Released on = June 21, 2007, 4:13 pm

Press Release Author = Alba Spectrum Group

Industry = Computers

Press Release Summary = Microsoft Dynamics GP typically has several modified RW
reports, such as SOP Long Invoice Form, POP Purchase Order form, Inventory Picking
Ticket. Customization usually places company logo in one or another graphical
format, puts some texts: description, general company terms, things like that

Press Release Body = Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918

Microsoft Dynamics GP typically has several modified RW reports, such as SOP Long
Invoice Form, POP Purchase Order form, Inventory Picking Ticket. Customization
usually places company logo in one or another graphical format, puts some texts:
description, general company terms, things like that. If this is the only
modifications made, then reapplying them to new RW report version is not technically
difficult. However in some advanced cases you have very complex reports, when you
show or hide fields based on data logic - in such a case you may consider report
upgrade, even if it is not on the list of the reports that could be upgraded. Let's
look under the hood:
. Calculated Fields. These structures causes upgrade problem and the consequence
for the report to be placed to non-upgradeable report list. Annoying thing is the
fact that Validate Report functionality doesn't go that deep and doesn't really
validate calculated fields. You have to put report into test environment and
physically run it to get the error message on calculated field. Why calculated
fields change with the new version? Because GP tries to make standard report work
better, add extra functionality, etc. How do you find the work around? You open
standard unmodified report in the new version and on the second screen you open
modified report in the old version, then you compare calculated fields one by one
and find the culprit - then you apply the judgment of the developer and make report
work with new version in modified format
. Tables Structure change. Latest versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP, such as 10.0
and 9.0 doesn't show revolutionary tables redesign. One of the reasons might be
this - Microsoft Business Solutions subdivision is working on Microsoft Dynamics or
former Project Green, dealing with GP, AX, SL, NAV interface unification
. Other Reporting Options. Microsoft Dynamics GP Report Writer is Dexterity
application or module, and it is somewhat restricted in its customization
capabilities (at the same time it is integrated into Microsoft Dexterity interface
of GP, so it is very easy to use and relatively straight forward to upgrade). If
you take into consideration the fact that GP is based in Microsoft SQL server 2005
or 200 - you should be open to other industry standard reporting, such as Crystal
Reports and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SRS). When we are talking
about CR and SRS - the good report design manners would be placing SQL report query
into SQL stored procedure or SQL view - if this is chosen as design approach -
reporting tools selection is simple - you take what you like - Crystal or SRS - as
they will be just reporting tools - not query builders

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving GP customers in their
modifications upgrade, integration, reporting USA/Canada nationwide: Los Angeles,
Miami, San Francisco, Detroit, Milwaukee, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, New York,
Seattle, Provo, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Orlando, Minneapolis, Austin, San Diego. Local
service is available in Houston/Dallas: Richmond, Katy, Sugar Land, Galveston, in
Chicago: Naperville, Warrenville, Aurora, Plainfield, Niles, Schaumburg, Addison,
Itasca, Joliet, Romeoville, Morris, Ottawa, LaSalle, De Kalb, Montgomery, Oswego


Web Site = http://www.albaspectrum.com

Contact Details = Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918