Confessions of a Dynamics NAV / Navision consultant. A blog about my experiences being a Navision consultant and developer. Confessions of a Dynamics NAV / Navision Consultant

How to Define SetData and GetData in RTC Reports in Dynamics NAV Navision

For some reason unfamiliar to me, Microsoft likes to write tutorials that does not easily teach you what you need to do to get the job done. For basic List type reports, yes, it’s quick and simple, however, when it comes to reports involving forms (i.e. sales order, sales invoice, etc), I cannot find a good tutorial on how to get it done. Forget about the Create Layout Suggestion feature on the form type reports. It sucks. You’d save a lot more time by re-creating your layouts in the...
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Properly Upgrading to New Versions of Dynamics NAV / Navision

Despite what the salespeople will tell you, an upgrade is an intensive task. While it's not as intensive as doing a new implementation, it should not be taken lightly by the partner or the end user. One of the best things about Dynamics NAV/Navision it gives you the freedom to modify it so it fits your company like a glove. It's because of this freedom, that you're able to gain an competitive edge over your competitors and/or to satisfy your customer's demands. With that freedom,...
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Be Current or Not Current on the Microsoft Annual Enhancement Plan

Since Microsoft announced the new Business Ready Enhancement Plan Renewal Policy, talks about whether the customer should stay current has increased significantly. At 16% of your total software list price, it’s potentially a sizable recurring investment for companies using the software. Not just specifically to Microsoft, almost all ERP, CRM, business software out there requires users to pay an annual enhancement of some sort. Other than the obvious questions of “what do I get for staying...
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Implementing NAV (Navision) through a 3rd party Consultant

Rarely in a NAV implementation that the problem you get stuck on is techincal. As we all know, Dynamics NAV aka Navision is simple to implement and simple to customize. It’s one of the reason why it’s the dominate mid market ERP today. Most of the challenges you’ll face are with people. And one of the toughest challenges when implementing Dynamics NAV is working with 3rd party consultants the end user company hired to help them implement a new system. Perhaps, this is one of the...
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How to Create Drilldown page to a custom table in RTC - NAV2009 SP1

This is so someone does not pull their hair out like I just did. I cannot find anywhere in the documentation where this is explained so here it is: 1. Create your custom table 2. Create the drilldown page with SourceTable to your custom table 3. Save the page and REMEMBER THE ID 4. Go to the table property on the table you created in step 1 5. TYPE IN the Page ID in the DrillDownFormID property in step 4 6. Save and test your work. In the table designer, there's no place to specify the Drilldown...
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Future of Dynamics NAV (Navision) - Recap of Directions 2009

This blog post is an overview of my experience at Directions 2009. In my opinion, this is THE event to attend if you provide software or service to Dynamics NAV (Navision). Most of the sessions in Directions 2009 were about the RTC experience, upgrading to RTC, getting partners to buy into RTC. Instead of posting a session summary ,which doesn't really do the presenter justice with a few paragraphs, I just decided to write some highlights that stuck out for me during this event. Numbers: Now...
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How to Calculate the Current Fiscal Year

In Navision, there's no function that will give you the fiscal year according to what you've setup on the Accounting Period table. Here's a code that will get the current fiscal year based on the accounting period: AccountingPeriod is a record variable to table 50 Date1 and Date2 are date variables AccountingPeriod.RESET; AccountingPeriod.SETRANGE("New Fiscal Year",TRUE); AccountingPeriod."Starting Date" := WORKDATE; AccountingPeriod.FIND('=<'); Date1 :...
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How to setup Fixed Assets for Tax Purpose

There aren't that many how-to documents on the Microsoft Customersource website. However, this one has to be one of the most important must-reads for all Navision (Dynamics NAV) end users and implementers wishing to setup fixed assets in Navision . The article is titled - "How to Set Up Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) Depreciation in Fixed Assets" and can be found here: https:// mbs . microsoft . com / customersource /documentation/ howtodocuments / msd _ navsetupmacrsforfa...
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The source of all evil?

I noticed this when I did a search on Google using the keyword Dynamics NAV or Dynamics GP (or AX or SL, or whatever). http://thesource.ofallevil.com/dynamics … rview.aspx It seems random, on top search results it displays www.microsoft.com . On the later pages, it displays thesource.ofallevil.com. The source of all evil? Is this a Microsoft joke? Or did Google intentionally do this?
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Entering Beginning Bank Balance for Dynamics NAV (Navision) for a New Implementation

During a new implementation of Dynamics NAV (Navision), most Dynamics NAV (Navision) consultants understand how to load in A/R and A/P beginning balances. However, when it comes to bank beginning balance. The subject is usually more murky. On one hand, you need to put in the bank balance so it shows up on the bank ledger, on the other hand, if you put in just a lump sum, doing the first bank reconciliation will be a nightmare. The goal when entering a beginning bank balance, is to update the bank...

Product Suggestions for Microsoft Dynamics

Got a suggestion to make the product better? Go here to log your suggestions (or complaints, rants, raves, etc). It's about time Microsoft has something like this. https://connect.microsoft.com/dynamicssuggestions Make your voice count! Microsoft is listening!
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Average Cost to Implement Dynamics NAV (Navision)

First of all, there are no 2 businesses that are exactly the same. I don't care if they're in the same industry, if the owners are siblings, and/or if they live in the same household. Companies are as unique as the fingerprints of the owners that run them. As such, no 2 implementations are exactly the same. This is because the people that work inside the companies are unique. They live the company culture that are defined by their managers. And the company culture are as unique as the personalities...

How to calculate COGS on Account Schedules (The CPA Way)

When a purchase of inventory is made, 4 accounts are hit: Inventory A/P Purchases Direct Cost Applied When the items are sold, 4 accounts are hit: Inventory A/R Sales COGS In this case, the COGS is automatically calculated and posted to your COGS account. The COGS posted by NAV is ALWAYS correct. Don't assume otherwise. Typically, when a CPA (Certified Public Accountants) report COGS, it's calculated and displayed based on the following formula: Beginning Inventory + Purchases - Inventory...
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Dynamics NAV (Navision) Can Solve All of Your Business Pains!

Dynamics NAV (Navision) can do anything for your business. Yep, you heard it right. Implementing Dynamics NAV (Navision) can solve all of the problems for your company. It's true! Since working with Dynamics NAV (Navision) in 1999, I have never encountered a business problem that cannot be solved in Dynamics NAV. Compliance? No problem. Reporting? No problem. Unique business processes? No problem. AND! Implementing Dynamics NAV will solve your company's problems within a reasonable budget...

Accounting Cost vs. True Cost

In Microsoft Dynamics NAV, when doing costing and profitability analysis, you need to differentiate between a transaction's True Cost and Accounting Cost. Don't bother looking up these terms in the manual, I made them up for a lack of better terms. To better explain the difference between True Cost and Accounting Cost, we will use this example: 8/15/08 - Item A was received at 10 pieces for $2.00 each. 8/30/08 - 6 pieces of item A was sold for $5.00 per piece 9/1/08 - The vendor invoice for...
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