Whew! Back from vacation and a whirlwind week before and after!
I have been battling a bit of an odd issue for a client regarding FUTA and SUTA taxable wages. Let me start by giving you some background:
1. Deduction configured as non-TSA, no tax sheltered boxes marked (Setup-Payroll-Deduction, Cards-Payroll-Deduction)
2. Activity posted using the deduction code
3. Deduction setup changed to now be TSA, with three of the tax sheltered boxes marked (Setup-Payroll-Deduction) and change to set up rolled down
4. Deduction maintenance not updated with new tax sheltered settings, as their was already activity on the code (Cards-Payroll-Deduction)
So, the bottom line is that the employee deduction maintenance (Cards-Payroll-Deduction) showed no tax sheltered checkboxes marked but the setup did (Setup-Payroll-Deduction). Normally, this would not be a problem. New employees would get the new settings while older employees would not. But then the weirdness began :)
When printing the FUTA and SUTA summary reports, it was noticed that the wages were off by the amount of these deductions. Both FUTA and SUTA were set up (Setup-Payroll-Unemployment Tax) to NOT include any TSA deductions as wages. But, in this case, the deduction in question was NOT sheltered. So it should NOT have been excluded from wages.
If we changed the FUTA and SUTA setup to include the deduction as wages, it fixed the employees who did NOT have tax sheltered flags marked. But it created another problem, since it also now included the deduction as wages for employees who DID have the tax shelted flags marked. Eek. Fun.
So why was it sheltered the deductions that were NOT marked as tax sheltered? All 'cuz of TXSHANTY. Many thanks to Michelle Blaser at Microsoft, who asked the question and had us check this setting. In the UPR00500 field there is a field called TXSHANTY. This is a boolean field, with a zero if NONE of the tax sheltered checkboxes are marked (SHFRFEDTX, SHFRFICA, SHFRSTTX, SHFRLCLTX) or a 1 id any of the tax sheltered checkboxes are marked.
In the case of these employees that had deductions that were NOT marked as tax sheltered, the TXSHANTY setting was 1 although the tax sheltered checkboxes were all zeroes (SHFRFEDTX, SHFRFICA, SHFRSTTX, SHFRLCLTX). How could this happen?
Well, with a little testing with Microsoft we found that the rolldown from the setup did not rolldown the tax sheltered checkboxes (SHFRFEDTX, SHFRFICA, SHFRSTTX, SHFRLCLTX) because there was activity but it was still updating the TXSHANTY field behind the scenes. The interesting part of this is that there is not logical situation where TXSHANTY would be 1 while all of the other checkboxes are zero.
So we used the following scripts to identify and correct the affected records:
--Run select statement to verify number of records to be affected
select * from UPR00500 where TXSHANTY=1 and SFRFEDTX=0 and SHFRFICA=0 and SHFRSTTX=0 and SFRLCLTX=0
--Run update statement to set Tax Sheltered Annuity field to 0 where are all Tax sheltered tax fields are 0
update UPR00500 set TXSHANTY=0 where TXSHANTY=1 and SFRFEDTX=0 and SHFRFICA=0 and SHFRSTTX=0 and SFRLCLTX=0
--Verify number of affected rows against select statement rows
Once we did this, FUTA and SUTA now calculate correctly per the settings in GP. On an interesting side note, we also found that something in GP might be resetting the TXSHANTY to zero, although we could not figure out what-- we just noticed that over time (with no as zero. Odd.
Microsoft is working on writing this up as a quality report, but I thought I would share it with you all in case you run across the same oddity!
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Zero Columns Not Aligning In Management Reporter
We had an odd little issue pop up in Management Reporter. One of those little oddities that doesn't seem like much, but is annoying nonetheless. Here is an example of the issue, in a calculated column that is rounded to 1 decimal place:
1.0
4.4
2.0
3.4
0.0
2.2
Notice the problem? Look closer. Do you see it? The 0.0 value does not align to the rest of the numbers. Why? Well, the issue is that the 0.0 is actually being rounded from -0.02 (for example). So when it rounds to 0.0 it is not aligned correctly in the column. If it was -.06 it would be fine, as that would round to -1.0.
A small issue, sure, but one that can be quite annoying in presentation-quality financials.
Fortunately, it is fairly simple fix. Set the Print Control for the column to NP, and then add a new calculated column with this formula:
IF B>-.05 AND B<0 THEN 0 ELSE B
Replace B with the original column that was set to NP. This eliminates the issue with the negative value rounding to the out of alignment 0.0. This is logged as a quality report with Microsoft.
