2011 US Payroll Year End Update

The 2011 U.S. Payroll Year-End Update is scheduled to be released Mid-November. This update will include table changes to the following:

• W2 form changes
  
• W3 form changes
  
• EFW2 Electronic Filing
  
• 1099-R Payroll Pension form changes
  
• 1099-DIV alignment changes
  
• Fixed Assets Luxury Auto Maximum Depreciation Deduction Amounts

Links

• 2011 US Payroll Year End Update for GP v10.0
• 2011 US Payroll Year End Update for GP2010

If you have any questions or need help installing the Year End Update, please contact support@collinscomputing.com.

NOTE: Microsoft will provide a 2012 Year-End Update to all 10 customers for U.S. and Canada. Microsoft will also provide Round 1 U.S. Tax tables for the 2013 Payroll reporting year. There will be no additional updates released after the 2013 Round 1 tax update, normal technical support for GP 10 will end on 10/10/2017. If you are using Dynamics GP version 10 you must update to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 or Microsoft Dynamics GP 12 (Due to release in December 2012) to receive any further regulatory updates after the January 2013 Round 1 Tax Update.

Need Additional Storage for HR and Payroll Information?

Use the Employee Extra Fields Window! The following types of information can be stored in the Employee Extra Fields window.

1. Dates (5 fields)
   
2. Numeric (5 fields)
   
3. Alpha/Numeric (5 lines with 30 characters in each line)
   
4. Currency (5 fields)
   
5. Checkboxes (5 custom categories)

In order to access the Employee Extra Fields window, we start with the Employee Maintenance window and click on the ‘Human Resources’ button.

This takes us to the Employee Human Resources Maintenance window, where we then click on the ‘Extra Fields’ button.

You are now at the Employee Extra Fields window.
The example below shows how we have this window set up at the company. Use the first date field as the 401(k) plan eligibility date. Also use the checkboxes for termination reasons and the alpha/numeric section for any termination explanation.

And now the important part – how do we customize this window?
You can get to the Extra Fields Setup window a couple of different ways.

1. Drop-down menu method: Choose Microsoft Dynamics GP Tools Setup Human Resources Extra Fields Employee
2. Home Page method: Go to the HR & Payroll home page, expand the Setup section, expand the Human Resources and Extra Fields sections, click on Employee

The Extra Fields Setup window shows the five different sections that are customizable. All you have to do is type the text you want to show up as the label in each section.

Do you need a report with this data? The data is located in the HR_Employee_Extra table.

Fix It Solutions for Microsoft Dynamics

Great Resource!

Fix It Solutions for Microsoft Dynamics - GP, CRM and FRx automated solutions to help you troubleshoot or resolve your issues.

Round 7 Payroll Tax Update Released

The Round 7 Tax Update is available. This update includes changes to Puerto Rico and Connecticut.

Dynamics GP 10.0 Update
Dynamics GP2010 Update

**This update requires that you have previously installed the Round 6 Tax Update; MicrosoftDynamicsGP-KB2552042-v10-ENU.exe Version 10.00.1757 OR MicrosoftDynamicsGP11-KB2552044-ENU.msp Version 11.00.1799.

The Last Tax Table Update Date and the Last Tax Code Update Date can be found at Microsoft Dynamics GP > Tools > Setup > System > Payroll Tax.

If you have any questions or need help installing this tax update, please contact support@collinscomputing.com.

Connecticut State Tax - UPDATE

Round 7 Tax Update will be released the week of August 22nd. This update will include changes to the state of Connecticut.

- Notice to Connecticut users - The state of Connecticut is going to be rereleasing additional changes around additional withholding amounts and new hires that start after 8/1/2011 and how the taxes are calculated with the new changes that were effective 8/1/2011. Once these changes are released Microsoft will be including them in our Round 7 Tax Update.

More info to come.....

Connecticut State Tax - Revised changes due to release next week

The state of Connecticut has had some issues with the new tax rules that were effective 8/1/2011. Microsoft has been diligently working with the state to get these conundrums resolved. The state of Connecticut will be issuing a press release statement next week that will clarify some of the calculation steps for all companies to abide by, currently, they have contradictory information on their website between different documents.

