Microsoft Dynamics GP has a handy tool built into the software that can alleviate many of these issues.  The Smartlist tool allows end users to craft their own list based reports from the data in the ERP database.  Not only can end users create and save predefined list based reports, but Smartlist also gives them the ability to export directly to Microsoft Excel or Word.  This is extremely helpful when you know what information you are looking for, but do not have time to write a custom report with a reporting tool (Crystal Reports, SQL Server Reporting Services, etc.).

For example, if you are looking for a list of customers having outstanding invoices, you could print a Trial Balance report to give you the information.  But with Smartlist you not only get the information you need, but you can further tailor the report to specific conditions.  Maybe you are only concerned about open invoices over a specific dollar amount, or maybe you need to see customers within a specific sales territory or state.  This criterion can be built into a Smartlist object.  Once built, Microsoft Dynamics GP gives us the ability to export the data into an Excel spreadsheet, for additional work.  Not only can we export the listing, but we can also save the criteria for later use.  So next month, if we need to see the same list of information, we can return to our saved Smartlist object and rerun it against the current data; without having to re-enter the criteria.

Once Smartlist objects are saved we also have the ability to define who can access our list.  Maybe the list we compiled is only relevant to a specific group (or Class) of users in our company, or maybe the list is only important to us specifically.  When saving a Smartlist object we have the ability to set security to view the list to just ourselves, to just our company (in the case of multiple company installations) or to just our class of workers (AR clerks, or Account Managers, etc).  This prevents reports (that we may not have any interest in) from cramping our list of Smartlist objects.  This further increases efficiency, because now I no longer have to wade through a sea of useless (or useless to me) reports in order to access the information that I am researching.  If you have questions or concerns about how Smartlist can help increase efficiency at your company, please contact me or another consultant at our offices in Greensboro, NC.

by Intelligent Technologies, South Carolina Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

Ad hoc Reporting Made Easy with Smartlist, Excel, and Dynamics GP is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Related Posts

1. Microsoft Dynamics GP and Excel Reporting Features
2. In Today’s World of Dynamics GP Out-Of-The-Box SQL Reporting Services, Analysis Cubes, and Excel Reports, Is There Any Need for Business Intelligence Applications?
3. Extend the Functionality of Microsoft Dynamics GP SmartList with Advanced SmartList

Recently one of Micro Force‘s Microsoft Certified Solution Specialists encountered a quirk in GP10 that Micro Force had come across previously and submitted to Microsoft Dynamics Support as a possible bug.  The quirk was that when exporting a budget sheet from GP 10 to Excel it appeared that the export was not working when in reality it was happening behind the scenes.  The quick workaround can be found here.

We all know that no software package is perfect but there are many software manufacturers who will only deal with the big issues and ignore the quirks that can be worked-around but do impact user productivity.  With GP2010, Microsoft proves that while it continues to lead the ERP marketplace it understands that even the smallest of wrinkles needs to be smoothed out to ensure a positive user experience.

By Micro Force – Celebrating 25 years of Excellence in 2010. A Long Island, NY Microsoft GP Partner

Dynamics GP v10 Quirk Fixed for Dynamics GP 2010 is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Related Posts

1. How to Use Microsoft Dynamics GP SmartList in the Hunt for Unrecorded Liabilities
2. Dynamics GP Positioned to Tame the Upcoming 1099 Nightmare
3. Vertical vs. Horizontal Solutions – Dynamics GP Goes Both Ways!

 Tip #1 

A common request this time of year is to provide a copy of the trial balance in an electronic format for auditors.  Microsoft FRx Report Writer is the best tool for fulfilling this request.  It can easily be done by importing the chart of accounts into a row format, creating a column layout that includes the General Ledger account codes, description and actual year-to-date amounts.  If you have multiple segments in your account format ask your auditors if they want the accounts in summary or in full detail.   If you use the automatic import method to help build your rows, be sure to remove all of the entries that tag the account as a credit account.  The auditors may also have other requests including the year’s beginning balance and net change in addition to the ending account balances.  When you generate the report be sure to include accounts with zero balance and choose Excel as the destination option and the file will be ready for the auditors.

Tip #2 

If you are creating a new FRx report and you are using an Excel report as your template, you can take a shortcut by copying the column with the report row descriptions from Excel and pasting this into a new row format in FRx.

Tip #3

Another common question comes up when you need to add rows at the end of your FRx report.  You insert rows just like you do in Excel: highlight a row, right click and select to insert row, this adds a row above the one you highlighted.  If you need more rows at the very bottom you simply click on your computers down arrow key and new rows will be opened.    This same trick works for columns: simply click on the right arrow button on your keyboard.

By the TM Group, a Michigan Microsoft Dynamics Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics SL, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Three FRx Tips To Help With Your New Year’s Budgets And Reports is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Related Posts

1. Tip for Exporting Microsoft Dynamics GP Reports to Excel Using SRS
2. How to save 30 hours per month producing Financial Reports with Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
3. Microsoft Dynamics GP has Over 220 Built In Excel Reports

For example, assume that it is October 27^thand a company is in the process of closing accounts payable for September.  An invoice is received that is dated for September but will have a posting date for October.  Micro Force created a SmartList that included both the document date and posting date so that invoices with a date for a previously closed month, posted after that month has been closed would be exported into Excel.  The client could then sort the data in Excel and identify these transactions and subtotal them by account.  From here they could create a general ledger entry by account, as necessary, of those items that needed to be accrued into the prior period.

Problem solved! This is an easy way to use Microsoft Dynamics GP to effectively search for unrecorded liabilities.

by Micro Force – Long Islands Premier Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner

How to Use Microsoft Dynamics GP SmartList in the Hunt for Unrecorded Liabilities is a post from: ERP Software Blog

Related Posts

1. Extend the Functionality of Microsoft Dynamics GP SmartList with Advanced SmartList
2. Ad hoc Reporting Made Easy with Smartlist, Excel, and Dynamics GP
3. Oops, I Meant 2011, Not 2010! Make Sure Your ERP System Checks Dates!