#GPPT Moving on from the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Mindset

As a follow on from yesterday’s article on how different languages can be used to drive the Microsoft Dynamics GP user interface, this article discusses the need to move away from the old Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) way of thinking. If you missed yesterday’s article, here is the link.

• #MSDynGP Development: Driving the User Interface of Microsoft Dynamics GP using Code

Now that VBA is “End of Life” and many sites are starting to use GP Power Tools – Developer Tools module to replace the VBA business logic with GP Power Tools triggers and scripts. However some developers are still trying to write code as though they were still limited by VBA rather than leveraging the more powerful capabilities of GP Power Tools and Dexterity.

#MSDynGP Development: Driving the User Interface of Microsoft Dynamics GP using Code

Over the last couple of months I have been seeing a huge uptake on the sale and use of GP Power Tools – Development Tools module as more and more Microsoft Dynamics GP customer sites move their customizations away for the now “End of Life” Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

This article explains some of the differences and techniques for the common method driving the user interface using code written in VBA, Dexterity and Visual Studio Tools (C# or Visual Basic .Net).

#MSDynGP Consultants: Are you a Microsoft Partner?

An important part of the amazing Microsoft Dynamics GP community is the independent consultant.

Independent consultants don’t usually sell the Microsoft software or licenses, but they provide deep knowledge about how to setup and use the accounting/ERP software. They often work in conjunction with the customer’s partner of record (POR) to provide a additional level of support.

But many of them are not signed up as a Microsoft partner and don’t have their access to the PartnerSource Business Center or their own GP Registration keys.

Friday Funny: Solution to Body Builder, Masks and Dumbbells algebra maths puzzle

It is time to post the solution to the Body Builder, Masks and Dumbbells algebra maths puzzle that was posted last week.

If you have not had a go at solving this puzzle and registering your answer on the poll; Stop reading the solution, click on the link above and go do it now.  🙂

#MSDynGP Microsoft Dynamics GP v18.4 ISV Pre-release installers now available

Awesome News.

This morning (Perth Time) I had an email from Terry Heley from Microsoft with a link to a pre-release (very early alpha) of the upcoming Microsoft Dynamics GP version 18.4 (October 2021) release. This download is provided to the ISV community to help them prepare for the final code when it is released.

#GPPT Adding a Custom Salesperson ID Field with Lookup, Zoom and On-The-Fly Adds

A long time customer recently asked if they could get a second Salesperson ID associated with a customer on the Customer Maintenance (RM_Customer_Maintenance) window using GP Power Tools.

There is already really good guide for adding custom fields to windows and reports published (see article: #GPPT Beginner’s Guide to Adding Custom Fields), but that example does not add a field linked to an existing table and so does not have the standard GP features of a lookup button, a zoom button and on-the-fly adding of records.

IMPORTANT: This example uses functionality only available in GP Power Tools Build 28.9.

#GPPT Reversing the sort order of the Item History window

A recent post on the GPUG (Dynamic Communities) forums asked How to change the default sort order for Item History. The Item History (IV_Item_History) window in Microsoft Dynamics GP shows period summary data from the IV_SUM_HIST_Period (IV30102) table based on the Item Number, Site ID and date range on ascending period basis.

This means that once you have a data for a number of periods, the latest data is always at the bottom of the window and will require the user to scroll down to the bottom to view it.

Friday Funny: Body Builder, Masks and Dumbbells algebra maths puzzle

Here is another numeric picture maths puzzle to inflict upon you. This one is a sign of the times with a body builder wearing a mask while exercising at home.

Standard warning: It does require a close look at the image to get the correct answer and don’t forget order of operations.

#GPPT Adding 6 Additional Item Category Fields

Here is another awesome customization created using GP Power Tools. A customer requested additional Item Category fields, so this customization was created to double the number of Item Category fields from six to twelve.

