DynamicsWorld Post

Another article from my blog has been published on MSDynamicsWorld.com: Dynamics NAV article. Many thanks to Jason, for contributing in it's publishing.

Calling Classic Reports From RTC

Starting classic reports from the Microsoft Dynamics NAV role-tailored client (RTC) is a common end-user request. But the design of the RTC client itself didn't provide an easy way of calling these reports via GUI integration with specific business processes of end user. So to deliver on this customer request you have to do a little customization to expose these reports. In this article I'll show two little tricks of how to call classic reports without need of further thinking what data you're actually trying to show.

Dummy Game

The idea behind the "Dummy Game" is a simple trick of setting one dummy data set in as the first record set of a report. Basically this dummy data set will act as the data provider bookmark from the RTC client – or it will copy data from an RTC client row into report field as parameter.

In my example I'll use my custom report "Vendor balance“which will be called directly from the Vendor Card Page. It is basically a report we made for NAV classic reports and put it on the vendor card. The problem with this report was that it was still behaving like a classic NAV report despite advanced functionality of calling it directly from a vendor record. And the user needed to enter vendor data from vendor card from where it was called – a double job. So here's the dummy secret.

In first data set of the report we've placed the Dummy Data item.

The role of this dummy filter was to filter data of page that it was called from and set the filter for the report Record Set data. All of C/AL code is inserted into OnPreReport() trigger.

 

And that did the trick.

But while using this Dummy Game trick we noticed one additional misleading error which could be misleading for end user directing them to enter data into report request form even though it is not needed . All data transferred from RTC on to the classic report with this Dummy Game is not shown in report fields. In this example we transferred Vendor VAT No. And it was not shown on the request form of the report, but it was there because when we you start the report it really shows the record set of the bookmarked vendor. So the best approach is to remove this field from the request form.

Also there is another catch to this. Classic reports are meant (in true Dynamics NAV spirit) for users to enter as many as parameters or values in the request form fields as possible. In this case, when using the Dummy Game, you can call reports for only one record, or better said for the bookmarked record. So my recommendation is to really think if you want to use the Dummy Game or not. In the end it depends on the client's business processes and business requirements.

Page Record Filtering - Bookmarking

Another way of calling reports from RTC is with record filtering, or setting bookmark on the page itself. Unlike the Dummy Game where all the "trick" code is customized on report itself, here we are setting filters directly on the page. The trick in this classic report call is to set a filter on an action, which is calling the report. But no report customization is needed. A specific action is used for calling the report C/AL code that has been inserted into the OnAction() trigger.

This code runs through all of the records visible on the page and remembers the one that you've bookmarked. This trick is may be better than the Dummy Game approach in the sense that it cannot mislead end users and it shows all bookmark data in request form fields. The only drawback of this method is that the user can see how RTC is running code on page and highlighting every row as it passes through. In this method the user can also edit values in request forms and insert values as he pleases.

And in conclusion, before using any of these methods, it is best to consider all pros and cons of using filtering. I share these methods based on my perspective of upgrading classic NAV to RTC - when the user already has the experience, knowledge and routine of using classic report. And when implementing classic reports for a new NAV RTC user I would always go for one of these methods, depending on nature of report (as opposed to upgrading the report to RTC?).

NAV 2009 RTC Client Randomly Failed to Connect

This morning I had one strange issue while trying to connect my RTC client to data base.
Immediately after starting RTC client I got this error:

Type: System.AccessViolationException

After trying to give access rights to Microsoft.Dynamics.Nav.Client.exe, and giving extra admin rights to current user nothing did the trick. Then I started thinking that maybe there is problem on Service tier. Now it was time to change setup of services. I noticed that some of services are running under "Local Account", and some under "Network account". This was obligatory because I have more than one NAV Services. Since "Network account" gives so much trouble and is really delicate to maintain i decided to change every one service to run under local administrator account. After I changed this setting and restarted services everything went through.

NAV 2009 Platform Overview

Here are few links that You might find userful while working with NAV 2009 or troubleshooting:

Released Platform Hotfixes for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009

Dynamics World Support

I'm proud to say that portal Dynamics World has published my article about Dynamics NAV.

You can read blog directly on MSDynamicsWorld site.

SQL Server Configuration Recommendations

There is very interesting Blog post on Microsoft Dynamics NAV Team Blog about recommendations for SQL Server Setup.

Michael De Voe has written one document which consists of pointers for setting up SQL 2005 or SQL 2008 for Dynamics NAV.

Here's short list of recomendations:

• Max Server Memory,
• Auto-Create Statistics,
• Auto-Update Statistics,
• Auto-Grow,
• Database Compatibility Level,
• Trace Flag 4136,
• Trace Flag 4119,
• Data files for TempDB,
• Disk Alignment,
• Read Committed Snapshot Isolation (RCSI),
• Max Degree of Parallelism,
• Dynamics NAV Default Isolation Level,
• Dynamics NAV "Lock Timeout",
• Dynamics NAV "Always Rowlock",
• Maintenance Jobs,
• Instant File Initialization,
• Optimize for Ad Hoc Workloads,
• Page Verify,
• Lock Pages in Memory.

