to prevent the Form 1099 from printing, you need to zero out all of the 1099 amounts recorded in the 1099 Details window. (Purchasing Area Page > Cards Content Pane >1099 Details.)

In order to see the 1099 Details for a vendor, first mark them as a 1099 vendor. After the vendor is marked, remove any amounts from the 1099 Amount column in the 1099 Details window. Don’t forget to reset the 1099 option after clearing out the balances. Once the balances are cleared, the 1099 will no longer print for this vendor. Marking the vendor as ‘Not a 1099 Vendor’ is no longer sufficient to cause the 1099 not to print.

This was an issue in version 10 and continues to be an issue with version 2010.

Until next post!

Leslie

Support Debugging Tool–new release!

 

David Musgrave has done it again! He’s added more to the already unbeatable Support Debugging Tool. Find out more on David’s blog:

Support Debugging Tool Build 14 released

If you do not already have it, then your life is incomplete. For those of us who use it everyday, it’s hard to imagine life without it!

Thank you David!

Until next time,

Leslie

AutoComplete Data for GP – it’s not really a Mystery

I have heard a lot of buzz lately about the AutoComplete fields and I thought I would take the opportunity to put it to rest. If I'm wrong about this, please correct me, but this is the truth as I know it.

The AutoComplete fields are not stored in the SQL database! They are stored in each user’s profile on each workstation they have used to log in to Dynamics GP.

For example, if I log in to workstation “A”, and then log in to Dynamics GP, an AutoCmpl.dat file will be created in my AppData folder on workstation “A”. If I then log in to workstation “B”, and log in to Dynamics GP, a different AutoCmpl.dat file will be created in my AppData folder on workstation “B”. A folder is created for each company database. Therefore, none of these files includes all of my AutoComplete data. Since the AutoComplete feature has a workstation component, you may have different AutoComplete fields pop up if you log in to Dynamics GP from multiple workstations.

On my Windows7 workstation, the AutoComplete fields for Fabrikam are stored here:

C:\Users\Leslie\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Business Solutions\Microsoft Dynamics GP\TWO\AutoCmpl.dat

A corresponding AutoCmpl.idx file is in that same folder. The ‘AppData’ folder is a hidden folder, so you will need to modify your folder view options in order to see it.

Another point: I do not think all of the AutoComplete records are “loaded into memory” when the form loads. The data is simply stored in a file and is pulled from the file when the user asks for it. I think the “AutoComplete” feature has been around since version 8, it works by matching typed-in text character-by-character and displaying matches in a drop-down list.

It seems each user can store up to 99,999 entries per AutoComplete field, per company. Theoretically, I suppose you could get millions of records in that file, but just like other data, it is merely taking up a little hard drive space until it is requested. The default number of entries is set to 10,000 per field. I'm not sure why 10,000 was selected, but there must be a reason (or it just seemed like a good idea at the time!).

It has been suggested by many that each user lower the per-field maximum from 10,000 to around 300. Rather than changing the AutoComplete limits, I would think it more appropriate to select ‘Remove unused entries after x days. If the user wants to remove an entry before that, simply right click on the errant entry and select ‘Remove from list’.

To satisfy my own curiosity, I connected an Excel spreadsheet to the AutoCmpl.dat file and imported the data. The data stored in the file looks like this.

If you open the Dex.dic file using Dexterity, you will find the AutoComplete table definition. The database type is forced to c-tree.

The .dat and .idx files are ctree Plus files. ctree Plus is an ISAM database from FairCom Corporation. Dynamics GP used to be available on the ctree platform. ctree files are still used for some of the temp tables in GP today. For more information about Temporary Tables, take a look at David’s article Working with temporary tables in Dexterity. As a Dexterity programmer you can define that a certain table will be created as a ctree file.

The Table Import Utility definitions are stored in ctree files (SY50000.dat and SY50100.dat). The On-Line Field Descriptions are stored in ctree files too, OLDF001.dat (for the tables) and OLFD002.dat (for the forms). If you have the ctree Plus ODBC driver, you can read these tables. If you want to learn more about using the ctree Plus ODBC drivers, read the article Using ODBC to read the On-Line Field Descriptions File.

Live the Dream!

Leslie

Dex.ini file has been updated!

I added a few more switches to the dex.ini file over the last few months so I have uploaded the latest and greatest to the share site. You can download the file from my 4shared site.
Have fun with them!
http://www.4shared.com/document/lFerwmn7/DEXini_file_settings.html
Leslie

Come to the GPUG 2010 Summit!

Time is running out! If you haven’t already got your ticket to the 2010 GPUG Summit there is still time. If you still need some convincing, check out the ‘Top 6 Reasons to Attend’. If you need to convince someone else that it is essential that YOU are sent, check out Why You Need to be at Summit-Tell your Boss!

I have been to the last three (the only three?) Summit’s and have vowed to go to them from now on. MVP Mark Polino and I will be delivering several separate sessions at the Summit – be sure to attend these sessions! If you want to come in a day early or stay an extra day, sign up for some of the optional training classes being offered.

In addition to all of the other valuable content, GPUG Summit 2010 will be featuring several Focus Areas. Among them is HR/Payroll, Reporting and Potpourri. In the HR/Payroll arena, I will be delivering three sessions, fellow MVP Mark Polino will be delivering a session in the Reporting area and Both MVP Mark Polino and I will each be delivering a session in the Potpourri area. Stop by the sessions and be sure to say ‘hello’!

HR/Payroll Special Interest Group Focus Area

Learn What You Can Now do with HR and Payroll Inside GP – delivered by MVP Leslie Vail
In this presentation session learn about the Dynamics GP functionality currently available in the Human Resources (HR) and Payroll areas. This session will feature a live demo of some of the new functionality brought to us by GP 2010.