The customization uses Modifier to add the additional fields to the Item Maintenance (IV_Item_Maintenance) window and the Inventory Control Setup (IV_Setup) window. The Report Writer has also been used to add the additional category fields to the Item List By User Category report.

#GPPT Tracking changes to Customer and Vendor Cards

As promised in my previous article, this article contains awesome example GP Power Tools – Developer Tools projects for tracking changes to customer and vendor cards records.

Thanks to Eric Gernan from Amaysim Mobile whom I worked with to create this custom functionality and gave me permission to publish generic versions of the projects.

#GPPT Using GP Power Tools to track specific changes Revisited

Back in 2017 I wrote an article which demonstrated how to get GP Power Tools to send an email every time the Credit Limit Field on the Customer Maintenance window was edited by a user and saved.

• #GPPT Using GP Power Tools to track specific changes

This article revisits this article by enhancing the functionality with the options to log changes to a text file or a SQL table instead of sending an email.

#GPPT Building Self Service SQL Scripts

This example shows the different methods that can be used with GP Power Tools to create Self Service SQL Scripts which can be made available to all users or just specific users.

The actual SQL Script used for this demonstration is a simple select query on the Customer Master (RM00101) RM_Customer_MSTR table, but can be replaced by any SQL statements to achieve any manipulation of the data desired.

#GPPT GP Power Tools Build 28.9 hotfix released

As I am still working on the next major build of GP Power Tools, I have decided to release another hotfix build with some changes I wanted to get out sooner rather than later. This hotfix build includes a few fixes and minor enhancements to help the developer community who are really starting to adopt GP Power Tools as a replacement for VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

It is highly recommended that all sites running GP Power Tools install the latest code on all workstation and servers where Microsoft Dynamics GP is installed.

#MySummitNA Dynamics GP Development Tools Session

Dynamic Communities (DC), the team behind GPUG, will be hosting their Community Summit Conference on 12^th to 15^th October 2021. The agenda with sessions has now been posted online and I will be presenting a session on Microsoft Dynamics GP development tools.

#GPPT Preventing Inserting and Deleting of Sales Transaction Lines

I was recently asked how to use GP Power Tools to prevent users from Inserting or Deleting lines from the Sales Transaction Entry (SOP_Entry) window.

It is a really simple customization so I thought I would post it as a sample for your reference.

#DynamicsCon Dynamics GP Development Tools Session

The Dynamics User Group (DUG) will be hosting its DynamicsCon Conference on 20^th to 23^rd September 2021. The agenda with sessions has been posted online after the session voting and selection has been completed and I will be presenting a session on Microsoft Dynamics GP development tools.

#DynamicsCon Last Chance to Vote for Sessions

Today is the last day to vote for your favourite DynamicsCon conference sessions ahead of the conference scheduled for 20^th to 23^rd September 2021.

Make sure that you register and apply your 12 votes today to shape what you want to see at the conference.

#MSDynGP Purchase Order Entry windows show costs as zero

Over the last few weeks I have been asked about the same issue a few times by different customers and partners who were unable to work out what was happening.

So, I thought I would write an article that explains the problem and the solution and hopefully, it will show up when someone does a search when they have this issue.

#GPPT Setting up GP Power Tools in a Development Environment

I was recently asked by my good friend and fellow MVP, Jen Kuntz, about how to best get GP Power Tools running in a Development Environment.

GP Power Tools (GPPT) stores all of its settings and data in tables in the System Database on SQL Server, however, it writes all of its logs and saved files to a shared logging folder. When moving GP to a development environment, you would probably want to change this logging folder to a different location.

#DynamicsCon Vote for Session: Microsoft Dynamics GP Development – Choosing the Right Tool

The next installment of DynamicsCon conference is scheduled for 20^th to 23^rd September 2021. The session submission period is over and now we enter the session voting period until 28^th July.

During this voting period all registered attendees have 12 votes to apply to sessions as they wish, then the votes will be tallied and the final session lists published. See this explanation for more details of the process.