Microsoft NAV Dynamics Cost Control Software » NAV Tips

NAV Upgrade

Rick Baxter — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:46:13 +0000

I am often asked “How frequently should I upgrade my Dynamics NAV Software?”

What often is not obvious to end-users is that to upgrade from Version 6.0 to Version 6.0R2 is much less expensive than to upgrade from Version 4.0 to Version 6.0R2. The difference is the field mapping from one version to the next. So, we recommend that you should never be more than 3 releases in arrears. (Aprox every 3 years)

What benefits do you get?

Microsoft spends millions of dollars every year to flood their software products with improvements:

1. Improved existing functionality.
2. New functionality
3. Performance improvements
4. Integration improvements (ie: one click to XLSX)
5. Report Writer improvements
6. SQL Server and Web Services improvements

Cost Control Software was one of the very first Dynamics NAV (Navision) Resellers in the United States. (Summer of 1995) We have new completed over 150 successful client upgrade projects. The key to our success was following a strict process to ensure quality and speed. You will see our steps at the end of this document.

If you would like a quotation on an upgrade, just give us a call.

NAV Upgrade is a post from: Cost Control Software

No related posts.

Mandatory Fields for Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Rick Baxter — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:15:04 +0000

“Mandatory Fields” for Microsoft Dynamics 2009 RTC does just what the name implies. It lets the user assign which fields on a Page are to be Mandatory.

Example: Customer Credit Limit, E-Mail Address, Payment Terms, Item Type, Starting Date, Manufacturer Code, or Item Number.

Just flag the Page’s field with “Off, Low, High” to set the Protection Level. You can even specify Must Contain or Can Not Contain to further define your criteria. I invite you to watch Ben’s Video to see Mandatory Fields Setup and Daily Processing.

Click the article title to submit a Comment. We want to hear your opinion.

Mandatory Fields for Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a post from: Cost Control Software

Tree Map Visualization

Rick Baxter — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:09:21 +0000

Here we go again. Tree Map Visualization displays your selected data by size and by color. This grid view helps you find specific attributes of your data which otherwise would have been missed. Some people refer to this as a “Heat Map”, showing the important items by size or by color.

Cost Control Software has added 8 Tree Maps to our Foundation Pack Database. They are all tested and ready for you to set the desired criteria to analyze your data. It is great at spotting exceptions or unusual situations.

Enjoy The Show:

Tree Map Visualization is a post from: Cost Control Software

Time Line Visualization

Chart Generator

Rick Baxter — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:17:46 +0000

Click this image to watch demo movie

We are pleased to announce “Chart Generator” has been added to our Foundation Pack as an additional feature.

This means that you can now easily define your own Role Center Chart from any Table within Dynamics NAV.

Just pick the chart type, fields to be displayed on the X and Y Axis and then select “Generate Chart”.

Once the Chart has been added to your list of Chart Parts, just pick the new chart to display on your role center.

If this would be a useful feature for you, just contact me and I will help you get this added to your “Foundation Pack” Granule. If you don’t have Foundation Pack, I can help you get all 61 features added to your Dynamics NAV Database.

Sample: Job Production by Date

Click this image to watch demo movie

Leave a comment in the message box below.

Chart Generator is a post from: Cost Control Software

Send Document via e-mail as PDF

Rick Baxter — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:58:36 +0000

You are going to love this new enhancement to Foundation Pack. “SendAsPDF” is officially feature #59 of 60. We added the ability to send Quotes, Sales Orders, Credit Memos, Sales Invoices, and Purchase Orders instantly as an e-mail attachment in a PDF format.

You just create the document content as desired, then click “SendAsPDF” and it generates an e-mail with everything automatically filled in.

Here is a sample of the Quote Screen:

: Sample from the Sales Quote Page

Sample of the e-mail ready to be sent:

: Sample of the automatic e-mail prepared for you

How cool is that.

We started with a Blog from the NAV Developers, then added our own twist: Default Values.

Examples: Where to pull the e-mail address, and where to pull all the other content. It can come in blank, and then you just fill in as desired, or set your defaults and let the software do the work.

I just love this little time saving feature. If you are new to NAV, it is not too late to add “Foundation Pack” to your new installation. If you are an old timer, order “Foundation Pack” when you upgrade to Version 2009 R2. I am so excited about this new feature I just recorded a video showing how it works.