Once the state of CT releases this information, Microsoft will review it and make changes as necessary. Since this is a time sensitive situation, they are going to try and turn this around as quick as possible and probably release a hot fix (chunk file format) that will be faster and easier for you to install if you run payroll for employees in the state of CT. This would require you to have the Round 6 CT tax code and table already loaded.

Here are the current areas of concern Microsoft has with the state, but not limited to:

• Additional withholding , there was nothing specified in the original calculation method around addition amounts and how they should be factored in.
  
• If employees are hired after 8/1 , they should have a reduce amount taken as they started later in the year and the YTD step in the calculation should be skipped, again, was not in the released calculation rules (Microsoft will probably have a new filing status for this type of employee identifying the later start date and it will have the correct calculations steps for them)

Potential changes in the future:
There is talk of a federal tax change to release
Puerto Rico has released a new tax change/table - Microsoft is reviewing this.

The Connecticut re-release will be Microsoft's first and top priority and then will release another tax update for the future updates noted above, once all is finalized.

We will send out an update as soon as we know more.

If you have any questions, please contact support@collinscomputing.com or at 888-391-6690.

5 Easy Maintenance Tips

SQL BackupMake SQL backups of every database on your SQL server! You can do full backups only or full backups with transaction log backups depending on your needs.

You need to backup Dynamics databse, Company(s) database(s) and Model database

File BackupWhile most people know to make SQL backups with Dynamics-GP there are also multiple files that need to be backed up along with the SQL backups. Those files include but not limited to:

• Any file in the folder that ends in: dic, set, or config. And considering that the GP folder with all subfolders is not that big it would be even better to back up the entire folder and subfolders.
• While you are in that folder also open the Dynamics.Set and the DynUtils.set and look for any files that you did not get in the above list.
• Also in that folder is a folder named . You need to get all of that folder as well.
• Inside the folder is a file named Dex.Ini. This file lists the locations of other files that you will need to backup. While there is quite a lot in this file look for the following items and backup the folders that are listed; OLEPath, OLEPathHR, Word Macro File, Letters Directory, ReportDictionaryPath, FormDictionaryPath.
• And do not forget to go through the manuals of any add-on products to get information on what needs to be backed up for them. For example FRx has a SysData folder that needs to be backed up.

Schedule Your BackupsSchedule your backups both SQL and FILES depending on your needs. Keep in mind that the more often you backup the less information you lose should something happen. The main thing is that it should automatically occur at some interval without someone having to remember to make a backup. It’s not proper to say that more backups are better. If a database is big, for example 200 or 800 or even 2000 mgs (and even larger) that would be a disaster for performance. The strategy is to have full backups and incremental backups with transaction logs

Monitor Your Backup JobsWhile it sounds silly, you should monitor your jobs to make sure that everything is happening as it should. While you can set up your SQL server to notify you if the job fails, you still need to check the job periodically. There are cases where a job can "hang" and because it technically has not failed you do not receive a notification from SQL, yet the job is not running as you expected and nothing is being backed up. This is also a good time to check how long the jobs take to see if you need to adjust the schedule for performance or availability reasons.

Test Your BackupsAnother thing that people sometimes forget is to periodically test their backups. Is the SQL backup file actually a good backup? For you SQL Backups, restoring the backups to another server is usually a good test. If you have another copy of Dynamics-GP on another server for testing purposes this is a good place for you to place you file backups to test if you have good file backups.


Compliments of GPUG

Smartlist Resizing Tool

Default to show more data in Smartlist window! Recently, Microsoft posted a modified window for smartlists that resizes the left panel so you can see more of the Smartlist query results in the right side of the window.

Just ask us for this download and instructions on how to load it, or CLICK HERE!

Here is a shot of before and after the change!