Here are links to:
Dynamics NAV Team Blog
Michael's SQL recomendations

SQL 2010 Login Error

Today I tried to test Dynamics NAV 2009 client on new SQL 2010 R0.

Installation went without problems, user creation also went without problem, and then I started classic client with task to create data base. Now problems started.

On my server I had two types of data base users: domain user (Windows authentication) and data base user.

Thing that bothered me was that I could log in with windows account but couldn't log in with database account.

After I verified all of SQL Server parameters, user permissions, and data base properties I found what was "wrong": SQL 2010 has new security feature that doesn't allow logging of accounts that have blank passwords.

Even thou your account has blank password with ALTER LOGIN function and even thou query returns Command(s) completed successfully You still won't be able to log in.

After setting passwords to my database account I was able to log in to SQL server and create/restore databases.

Supporting Web-Site

It's finally done!.

I had some questions about files (Dynamics and PMP) so I decided to put online site that will support this blog and vice versa.

I've published Google Site on adress: Filip's Site.

Like Blog You can comment and share data / links and etc. Also please comment and please put Your proposals on site (topics, files, links ets.)

My way to PMP certificate

Probably all of You know what are projects, their importance and PMP certificate.

My first contact with PMI and PMP was during my first Project Manager experience and ever since I started thinking how to obtain this certificate. It is currently considered most valuable certificate in whole world, but it is also one of most difficult one to obtain. Many of my friends and colleagues tried to pass it and failed. Naturally this brought something like a really big fear of "PMP exam" - even thou I still didn't know what is this exam really about..

After talking to many people tutoring for this exam, and few of them who passed it I decided to give it a try.

Here is my path for PMP preparation - what materials I used, what test examples and books I read.

PMP Preparation seminar

PMP preparation seminar. This is obligatory because You'll gain needed 30 PDU points to access PMP exam and You'll get insight to what PMP is all about. My advice is to listen to prep seminar in Your native language or any language You're most comfortable in and try to get involved in lectures and discussions as much as you can. Don't go to one of those fast seminars that last from 1 to 3 days because You won't learn "anything". The way I see it this short seminars are best to repeat what You have learned and NOT to learn something new. You need time to think through what You have heared and learned. Also try to implement what You have learned on prep seminars in Your everyday life and business life. Also, keep all materials from Your PMP prep course - they will probably came in handy to You as much they did to me when I was learning through Rita PMP prep book.

Rita Mulcahy PMP Prep Book 

I'd like to say that this book is also obligatory, even thou You can find all sorts of PMP Exam Prep (I've also red one of them) books on Amazon or other Internet sites. Why Rita? Everyone will tell You that Rita is book that You need to read, learn and that it will be enough to pass this exam. NOT! ¨Maybe because I've used Rita 6 on current exam, but I don't thik so. Rita (the one which I read and learned) has few sections written wrong, and also some sections aren't covered in enough detail to pass exam. Remember that if You plan to use Rita (or any other book) You'll have to do extra reading. If you decide to go with Rita (like I did) read it WHOLE, try to answer all test prep questions (I did it in 3rd pass of book) and remember to learn Rita's process chart (it will help you answer 50% of questions on exam). Also read last chapter (don't skip) where Rita in 2-3 pages writes about what to do to pass exam. If You're wondering how many times I read Rita - 4 times :).

PMP Exam Examples

This is, by far,  most useful learning tool. After I learned (at least i thought I've learned it) Rita, all of formulas and methods I started those exams. Of course I didn't know answers to all of questions, but 50% of them. Then Google is Your best friend :). I started google-ing through exam questions terms, questions, formulas. After a while I managed to learn few thing and narrowed my gap in knowledge. I've tried 3 test simulations - about 630 questions.

Own Notes and Handbooks

Wrote my own PMP exam prep notes and handbook. While I was reading Rita, looking for answers to unknowns of test PMP exams I was writing it all in my little notebook. Also Rita stresses out that inputs and outputs of each Project phase, knowledge area and PM process aren't so important to remember if You know Rita Process Chart. Well that just isn't so. I've had 30 questions about inputs and outputs which even waren't in Rita's Prep Book. This is important for exam. Only source for that data I could think of was PMBOK - but I hadn't time. So I decided to google-it. After some effort I found what I was looking for and I will share it with all of You through my Blog :)
Here are my notes that could help you prepare for exam, and helped me to learn faster: My PMP Notes

Get Rested Before Exam

Remember to get good night sleep before exam because You have little time to review Your answers so You'll need Your concentration!

If you try to go through my steps, I'm sure that You'll pass it from first try like me :)

Good luck!

Zoom Functionality In RTC 2009 R2

Zoom is very handy function that all of NAV users, in very short time, learned what it and use it daily. In classic client Zoom function is started by pressing F8 button or using Tools menu function Zoom.

RTC client also has built in Zoom functionality but it's slightly different than old Zoom function.

Starting Zoom

You can start Zoom function by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1 key kombination on current page or use standard windows function „Help > About“

 

 You can start Zoom function by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F1 key kombination on current page or use standard windows function „Help > About“

Zoom Data

After starting function RTC Zoom page will appear with more dana than old Zoom:

• Page Information – information about page type, page mode, source table and current record.
• Table fields – old Zoom data
• Source Expressions
• FlowFilter Fields – All flowFilter Fields on current form with applied filters