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September 2011
Newsletter
In this Edition:
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Solution of the Month
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Hints and Tips
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User Training and Events
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Meet the Plumbline Team
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The SL User Group Fall Conference was a hit! There were a record number of attendees, and it was great talking with many of you at the event. It was an honor for Plumbline Consulting to co-sponsor the event with Microsoft, and we were especially pleased to launch our new SL Accelerator (SLA) product at the conference. This tool is a package of custom extensions for SL 2011, and includes extensions for Doc Share, Quick Queries and Role Centers. Best of all, SL User Group Members can download the SL Accelerator at no charge from DynamicsDownloads.com!
Fall is upon us and it is always a busy time of the year. Fall makes me think of kids going back to school, warm apple cider and fun outdoor activities such as football games, corn mazes and tractor rides. Plumbline Team Members recently had "a ball" helping out at a local Special Olympics softball game. It was a great way to enjoy a sunny afternoon and to help give back to the community!
Best Regards, Todd Michael General Manager Plumbline Consulting (419) 581-2973 toddmich@plumblineconsulting.com Check out www.DynamicsDownloads.com for your next Dynamics add-on solution --- all the work is done, just DOWNLOAD it! |
Plumbline Consulting is the premier resource for Dynamics Partners and ISVs needing just-in-time services. From help desk to software development and implementation support, Plumbline Consulting delivers 25+ years of Dynamics experience under your brand to enhance and expand your service offerings. We’re committed to your long term success. |
Project Enhancements in SL 2011
Brought to you by Kim Bateson, Plumbline Consultant.
Considerable investments have been made to Microsoft Dynamics 2011 to extend and enhance the integration between the Project Series and Distribution Series. These new features broaden the depth of interaction and interface between the Project Series and Distribution series, including Inventory, Order Management and Purchasing. Some of the key features include the following:
Purchasing
- Goods for Project Inventory and Goods for Project Sales Order Purchase Types in Purchase Orders (04.250.00)
- Change to how and when Project Commitments are relieved in Purchasing.
- Change to how Purchase Order Receipts and Returns function with Project Allocated Inventory.
Inventory
- Project Inventory Allocation (10.080.00) – used for allocating and un-allocating existing inventory.
- Changes to Inventory Item Lookup Inquiry (10.210.00) to allow selections to be filtered for Project allocated inventory.
- Inventory Issues (10.020.00)
- New sub-screen added (Project Inventory) - used to select and issue previously allocated project inventory records.
- A new Issue Type is added: “Return to Project Inventory”.
Order Management
- Tracking of Order and Shipper Numbers on project transactions.
- Functionality changes in Order Management Sales Orders (40.100.00), Shippers (40.110.00) and Process Manager (40.400.00) screens related to Project Allocated Inventory.
- Option to invoice Shippers in Flexible Billings Invoice and Adjustment Maintenance (BI.BAM.00).
- Create Projects Automatically from a Sales Order (40.100.00) or Shipper (40.110.00)
Purchasing
- The Purchase Order (04.250.00) and PO Receipt/Invoice Entry (04.010.00) screens now allow Inventory Items to be allocated to a project without immediately relieving the Project Commitment.
New Purchase For Types in Purchase Orders (04.250.00) include:
- Goods for Project Inventory – used to identify a Purchase Order line item which is being purchased for a specific Project and Task.
- Goods for Project Sales Order– used to identify a Purchase Order line item which is linked to an Order Management Sales Order.
Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 also provides a number of features that enhance the user experience in the Project Series. Some of the key features include:
- Business Portal Automatic Project Approval Delegation
- Business Portal Project Budget Revision Approvals
- Calculate and Load Revenue Budgets based on Resource Assignment in Business Portal and Project Connector
- Timecard Line Item Approvals in Business Portal enhanced
Use Navigation Link to Improve Communication and Business Processes
Did you know that with Dynamics SL 2011 you can share the information from a Microsoft Dynamics SL screen with other users? You can send a link – just like a web address – to your coworkers so they can view the same information you are viewing.
If you are in the middle of entering a transaction like a GL journal, an AP voucher, an AR invoice or a purchase order, you may want to confirm some information with a co-worker before posting. Now you can send a quick Navigation link with your co-workers (or yourself) via email. Learn how to take advantage of the Navigation Link feature.
SL 2011 User Interface Enhancements - Colors, Print Screen & Grid to Excel
1. Alternate row shading in all screen grids makes it easier for you to locate or select a specific row.
2. Do you need an easy way to capture a screen shot? Maybe you’re training a new employee and a screenshot would come in handy or you have specific questions for your partner. The new Print Screen feature will send the image of your screen to a file or a printer.
3. When working with large amounts of information in a Microsoft Dynamics SL screen grid, there may be times when you would like to export the data to Microsoft Excel for further analysis. What used to be a 7+ step process in earlier versions of the product is now just one click! In Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011, just click on the new Grid to Excel button on the toolbar and the data with column headings will be sent to a spreadsheet.