Understanding the Latest Government Regulations Around HR and Payroll – delivered by MVP Leslie Vail and Landon Russell
There are a lot of recent regulatory changes in the HR and payroll areas lately. In this presentation learn how Dynamics GP can assist in meeting these regulations. Some of the key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have already taken effect; come to this session for some guidance on what those provisions really mean to us as employers. Topics include the new W-2 reporting requirements as well as what it means to be a ‘grandfathered’ health benefit plan.

20 HR and Payroll Tips to Make Your Life Easier – delivered by MVP Leslie Vail
As a follow up to the presentation session on HR/Payroll and GP, attend this presentation session to see 20 HR/Payroll tips which will make your HR and Payroll department jumping for joy! Learn how you can set up employees faster, enter transactions faster, navigate the interface with more precision and pick up some tips on what to do ‘when things go wrong’. This will be a fun session.

Reporting Focus Area

Leveraging the Power of Extender – delivered by MVP Mark Polino
This presentation session will be about Extender. Learn more about this exciting Dynamics GP feature and how it can be used to enhance your GP user experience.

Potpourri Focus Area

This content area is, in my opinion, the most just pure fun! Be sure to catch the following two presentations:

What's Available for Free in the GP World – delivered by MVP Leslie Vail
Did you know there are plenty of free resources available to assist you and your company in its use of Dynamics GP. In this presentation session see some of these tools in action. You'll be surprised what all is out there for free!

All New! 50 Tips in 50 Minutes – delivered by MVP Mark Polino
Don't miss this always exciting session where 50 new tips for Dynamics GP will be shown. Leave this presentation with immediate take back information that can make your GP installation better! Mark always delivers a top notch performance. This session will keep you talking for weeks and looking forward to the next time you cat attend. So much information in so little time!

Until next post!

Leslie

GP Partner Connections 2010 Conference

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

From our own and fellow MVP Mariano Gomez ‘GP Blogster’

http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2010/09/microsoft-dynamics-gp-partner.html

“Partner Connections 2010 is an ideal setting for Implementation Professionals, Consultants, and Technical Sales Engineers to enhance their competency and effectiveness for their clients. The Conference features a jam-packed agenda, bringing together the best in the GP Community to learn from each other. The pace will be frantic. Although you may feel like you are "drinking from a fire hose" as you soak up this new knowledge, the conference leaders know it is important to get you back out into the field and chargeable again!”

Meet and greet your colleagues and compatriots come join some of the most talented people in the GP community. Mariano, Mark Rockell’s Crew, Mark Polino, Richard Whaley, Leslie Vail, teams from Microsoft, not to mention the fine people from GPUG.

So much information will be available that you will be amazed at how much you can learn in such a short time. I went last year and vowed to go every year if just to see everyone. And I have a new cape I need to check it out! http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2010/09/microsoft-dynamics-gp-partner.html

This is a true peer-to-peer professional networking group for Dynamics GP Implementation Partners and ISVs dedicated to increasing the knowledge and competency of Implementation Professionals, Consultants, and Technical Sales Engineers. If you want to know more than is in the books this is the place to be. Some people are on the phone implementing things they learn before the conference is over. Have a chance to finally meet face to face all the folks you normally only see on the forums!

Taking place Saturday, October 23 - Monday, October 25 at the Renaissance Resort near SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. The GP Partner Connections Conference will feature:

• Training Workshops
• Break outs / Roundtables
• General Sessions / Speakers
• Microsoft Conduit Focus Groups
• Networking Meals
• Cocktail Mixers

The Conference will occur in conjunction with the Dynamics GP User Group Summit, providing the greatest opportunity for partners attending the Summit to get involved in the GP Partner Connections Conference, as well.

Select registration type:

1. ISV Partner: $499.00 Details

   Enter a discount code:

2. VAR Partner: $499.00 Details

   Enter a discount code:

3. Microsoft Support: $499.00

Register here: http://gppartnerconnection.org/

http://www.gpwindow.com/ – an absolute Masterpiece!

A Window to the Dynamics GP World!

The Dynamics Community now has the mother of all websites! This is your one-stop access to every imaginable resource on the web for Dynamics GP.  Jivtesh Singh has raised the bar and created a phenomenal site at http://www.gpwindow.com

Can you imagine. Entering a search for ALL of the blogs? Simply incredible. This is a must add to the ‘Favorites Toolbar’.

Check it out!

Great job Jivtesh!

Delete all but Master Files

Here’s the scenario. You have set up a Pilot environment, loaded all of your setups and master files, tweaked the settings, tweaked the master file setups, have your security perfect, entered some test transactions and are ready to go live. Well, you do not want to leave the test transactions in there, but you want everything else.

Where’s the Tool?

In my world, this scenario is a common event. I saw a question on the forum asking if there was some sort of tool that would strip out all of the transactions and leave us with a clean company to take to production. I was hoping there was.

Richard Whaley answered the question succinctly - “Nope”. While I do not have a tool, I do have a ‘starter list’ of things the go-live team performs to prepare the company for production. Some of the things are redundant, but it works and I haven’t spent the time to be precise.

What are the Clearing Steps?

As many of you have learned, there are many more things to change then just clearing out the transaction files. I posted a list I used in a recent implementation for download. It isn’t all encompassing – but it will get you started.

http://www.4shared.com/file/i_-DFZ8Y/Clear_Work_Open_History.html

Help me complete the List

It would be nice to develop a more organized list. I invite your comments so that I can continue to improve this. I can see this list becoming a passion for me like the dex.ini switches.

I know this is a pretty rough format, but I hope this can help someone make a cleaner cutover.

Until next post!

Leslie