Andrew Karasev

Dynamics GP Illinois Partner Newsflash: Report Writer

Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Great Plains Dynamics is Dexterity application from the standpoint of GP user interface (fat client), DB structure (DEX_ROW_ID and other traces of Dex in SQL Server).  ReportWriter is also Dexterity coded module, which perfectly integrates within Great Plains user interface and its security realm

In this small publication we would like to give you highlights on RW reports version upgrade from technical perspective:

1.       RW typical reports.  Sales Order Processing Blank Invoice Form is one of the most popular.  Here you typically need to place your graphical logo on the top of the report header.  The same should be said about Purchase Order Processing PO form.  Plus, it is often the case when you need to add new fields or take off existing fields from RM Aging Report, GL Trial Balance.  In the past you would use RW for quick data extraction from Great Plains table, however recent versions: 10.0, 9.0, 8.0, 7.5 have pretty decent Smart List or Explorer, where you can export single table info into Excel a way quicker

2.       ReportWriter dictionary version update.  If we are talking about main product Dynamics GP, then dictionary file is Reports.dic, where you find all your so-called modified reports.  Microsoft Business Solutions should have special list of RW reports, that are not-upgradeable and you would need to rebuild them from scratch.  In our experience all reports are upgradeable, and the problem often lays in so-called Calculated Fields – new version of Great Plains often comes with new versions of calculated fields (including names and functions, that they call retroactively), in this scenario we recommend to analyze old and new report and make changes accordingly (either by adding old calculated field into new version, or change report to use new calculated fields instead)

3.       Alternative to RW.  Here you should understand that such reports as SOP Invoice have Great Plains interface, calling the invoice to be printed (this is where GP calls the report with Invoice Number parameter) – so, if you would like to create nicer version of Sales Invoice in Crystal Reports – you should be ready to call it in separate parameter entry screen of CR.  FRx is the tool of choice for Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, Statement of Cash Flow and consolidated versions of those.  SSRS is also catching up if you would like reports to be deployed in web interface on MS SQL Server

Article Tags: Great Plains, Calculated Fields

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