Want to know how to use these features? Click here to find out!
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TRAINING AND EVENTS
There are several places that offer free Dynamics SL training for customers.
Did you know Plumbline has a YouTube channel that features our Proven Solutions and Recorded Webinars for Dynamics Downloads subscribers?
Microsoft also offers a series of recorded one-hour webcasts that are available on CustomerSource. A new live webinar schedule for this fall has also been published for Microsoft Dynamics SL:
October 12, 10:00 AM PST: SL 2011: How to Use and Setup – Project Distribution Integration
November 1, 10:00 AM PST: SL 2011: How to Use and Setup – Project Enhancements
December 6, 10:00 AM PST: Streamline your processes for the Holidays and Year Round with Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011
Also check out the Microsoft Dynamics "The Edge" Blog for more learning options!
Plumbline Volunteers at Special Olympics Softball Game
On August 19th Plumbline employees along with family members had the privilege of helping out at the West Sectional Special Olympics Softball Tournament held in Findlay, Ohio. Armed with 10 cases of water bottles and very cool koozies with the Plumbline logo we arrived at the ball field just before game time. It was almost 90 degrees so the athletes, coaches and fans were happy to see us and even the smallest of our group pitched in (no pun intended) to hand out cold water.
The Game In Full Swing!
Nicholas Lloyd,
Our Littlest Waterboy
Plumbline Team & Family
The game was very exciting and we had fun cheering for the Hancock County Team. They advanced to the State Tournament on September 10th. GO TEAM!!
Special Olympics Ohio was incorporated in Ohio in 1975 and has approximately 200 local member organizations with over 23,000 athletes who compete in 19 official sports. The organization is run almost entirely with the help of volunteers.
Recap of the Dynamics SL User’s Group Fall Conference
This exciting event is one of the largest gatherings of the Dynamics SL community. It was a resounding success this year, and plans are already underway for next year's event. This annual conference offers great learning and lots of fun too. Plan to attend the Fall Conference in 2012! Learn more about the SL User Group by visiting http://www.solomonusersgroup.com/.
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Plumbline Launches SL Accelerator
The SL 2011 Accelerator (SLA) adds the following functionality:
Extending Doc Share using the Doc Share SDK
- New “Publish to SharePoint” button on PO Receipt/Invoice Entry (04.010.00). This button will export the PO Receipts Batch report for the selected Receipt Number to a pdf file and then upload this file to the PO Receipts document library on the Vendor’s SharePoint site.
- New “Vendor Maintenance” button on PO Receipt/Invoice Entry (04.010.00). This button will launch the Vendor Maintenance screen for the Vendor associated with the specific PO receipt number.
Quick Queries for the Project series Allocator module
- New “Allocated Labor Transactions” Quick Query
- New “Allocated Non-Labor” Quick Query
- New “Unallocated Project Transactions” Quick Query
Role Center GL Activities and Quick Lists
- New “Unposted GL Transactions” Activity and Quick List
- New “Unreleased GL Transactions” Activity and Quick List
Please contact Todd Michael for pricing/availability inquiries.
Microsoft's Revised Dynamics Support business hours for this fall/winter are:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 8:00 A.M.- 8:00 P.M. Central time
Thursday 10:00 A.M.- 8:00 P.M. Central time
Exceptions are in place for the following holidays:
Thanksgiving, November 24th - closed
Friday, November 25th 8 AM – 5 PM CT
Company Event, Friday, December 9th
8 AM – 11:30 AM; Emergency Support from 11:30 AM – 8 PM CT
Christmas, Monday, December 26th - Closed
New Year's, Monday, January 2nd - Closed
Microsoft Dynamics "The Edge" Blog
Looking for a place to get all the latest news on what’s happening with Microsoft Dynamics products? You can interact with others in the community, read about customer experiences, watch informational videos and more!
Sign up for a trial membership at www.DynamicsDownloads.com. Once registered, you will receive invitations for monthly webinars exclusively for members!
Would you like to offer your solution(s) for sale on DynamicsDownloads? Following is some additional information on how to get started.
Program Overview for ISVs & Partners
Procedure to Upload Solutions
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Name: Melanie Brindise
Background: As an Application Consultant, Melanie is responsible for consulting services and support of existing clients, including training, upgrades, demos, and repair services. She has been in the IT/ERP business for over 11 years and has worked with hundreds of clients. Prior to joining Plumbline Consulting, Melanie was a Product Support Engineer at Solomon Software, Great Plains Software and Microsoft Corporation.
Likes Best about Consulting: She enjoys the variety of challenges that this role presents. Each customer's situation is unique which presents regular opportunities to learn something new. Also enjoys being able to assist customers with finding solutions to the issues they encounter.
Hobbies: Enjoys spending lots of time with her two daughters, relaxing at the lake and enjoying the outdoors.
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