Before:

After:

FUTA Unemployment Rate Change Effective 7/1/2011

Effective 7/1/2011, the FUTA (FED) Unemployment rate is going from 6.2 t 6.0. This is not in Microsoft's tax tables, it is a change the user makes. There are misconceptions around this. Many feel the rate is in Microsoft's tax tables BUT this is not true. Microsoft will not come out with an update to change this rate, the user can do this by going to Tools > Setup > Payroll > Unemployment Tax.

Here is the table in the company database
select *from UPR40100 where FUTASUTA = 'FED'

What is the Federal Unemployment Tax Rate?
For each worker per year the tax is 6.2% for the first $7,000 of gross earnings. Now once that particular worker has reached the $7,000 point, the employer no longer pays the tax for that person for that year.

Some wages are exempt from the FUTA tax. For example, a parent who pays their child who is under 21 years of age, services performed outside of the United States and wages paid to an intern by a hospital. Those examples are just a few mentioned here but, there are many more. There are some credits that are allowed with respect to unemployment taxes paid that may reduce the effective rate to 0.8%.

Payroll Tax Update - Round 6

The Round 6 US Payroll Tax Update has been released.

It contains tax table changes for the following states:

• North Dakota (data change)
• Connecticut (data and code change)

Below are bug fixes around this update for Payroll/Human Resource:

• Payroll Class ID Roll downs still not working after applying round 4 tax update and feature pack with certain steps taken
• 2010 Multi build causes all employees to get checks and DD information is lost in certain cases
• Deductions missing from calculation based of Tax settings after you apply the round 4 tax update

Other module fixes include: Field Service, Inventory, Manufacturing, Project Accounting, Purchasing

***If you have employees paid in the state of Connecticut, you need to install the tax update and the code update...major changes in their tax structure...read the instructions if you are in Connecticut carefully, please. Go to the appendix, there is a very detailed explanation of the tax change for CT and how to calculate it.

To install the tax tables only, go to Microsoft Dynamics GP > Maintenance > Update Tax Tables and follow the process of installing the latest tax tables.

Download Links

• Round 6 Payroll Tax Update for Dynamics GP 10.0
  
• Round 6 Payroll Tax Update for Dynamics GP2010
  
• Instruction Manual

If you are on a previous version or would like help installing the Round 6 update, please contact support@collinscomputing.com or Jim Williams at Collins Computing.

Payroll Tax Update - Round 6

Round 6 Tax Update is scheduled to be released the week of June 27th. This update will include the following changes;

• North Dakota (data change)
  
• Connecticut (data and code change)

More information to come.....

SmartList objects that work with the "Extender Window" fields

Not all SmartList objects will work with Extender Window fields in Dynamics GP. Below is a list of the ones that do.

You can add Extender Window fields to the following SmartList objects;

• Accounts
  
• Customers
  
• Customer Address
  
• Customer Items
  
• Prospects
  
• Receivable Transactions
  
• Sales Transactions
  
• Vendors
  
• Vendor Addresses
  
• Vendor Items
  
• Payables Transactions
  
• Purchase Orders
  
• Items
  
• Employees
  
• Payroll Transactions

NOTE: The Extender Windows fields cannot be linked to integrating product SmartList objects. Examples of integrating product SmartList objects are;

• Fixed Assets
  
• Manufacturing
  
• Field Service
  
• Project Accounting

Applies To:
Dynamics GP 10.0
Dynamics GP2010, when used with Extender

Reporting Depreciation Mistakes?

Someone making a mistake with depreciation is not unheard of. Perhaps an asset was put into service early and depreciated by mistake. Undoing the depreciation for a single asset in Dynamics GP is actually pretty easy.

Go to the Routine used to depreciate one asset, select the asset to undo depreciation for and set a new depreciation date. Example: If an asset was depreciated through February and you need it back in January, simply set depreciation to run through January. GP will warn that the depreciation is being backed out. A reverse GL transaction is created with the GL Posting routine.

This is not available for a full depreciation run but it works great for a single asset. A Word macro could be used to back out depreciation for multiple assets.

