GPUG Summit 2013

Its that time of the year – start planning for GPUG Summit 2013. Everything GPUG is great value if you work with Dynamics GP, and the summit is the pinnacle of all the good work they do through out the year.

• More than 150 interactive breakout sessions, most led by fellow Dynamics GP users, which provide many opportunities for group discussion… Arrive with questions and leave with answers and solutions!
• Distinct learning tracks—ranging from Financial and HR/Payroll to Strategic and New to Dynamics GP—so you can focus on what’s most important to you.
• Plentiful opportunities to network, interact with and learn from others who, like you, use Dynamics GP every day.
• Stirring keynote presentations that will inspire you to accomplish great things.
• Optional activities, such as pre-conference training through GPUG Academy, to get the most from your GPUG Summit experience.

LessonUser does not count as a concurrent user in GP 2013

This is a great new feature in GP 2013. If you new to Dynamics GP – you can be logged into the Practise company (Fabrikam Ltd.) – and that does not count towards your concurrent licenses.

In the example below I have two users in the system (one in a live company, and the other in Fabrikam) – as you can see it is using up only one GP License.

For this to work – you need to setup the user as a “Lesson User” in the User Setup.

Finally if you are logged into multiple companies in GP at the same time – you would find it useful to be differentiate the companies by colour. You can do that using the SDT in a couple of clicks. Read more here - Differentiating Companies in Microsoft Dynamics GP

 

 

GP Administrators–Don’t miss this !

David Musgrave is doing a GPUG session on the Support Debugging tool with John Lowther (MVP) today. You don’t want to miss this -

Its at 10 AM (US ET) 28th May.

Go register here - GPUG SIG: Sys Admin (May 28 2013)

GP Web Client–Go for Hybrid Deployment

One of the things people tend to get confused about the web client is that they think – “If I use the web client, everybody will have to use web client, and there will be no windows client”

Quite the opposite – GP Web client is the new kid on the block that works well with others. Web client is an alternative deployment method. Just like you can run GP on a terminal server, and on your local machine – you now have one additional option.

I know that most of our customers are and will be going for a Hybrid Deployment with the web client -

Here’s a sample configuration

1. 20 users on the web client – Accounts Payables and Accounts Receivables Clerks use the web client to enter transactions during the day.

2. 5 Accounting Users with windows client installs or one a terminal server – These are the users who use Integration Manager, and Excel Based Budgeting (two options which are not available on the web client).

So in this case the having 20 users on the web client the customer is able to save on the terminal server licenses, and simplify deployment and upgrades.

At the same time the advanced users can continue using the Windows client for Dynamics GP.

Can we move to the GP web client ?

At the Dynamics GP Expo during Convergence, almost everybody who stopped by to look at the Web Client was impressed. Their immediate question was – “Can our company move to the web client?”

The answer naturally depends on a lot of things specific to your install -

• Are you using HR/Payroll ? You would want to wait till SP1 is release in mid-April
• Are you using Field Service, Project accounting ? Wait till Phase 3 is released – tentatively 6 months after phase 2
• Are you using Manufacturing ? Wait a little more…
• Which ISV / Add-On products are you using with Dynamics GP ? Check with your partner if the product is compatible with the web client. A lot of ISV’s I spoke to were waiting for GP 2013 web client SP1 to be released before releasing their compatible products. SP1 is out  mid-April – so check with your ISV to find out if they are compatible with the web client.
• Are you using Workflow ? – Wait to move to the web client
• Are you using any VBA / Winforms customizations ? You need to upgrade them to be compatible with the web client. Leslie has a course going on.  Rubal has also written about Migrating VBA Customizations to VS Tools for Dynamics GP.

After those initial tough questions – you can start getting excited about the web client like everybody else.

Dynamics GP Web Client Phases–What’s compatible

One of the most common questions regarding the web client at Convergence 2013 was about which modules are available now, and when some of the advanced modules will be available.

Below is the information Microsoft publicly has shared so far. Naturally Phase 3 and 4 release dates have not been finalized yet.

Phase 1 : Out now – GL, AR, AP, SOP, POP, Inventory

Check out Pam’s post for details

Phase 2 : Human Resources and Payroll (mid-April)

Phase 3 : Field Service, Project Accounting (6 months after phase 2)

Phase 4 : Manufacturing

Vote for David Musgrave–2013

David Musgrave has one of the most helpful blogs for Dynamics GP. I am told this multiple times every week by customers and partners. He is the author of the brilliant support debugging tool.   If you work with Dynamics GP, chances are you have used his excellent resources pretty often (See below).

Last year with Mariano Gomez he had the top ranked Microsoft Dynamics GP session at Convergence 2012 and had two sessions in the overall top 10 (3rd & 9th).

Last couple of years due to a “massive bug” – David Musgrave’s name was not in the top 100 list. We need to fix that this year – and need to get him in the top 20. That’s where he belongs.

So now is your chance to go and vote – Vote for David Musgrave – in this poll.

While you are at it – vote for Mark Polino, Leslie, Mariano, Martin Olsen they are all conveniently on page 9! My name is in there as well well – but don’t vote for me, vote a second time for David Musgrave.

Interestingly – Errol Schoenfish is not in the list of nominees, so somebody needs to tell the organizers about this new bug ! Ultimately, this is just a fun exercise – but its just a nice way to let people who work hard in the Dynamics World get some feedback.

General Articles & Links 

• Modifier & VBA Articles & Links

• Dexterity Articles & Links

• Developer Toolkit Articles & Links

• Modifier & VBA Samples

• Dexterity Samples

• Developer & Consultant Articles & Links

• Report Writer Articles & Links

• Developer Toolkit Samples

• Microsoft Dynamics GP Blogs

• Support Debugging Tool Portal

• Menus for Visual Studio Tools Portal