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
1.0
4.4
2.0
3.4
0.0
2.2
Notice the problem? Look closer. Do you see it? The 0.0 value does not align to the rest of the numbers. Why? Well, the issue is that the 0.0 is actually being rounded from -0.02 (for example). So when it rounds to 0.0 it is not aligned correctly in the column. If it was -.06 it would be fine, as that would round to -1.0.
A small issue, sure, but one that can be quite annoying in presentation-quality financials.
Fortunately, it is fairly simple fix. Set the Print Control for the column to NP, and then add a new calculated column with this formula:
IF B>-.05 AND B<0 THEN 0 ELSE B
Replace B with the original column that was set to NP. This eliminates the issue with the negative value rounding to the out of alignment 0.0. This is logged as a quality report with Microsoft.
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
Word Templates and Synchronization
Yet again, the Developing for Dynamics GP blog has saved me! Having an issue with a field not printing on a Microsoft Word template, my forehead was bruised from beating my head against a desk...and then I stumbled upon this great little article. What a lifesaver if you are having issues with fields not printing on the template, although they do print properly on the report in GP.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/developingfordynamicsgp/archive/2011/05/06/keeping-word-templates-in-synch-with-report-writer.aspx
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/developingfordynamicsgp/archive/2011/05/06/keeping-word-templates-in-synch-with-report-writer.aspx
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Did You Know? Extender Setup
Yes, I am one of the those people that read and re-read the training manuals each time I teach a class or train a customer. So, I was rereading the Extender manual a few weeks ago, and came across an interesting tidbit that many of you may already know. It is recommended that the Auto-Update SmartLists option in the Extender Options window (Microsoft Dynamics GP-Tools-Extender-Options) only be marked in one company.
This is due to the fact that SmartLists is system wide, while Extender windows are company-specific. The recommended workaround for this is to mark the option in the "main" company and complete all of your Extender configuration in that same company then export/import the necessary windows to the other companies. There is a KnowledgeBase article that describes the issue and recommended workaround, find it here.
In my opinion, this is one of those things that I wouldn't have even thought to worry about. But it can cause a lot of issues including inaccurate/incorrect results in SmartList if you do have the Auto-update option marked in multiple companies.
Would love to hear from anyone who has run in to issues related to this setting, and how you have managed the "develop all windows in one company" approach when Extender is being used extensively in multiple companies in the same installation.
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
Would love to hear from anyone who has run in to issues related to this setting, and how you have managed the "develop all windows in one company" approach when Extender is being used extensively in multiple companies in the same installation.
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
Adding Fields To Word Templates
Sometimes things are much easier than you would even think possible. I know, I know, hard to believe, right? But a great example of this is adding fields to a Word Template in Microsoft Dynamics GP. So, for example, let's say that I want to add the order date to the SOP Blank Invoice Word Template.
The Report Writer report actually feeds the XML for the Word Template, so for the field to be available in the Word Template, you must first add it to the report in Report Writer (Microsoft Dynamics GP-Tools-Customize-Report Writer)
Add the field to the correct section of the report, although it doesn't matter cosmetically where it appears. You will also want to make sure that you have security to print the modified report, to ensure that it is pulling the proper data (Microsoft Dynamics GP-Tools-Setup-Alternate/Modified Forms and Reports ID, User Security).
Next, open the Template Report Maintenance window, Reports-Template Maintenance. Click on the Report Name dropdown, and select More Reports to open the Reports menu.
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
The Report Writer report actually feeds the XML for the Word Template, so for the field to be available in the Word Template, you must first add it to the report in Report Writer (Microsoft Dynamics GP-Tools-Customize-Report Writer)
Add the field to the correct section of the report, although it doesn't matter cosmetically where it appears. You will also want to make sure that you have security to print the modified report, to ensure that it is pulling the proper data (Microsoft Dynamics GP-Tools-Setup-Alternate/Modified Forms and Reports ID, User Security).
Next, open the Template Report Maintenance window, Reports-Template Maintenance. Click on the Report Name dropdown, and select More Reports to open the Reports menu.
Select the Product (in this case, Microsoft Dynamics GP), the Series (in this case, Sales), and the Status should be Modified. Selecting Modified for the Status matches the template to the modified report, enabling the additional fields to be pulled on to the template. Click Select to return to the Report Template Maintenance window. Then click the New button to create a new template.
You can choose to create a Blank Template, or From Existing Template. If you choose From Existing Template, select the Template to copy from. Even if you copy from an existing template, the additional fields from the modified report will still be available to be added to the report.
Next, click Modify to open the selected template in Microsoft Word. Note that the Order Date field is now available for selection.