Payroll Tax Update - Round 5

The Round 5 US Payroll Tax Update has been released. It contains tax table changes for the following states:

• Yonkers, New York

The 2011 State or Territorial Tax changes include:

• The Yonkers Resident flat tax rate for both married and single filing statuses increased to 17.5%

Download Links

• Round 5 Tax Update for GP v10.0 AND Instruction Manual


• Round 5 Tax Update for GP2010 AND Instruction Manual

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Additional SQL Reporting Services Reports for Payroll, Human Resources and Inventory

Why this feature is cool!
Organizations are using SRS Reporting tools more each day to manage their businesses. Microsoft has added the following new SRS reports to enhance the current existing report library. They have added the reports in the most heavily used areas of Dynamics GP.

• Employee Anniversary - This Human Resources (HR) report shows the Employee Name, Employee ID, Position and Hire Date while allowing the user to select data for multiple ranges.
  
• Employee Birthday - This Human Resourses (HR) report shows the Employee ID and Month/Day birthdays while allowing the user to select data for multiple ranges.
  
• Employee Earnings History - This Human Resources (HR) report shows the Employee earnings history.
  
• Organization Layout - This Human Resources (HR) report shows the Organization Layout for the company.
  
• Detailed Employee List by Pay Code - This Payroll report shows an employee list showing detailed information for one or more multiple employees by pay code. Multiple options and ranges allow the user to make the report results as narrow or broad as they prefer.
  
• Historical Inventory Trial Balance - The popular report has been created in SRS to provide a detail look at inventory items when reconciling to the General Ledger. Select to sort by item or account number, date, sites and multiple ranges.

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Add Unified Communications Functionality in Extender

Why this feature is cool!
In GP2010, Unified Communications and Office Communicator 2007 functionality was added to the Dynamics GP windows to show the status of contacts and allow you to contact them directly through Office Communicator or make a phone call.

• Display Presence Indicator for customers and vendors
  
• Uses the Linked Lookup fields on Extender Windows & Forms, Detailed Forms, and Extra Windows
  
• Messenger address is entered for a contact associated with a customer or vendor address
  
• Actions will allow you to; Send an Instant Message, Call, Start a Video Call, Send an Email Message
  
• Communicate with different messaging applications; Office Communicator, Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and others

What does it look like?

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Business Portal Migration Utility

Why this feature is cool!

The updates to the migration utility will enable customers to move their Business Portal customizations directly from Business Portal 3.0 to Business Portal for Microsoft Dynamics GP2010.

The utility can be used to migrate the following items.

• New web parts
  
• Modifications to default web parts, including titles, query associations, number of rows returned, and publish/subscribe settings
  
• New pages
  
• SharePoint lists and libraries that don't contain folders

The migration utility is a separate program that is downloadedand installed on your SharePoint Server with Business Portal 3.0 installed. The utility is used to analyze the customizations that have been made, view the results and select the customizations that will be moved to the Business Portal for Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 installation.

What does it look like?

(Start - Programs - Business Portal Migration Utility - Business Portal Migration Utility)

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Microsoft Dynamics Security Synchronization Utility

Why this feature is cool!
The updates to the Microsoft Dynamics Security Synchronization Utility will allow administrators to manage the process of synchronizing roles acress the Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 components. The utility is exposed via an MMC console which comunicated with a synchronization web service. The console provides the ability to synchronize in any direction by specifying a source and destination, along with some rules about what should happen along the way. The actual work of adding users from roles is the responsibility of the providers that are plugged in, providing extensibility for any application or security infrastructure that can be programmatically accessed via some API.

The utility contains the following providers out-of-the-box:

• Microsoft Dynamics GP
  
• Business Portal for Microsoft Dynamics GP
  
• Web Services for Microsoft Dynamics GP

What does it look like?

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Business Portal External Lists

Why this feature is cool!
External lists will allow users to add, modify, view and remove business data from within Business Portal for Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 R2. Leveraging the external list functionality in SharePoint 2010 and Web Services for Microsoft Dynamics GP2010, select Dynamics GP entities will be exposed as editable lists on pages within Business Portal.