Watch the Video, then leave me a comment below. Thanks, Rick

Send Document via e-mail as PDF is a post from: Cost Control Software

Page Designer Training on DVD

Rick Baxter — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:03:42 +0000

Cost Control Software is pleased to announce the release of our next Training Class for NAV. “Page Designer”. (Only $395)

Most end users know how to use the “Personalization” tools on the menu. (IE: Edit a FactBox). But a personalization only applies to that user, not to the entire company. You need to use the “Page Designer” to make a change “GLOBAL”.

This new class takes you step by step with video instructions on each step. Seeing how to do it in action is critical to your learning. And you can pause, backup, replay, any of the learning segments. We recommend you do each step right along with the instructor (Rick Baxter). The student “Study Guide” is the outline to the video content. When you see the steps shown to you on screen, the content sinks in. You just can’t get this from a book. This class is like having the instructor right beside you as you watch each learning video.

Topics: Building List Pages, Building Card Pages, Link the Card from the List, Deploy your application to Departments and Role Center Menues, How to add FactBoxes, How to build the Action Ribbon with Related Information and Reports. Final topic is a complete build of a Role Center from Scratch.

Seeing how to do it is much more powerful than reading how to do it. Order this training class today.

Page Designer Training on DVD is a post from: Cost Control Software

No related posts.

FORMS to PAGES

Rick Baxter — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:35:25 +0000

If you are using Dynamics NAV “Classic” Version, you need to start to learn about the Transformation Process to move to the next wave of NAV Versions. Microsoft is moving to all RTC (Role Tailored Client) in the next 2 years. You need to understand how to do this. Or at least, understand what your NAV Consultant will be doing to assist you in the transformation.

I have just completed an in-depth Webinar on the procedure to transform your Classic FORMS to PAGES in Role Tailored Client. I will share this information freely, but I hope you will consider doing business with Cost Control Software.

The replay is now posted to our Webinar/Replay section of this web site. Scroll down to the Development section to enjoy this 70 min Webinar.

FORMS to PAGES is a post from: Cost Control Software

Inventory Accuracy with Automatic Cycle Counting

Rick Baxter — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:51:56 +0000

A very common complaint from end-users is that they can’t trust the computer to deliver accurate Qty on Hand information. They don’t trust the computer. They would rather walk out to the storage area and look before they commit delivery to a customer.

Yet is seems so simple: Receive into Inventory and the Qty goes up. Sell out of Inventory and the Qty goes down. So what is the problem? 99.9% of the time it is a human problem.

Potential errors:
a. Wrong Items are entered. (+ or -)
b. Wrong quantities are entered.
c. Receiving to the wrong Location or SKU.
d. Item Usage not being recorded.
e. Location Transfers not getting entered.

If you are doing “write down” of Inventory each year, the real problem is that usage is not getting recorded as you go. So at the end of the year during a physical a big discrepancy is discovered and COGS takes a big one time hit to make it right. I submit to you, it is better to catch it early and fill the leak.

If you are doing “Cycle Counting”, let me recommend Cost Control’s “Automatic Cycle Counting” Granule. This Granule will enable you to spot problems much earlier. Don’t wait until year end, do a weekly quick count of the next 40 items. Let Auto Cycle Count tell you what items need to be counted, do the count, record the adjustment, and then try to figure out why there were any discrepancies.

Inventory Accuracy with Automatic Cycle Counting is a post from: Cost Control Software

True cost of a Job

Job Planning Lines

Rick Baxter — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:26:02 +0000

You use Job Planning Lines to list your expectations of the job, either schedule (what items, resources and G/L expenses you expect to use) or contract (what you agree with your customer that he should pay for the job).

You can set up planning lines for each job task on the job. If you have agreed with your customer that he should pay one total amount for the entire job, regardless of the usage on the individual job tasks, you only have to set up one job planning line of type Contract for the entire job.

Only planning lines of type Contract or Both Schedule and Contract can be invoiced. Planning lines of type Schedule are regarded as not chargeable.

The confusing part is that a “Planning Line” can have multiple uses:
a. BOM
b. Task Cost Estimate Details
c. Billing information

We recommend to our Project/Job customers that you setup lines as either Schedule (Estimate) or as Contract (Price), but not both. Both is too confusing, make two separate entries to make it easier to track.

To assist in the process we recommend you setup tasks for each type of work that you do, to further separate the job allocations. Example: Welding, Painting, Installing, Developing, Training, CNC, or Demolition. Under each of these tasks add your “Planning Lines” to hold the detail estimate of that task.

If your business is project/job oriented you can view a video that shows how a well placed task line can clarify your work breakdown structure.

Job Planning Lines is a post from: Cost Control Software

Manufactruing Tip: MPS or MRP?