Now you can add the field to the template as needed. Easy, huh? The downside is that you do need to know Report Writer in order to modify the underlying report so that the field is available in the template. But the good news is that is a rather simple process to make the new fields available on the template.
Good luck! And feel free to share any other tips and tricks you have run across while working with the Word Templates.
Christina Phillips is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Dynamics GP Certified Professional. She is a supervising consultant with BKD Technologies, providing training, support, and project management services to new and existing Microsoft Dynamics customers. This blog represents her views only, not those of her employer.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Join Us At The Dynamics GP Partner Conenctions Conference 2011
Some more information from the fabulous folks at GPUG/GPCC! Please considering joining us in Las Vegas Nov 6-8 for learning and networking with fellow partners, ISVs, and Microsoft!
The Dynamics GP Partner Connections (GPPC) Conference 2011 is a unique opportunity for Dynamics GP Partners and ISVs to build connections, share best practices, pick up new skills, develop new or improved strategies to drive revenue, and meet with Microsoft Dynamics GP leaders and influencers to help prepare for and shape the future of Dynamics GP.
Event: GPPC Connections Conference 2011
Date: November 6-8, 2011
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Register: http://www.gppartnerconnections.com/ (Save $100 when you sign up by October 1)
The agenda for Connections 2011 includes more than 30 breakout sessions led by fellow GP Partners, MVPs and subject matter experts – including roundtable discussions, interactive workshops and how-to sessions – designed to enhance your GP knowledge and competencies. Additionally, structured networking opportunities are a prime opportunity to develop and strengthen alliances with leading Dynamics GP partners. The event also features an ever-popular Microsoft Town Hall meeting – a rapid-fire Q&A session where you can ask your top GP questions of key Dynamics GP leaders, including Anders Spatzek, Errol Schoenfish, Pam Misialek, Chris Lerum, Chad Sogge, Mark Albrecht and Jeff Hensel.
Who Should Attend?
Dynamics GP consultants, developers, technical sales engineers, practice managers, project managers, and business leaders.
Learn More and Register
You can learn more about GPPC Connections 2011 by visiting the conference website at http://www.gppartnerconnections.com/. Here you’ll find the event agenda, registration information, and complete session descriptions. Note that there is a $100 registration discount that ends October 1st – sign up today and book your travel to take advantage of low registration and air fare rates.
Connections 2011 is held in conjunction with GPUG Summit, the annual conference for the Dynamics GP User Group. Come for Connections and stay for Summit, where you'll have a chance to network, learn and mingle with GP users from around the country. Summit is happening Nov 8-11, 2011 at Caesars Palace – visit www.gpugsummit.com for more information.
The Dynamics GP Partner Connections (GPPC) Conference 2011 is a unique opportunity for Dynamics GP Partners and ISVs to build connections, share best practices, pick up new skills, develop new or improved strategies to drive revenue, and meet with Microsoft Dynamics GP leaders and influencers to help prepare for and shape the future of Dynamics GP.
Event: GPPC Connections Conference 2011
Date: November 6-8, 2011
Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Register: http://www.gppartnerconnections.com/ (Save $100 when you sign up by October 1)
The agenda for Connections 2011 includes more than 30 breakout sessions led by fellow GP Partners, MVPs and subject matter experts – including roundtable discussions, interactive workshops and how-to sessions – designed to enhance your GP knowledge and competencies. Additionally, structured networking opportunities are a prime opportunity to develop and strengthen alliances with leading Dynamics GP partners. The event also features an ever-popular Microsoft Town Hall meeting – a rapid-fire Q&A session where you can ask your top GP questions of key Dynamics GP leaders, including Anders Spatzek, Errol Schoenfish, Pam Misialek, Chris Lerum, Chad Sogge, Mark Albrecht and Jeff Hensel.
Who Should Attend?
Dynamics GP consultants, developers, technical sales engineers, practice managers, project managers, and business leaders.
Learn More and Register
You can learn more about GPPC Connections 2011 by visiting the conference website at http://www.gppartnerconnections.com/. Here you’ll find the event agenda, registration information, and complete session descriptions. Note that there is a $100 registration discount that ends October 1st – sign up today and book your travel to take advantage of low registration and air fare rates.