The following external lists have been created:

• Customer (Customer Address)
  
• Customer Sales and Receivables
  
• Sales Order (Sales Order Line)
  
• Vendor (Vendor Address)
  
• Purchase Order (Purchase Order Line)
  
• Sales Item (Sales Item Quantities)
  
• Service Calls (Open, Invoiced, Historical)
  
• Return Documents (Open, Historical)
  
• Employee (Employee Address)
  
• Projects
  
• Posting Accounts
  
• Manufacturing Order (Pick List Items, Order Route Steps)
  

What does it look like?

The Support Debugging Tool for Dynamics GP

The Support Debugging Tool is a Dexterity application that contains a collection of utilities and tools to make supporting, developing and debugging Dynamics GP easier and faster.

There are two modes of operation: Standard Mode and Advanced Mode. Advanced Mode features requires system admin or database owner priviledges and require expertise in Dexterity and/or SQL Server admin.

Here are just a few of the features:

• Manual Logging Mode - Manually turn on SQL Logging and Dexterity Logging and Profiling
  
• Individual Logging Control - Individually control SQL Logging and Dexterity Logging and Profiling
  
• Security Profiler - Monitor all security check activity
  
• Automatic Debugging Mode - Automatically starts logging and watches for specified events
  
• Security Information - Display Security settings for specific resources for a user and company

Examples of use:

• It can help you identify the specific series of events which lead up to an issue or bug in the code occuring.
  
• It can be used to find details about dictionary resources.
  
• It can be used to enable and disable thrid party products or change the order of the products in the launch file.
  
• It can be used to send email to the system admin, even on systems without a locally installed Outlook client.
  
• It can be used to identify resources (forms, reports and tables) causing security access issues.

The Support Debugging Tool itself is available at no cost but ONLY via partner. Please contact your Collins Computing managing consultant to get this tool.

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Ability to Create Email Messages

Why this feature is cool!

Our latest release will allow the end-user to email various reports from within Dynamics GP. Along with the ability to email the reports, the application allows the user to create an email message that will accompany the reports. All the email options and email messages will save with the report option and allow the user to use on a repeated basis.

What does it look like?
The ability to email requires the end-user to first setup an Email Option within the report options form. Once an end-user saves the email option, they will now have ability to email the report.

Email Options: (Example: Reports - System - Security - User Security - click New or Modify if report option exists)

Click Email Options button:

Select who will be receiving the email and how it will be displayed (either attached or embedded) in the email. Once this is complete, then choose OK to save the email options setting for this report option.

The user will click the Message button. This will open the Message Setup Form. From this point, a Subject along with the body of the message can be entered and saved.

Now when an end-user selects the Email button, the email will contain the email message along with the report.

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Ability to Email Reports

Why this feature is cool!
Our lastest release will allow the end-user to email reports from within Dynamics GP

• Allows user to email reports that have report options
  
• Will give ability to email from three different locations
  
• Will have ability to attach or embed the report within the Email

What does it look like?

All reports will be generated in HTML format. The ability to email requires the end-user to setup an Email Option within the report options form. Once an end-user saves the email option, they will now have the ability to email the report.

Email Options: (Example: Reports - System - Security - User Security - click New or Modify if report option exists)

Click Email Options button:

Select who will be receiving the email and how it will be displayed (either attached or embedded) in the email. Once this is complete, then choose OK to save the email options setting for this report option.

Now an end-user will see that an Email button is now enabled for this particular report option in three locations:

In the Reports form:

In the Reports Option form for the particular report:

In the Ribbon for the Reports Lists:

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Released Early!

We are proud to announce the release of Dynamics GP2010 R2!

Overall Highlights:

Over 50 feature adds for R2

Industry leading Business Intelligence with enhancement to SQL Reports, Word Templates, and Email

Release of Business Analyzer that adds value to Light Users and extends the reach of ERP to everyone in the organization

Check out the "What's New" PDF.

Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 R2 is available for download on the Product Release page.

Service Pack 2 for each product is included in the download.

Dynamics GP Service Pack 2 version is 11.00.1752.

