Dynamics SL Some Tips: The Job Interview with Timothy Manley, Technical Services Director

Tim, you’ve labored with Dynamics SL users as being a consultant, as being a trainer, as being a business analyst, then when a developer. You’ve done phone support, email support, and remote tool support. If anybody has 10 suggestions to start to see the typical firm using Dynamics SL-it should be you. …so precisely what are your Some tips?

Thanks Jack. I’ve labored while using the product because it was introduced for that Home home home windows platform (a extended time back). Microsoft has ongoing to purchase the product making less complicated to utilize and to integrate very seamlessly for his or her other product families like the ‘microsoft Office’ business application suite, Microsoft’s CRM product additionally for their backend server products (SharePoint, SQL Server). There are many tips out on the internet for SL and GP, but listed here are 10 products which i have encounter make SL concentrate on its peak efficiency:

Identify the completely new ad-hoc reporting/query tool “Quick Query” that has been place in Dynamics SL 2011. Boyer Associates supports both Dynamics SL and Dynamics GP, then when an consultant that actually works together products, I’m excited that Dynamics SL has added this important tool, as Dynamics GP has gotten exactly the same product named “SmartList” for quite a while. This addition could be a game changer to get the information from the machine (our SL practice manager, Jon Augdahl, describes this as “data jail”). I’m impressed with how easily favorites may be produced inside the base queries and exactly how readily new queries might be incorporated for the tool for showing data like user fields additionally to custom table data.

Furthermore, it permit quick navigation inside the set of records proven to several related SL data entry applications that report to the kind of record that’s being viewed.

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Use sensible customizations to tailor Dynamics SL for that business process. Many software programs require source code modifications to alter the appearance or behavior of ordinary home home home windows/screens, but within Dynamics SL, all screen customizations are stored inside the system database, so can be readily migrated to awesome product releases since they become available. The opportunity to rapidly hide unused fields is really a component that we use frequently to streamline data entry processes. This really is most likely the simplest, most upgradeable customizations that you can do.

Make use of the template feature to just filter reports. While templates are for sale to reports and understanding entry applications, I’ve discovered many of the effectiveness of templates is dependant on reporting. A template for almost any report enables the saving more filter criteria (like worker equals ‘TJONES’) furthermore to modified sorting and output options. I mainly use templates for the filter options. Each time a template is setup to filter data for almost any report, technology-not just again and again, eliminating the necessity to determine what field or fields available the information tables the report is employing. I save the particular filter value within the “Select” tab with values that clearly have to be replace (i.e.

using ‘XXXXX’ for the customer’s ID, as opposed to the realOractual customer ID).

Make use of the built-in help system and user guides. I’ve encounter many occasions with time that clients don’t effectively leverage the data on ways to use the item easily available. Recently Microsoft produced PDF based user guides to change that old hard-copy user manuals. These files are incorporated across the installation media, but need to be installed and users have to know how to locate the files. The F1 help available is usually very help, designed for completely new users.

Keep the software within the supported version. Most our clients maintain their Dynamics products within the product version that’s based on Microsoft. Besides this provide insurance that Microsoft might help should a technical issue arise within the product, it cuts lower round the support time our staff consumes in assisting getting an assistance issue. Microsoft has invested an excellent maintain their Dynamics products not just feature wealthy, but in addition stable, so not maintaining across the product releases may be dangerous. By not looking after your Dynamics SL product current, in addition, it might steer obvious from the updating within the underlying server technology (SQL Server and residential home home windows Server). This may cause efficiency problems (poor performance) and security issues because the server based software becomes outdated.

Every believe that ships with Dynamics SL is fully modifiable using the finish user. Dynamics SL provides convenient strategies to change a filter and sort research at runtime without modifying the specific Very Report format. It is usually essential to personalize the traditional report on their behavior to create adjustments to the feeling and appearance within the are accountable to make significant adjustments to the information based in the report. This seems like another of individuals frightening customizations, nonetheless it always fairly simple along with the modified reports have a very inclination to upgrade from version to version plain and merely. Dynamics SL facilitates customized reports by permitting a unique folder across the server for holding customized versions of reports. Once the report is selected inside the menu, Dynamics SL first checks this special user reports folder (“usr_rpts”) for almost any customized kind of the report, then when not found, your standard kind of the report operates.

Hanging out to make a report work and search how you want may well be a strategy for saving time furthermore with a paper saver.

Take the time to identify the numerous keyboard shortcuts available in Dynamics SL to hurry data entry. We’ve shared within our annual customer event the different keyboard shortcuts available. After I use users that know these useful functions I’m astounded by how quickly they might navigate and enter data. You will find keyboard based short cuts for several it not solely within the menu options within the particular screen. I’ve discovered that lots of users know about function key F3 enables you to lookup possible values, but don’t determine what other function keys and shortcuts are able to do. A fantastic choice to uncover all the possible functions is inside the user guide entitled “QuickReferenceGuide.pdf” available either across the installation media or even inside the Dynamics SL installation folder underneath the “User Guides” folder.

The Dynamics SL Software Development Package (SDK) enables for rapid screen creation to fill functional gaps inside the software. May be the technical services manager at Boyer, I’m fairly interested in this tip. I’ve done programming in a number of other environments outdoors within the Dynamics SL world, i remain impressed in what rapidly an add-on application may be built-in Dynamics SL when compared with other tools I’ve labored with. By leveraging the Dynamics SL toolset, screens may be produced to follow along with custom business information the underside product doesn’t contain. Purchasing small add-ons could raise the overall abilities of Dynamics SL, particularly fitting SL for that specific needs in the specific business type or industry.

This same toolset may be licensed by finish-user organizations too. A number of our bigger clients have observed the chance to leverage this same toolset to build up their unique operational software. The programs they’ve created are seamlessly integrated with Dynamics SL.

Configure menus within Dynamics SL to complement the requirements of you. Beginning with Dynamics SL version 7, Dynamics SL enables so that you can obtain role tailored menus. Recption menus technique is also security driven, so a person never sees menu products for applications or reports they don’t have permission to get involved with. Older versions of Dynamics SL might have large complex menus for the typical user, which have the inclination to confuse new users.

Use CustomerSource, Microsoft’s portal for Business Software user community. Microsoft is continually update and add very happy to this already feature wealthy site for purchasers that stay current on software maintenance. Besides supplying a understanding lower way-to’s and support information, the CustomerSource site offers customers free Dynamics online training and rehearse of downloadable training manuals. As partners, we’re able to also access this same content, which we use frequently to remain current on product functionality.