Connections 2011 is held in conjunction with GPUG Summit, the annual conference for the Dynamics GP User Group. Come for Connections and stay for Summit, where you'll have a chance to network, learn and mingle with GP users from around the country. Summit is happening Nov 8-11, 2011 at Caesars Palace – visit www.gpugsummit.com for more information.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Virtual Town Hall Meeting for Microsoft Dynamics GP Partners
Hey Partners! Interested in leaning more about upcoming changes to the MPN? Here is your chance! Many thanks to GP Partner Connections (GPPC) for arranging this virtual town hall meeting! "See" you on the call-- Christina
Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner Connections (GPPC) Town Hall Meeting with Microsoft’s Jeff Edwards
Join Microsoft's Jeff Edwards, Director of Channel Strategy, for the next GPPC virtual Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, October 19 at 1:00pm (ET). In this radio talk-show style call, GPPC Director Kim Peterson will talk to Jeff about hot topics that affect Partners and ISVs. This meeting will focus on the MPN transition to Pay for Performance, which will take effect in January 2012. Dial in to understand Microsoft’s perspective on how the changes are landing and the impacts and opportunities for the Dynamics GP Channel.
You’re also invited to submit your own questions that will be covered in the partner Q&A portion of the call. Please submit your questions to Kim@GPUG.com prior to the event with the subject line ‘Jeff Edwards.’
Event: Dynamics GP Partner Town Hall Meeting with Jeff Edwards
Date: Wednesday, October 19
Time: 1:00 - 2:00pm (ET)
Cost: Free
Register: http://www.gpug.com/events/virtualpartnertownhallmeetingjeffedwards10192011?date=2011-10
Who Should Attend? All Microsoft Dynamic GP Partners and ISVs are welcome to attend the Town Hall Meeting.
About GPPC Town Hall Meetings: It’s more important than ever for partners to have open connections with Microsoft executives. GPPC wants to play an important role by being an advocate to both partners and Microsoft. That’s why we’ve created this exciting series of quarterly Virtual Town Hall Meetings. Dynamics GP VARs and ISVs are invited to this exclusive virtual event on a quarterly basis. The event will help build competencies in the Partner community and provides a means of keeping key Microsoft executives in tune with the issues and topics partners care about.
About Jeff Edwards: Jeff is responsible for Microsoft's ERP Partner Strategy which includes partner program (MPN) requirements, Partner branding and Partner compensation.
About GPPC: GP Partner Connections (GPPC) is a peer-to-peer, independent professional networking group for Dynamics GP Implementation Partners and ISVs. GPPC is dedicated to increasing the knowledge and competency of Implementation Professionals, Consultants, and Technical Sales Engineers. The group provides a conduit for all parties to hear, listen, plan and move forward together.
Microsoft Dynamics GP Partner Connections (GPPC) Town Hall Meeting with Microsoft’s Jeff Edwards
Join Microsoft's Jeff Edwards, Director of Channel Strategy, for the next GPPC virtual Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, October 19 at 1:00pm (ET). In this radio talk-show style call, GPPC Director Kim Peterson will talk to Jeff about hot topics that affect Partners and ISVs. This meeting will focus on the MPN transition to Pay for Performance, which will take effect in January 2012. Dial in to understand Microsoft’s perspective on how the changes are landing and the impacts and opportunities for the Dynamics GP Channel.
You’re also invited to submit your own questions that will be covered in the partner Q&A portion of the call. Please submit your questions to Kim@GPUG.com prior to the event with the subject line ‘Jeff Edwards.’
Event: Dynamics GP Partner Town Hall Meeting with Jeff Edwards
Date: Wednesday, October 19
Time: 1:00 - 2:00pm (ET)
Cost: Free
Register: http://www.gpug.com/events/virtualpartnertownhallmeetingjeffedwards10192011?date=2011-10
Who Should Attend? All Microsoft Dynamic GP Partners and ISVs are welcome to attend the Town Hall Meeting.
About GPPC Town Hall Meetings: It’s more important than ever for partners to have open connections with Microsoft executives. GPPC wants to play an important role by being an advocate to both partners and Microsoft. That’s why we’ve created this exciting series of quarterly Virtual Town Hall Meetings. Dynamics GP VARs and ISVs are invited to this exclusive virtual event on a quarterly basis. The event will help build competencies in the Partner community and provides a means of keeping key Microsoft executives in tune with the issues and topics partners care about.
About Jeff Edwards: Jeff is responsible for Microsoft's ERP Partner Strategy which includes partner program (MPN) requirements, Partner branding and Partner compensation.
About GPPC: GP Partner Connections (GPPC) is a peer-to-peer, independent professional networking group for Dynamics GP Implementation Partners and ISVs. GPPC is dedicated to increasing the knowledge and competency of Implementation Professionals, Consultants, and Technical Sales Engineers. The group provides a conduit for all parties to hear, listen, plan and move forward together.