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

SOP Return Word Templates

Why this feature is cool!
In Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 R2 SOP Return templates were added to the core template reports. With this added functionality, a user can print a SOP return document to Word and mass email SOP returns to customers as they are able to do with other SOP documents in Microsoft Dynamics GP2010.

Allow users to assign Microsoft Office Word templates to a Report Writer report

Enables users to assign templates to specific companies or customers

Direct integration with Microsoft Office Word to customize or create templates

Offers users the option to create new templates or copy existing templates

Enables users to assign a template that ships with Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 to their existing modified reports

What does it look like?

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Report Builder Integration - Export

Why this feature is cool!
The report builder integration makes it easier to export a report within the Microsoft Dynamics GP client. In the navigation lists there is a new action on the ribbon that allows you to export your report to different file types. This functionality reduces the number of steps you need to take to export a report. Previously you would have to launch your report server of SharePoint location, render the report and choose export to render the report to the desired file type.

Export Options:

XML

CSV

PDF

MHTML

Excel

TIFF

Word

What does it look like?

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Report Builder Integration - Edit and View

Why this feature is cool!
The report builder integration gives a seamless integration for editing and viewing a SQL Reporting Services (SRS) reports within the Microsoft Dynamcis GP client making it easier to use. You no longer have to know where the report is stored.

What does it look like?
Edit: In the Metrics Detail window, an Edit button has been added to modify the list of the reports you have access to. Selecting a report from the available metrics and choosing the edit button will launch Report Builder and automatically display the report selected. You also have the option to edit the report from the Navigation list by selecting the Edit Report Action in the ribbon.




View: The view button has been added to the ribbon for ease of running the report in native or SharePoint integrated mode. The homepage has also been updated to move the view option. Using these modes allows for parameter values to be edited upon rendering the report. This seamless integration removes the need to manually navigate to where the report is deployed.

Payroll Tax Update - Round 3 & 4

The Round 3 Tax Table update has been released. If you have already installed the Round 2 update, you will only need to download the Round 3 tax tables. To verify that you have the Round 2 update, your Dynamics GP version number will be the following:

GP 10: 10.00.1701

GP 2010: 11.00.1667

If you are on a previous version, the Round 2 update will need to be installed prior to installing the latest tax tables.

To install the tax tables only, go to Microsoft Dynamics GP - Maintenance - Update Tax Tables and follow the process of installing the latest tax tables. If you need the Round 2 Tax Update, please contact Jim Williams at Collins Computing to assist you in getting the latest updates installed on your system.

The Round 4 Tax Table update has been released.

This release contains all previous state and federal tax table updates as well as:

941 form changes

Program code changes that improve the way Microsoft Dynamics works

Tax table changes for the following states: Oregon - including a new filing status **The program code is required for any company filing a 941 form. If you have employees in Oregon, you are required to install both the tax table and the program code.Please contact Jim Williams at Collins Computing to set up an appointment to get this installed. He can be reached at (949) 457-0500 x260.

As a reminder, Version 9 is no longer supported and will not be available for this update. If you need any of these updates we will need to update your system to GP2010 before proceeding. Please contact support@collinscomputing.com for a proposal to upgrade to a supported version of Dynamics GP.

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

New SQL Reporting Services Reports

Why this feature is cool!

Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 R2 has over 50 new SQL Reporting Services reports within Financials, Purchasing, Field Service, Payroll/Human Resources and Sales modules. These Charts, Maps and Tablix reports can give users more insight into their Microsoft Dynamics GP data and are incorporated into the Home Page Metrics, Business Portal and Business Analyzer.

What does it look like?

• 12 Field Service Reports



• 14 Financial Reports



• 4 Manufacturing Reports



• 13 Sales Reports/2 Purchasing Reports



• 5 Payroll/Human Resources Reports
  

New Sales Mapping Chart that shows commissions by state and can have color coding based on unique business needs.

Collins Computing Client Advisory Board

We are excited to announce the reviving of the Collins Computing Client Advisory Board (CAB)! Please assist us in servicing our diverse client base in the best possible way. We will meet occasionally throughout the year via conference alls or surveys with the exception of our first meeting, which will be at Convergence in Atlanta on Apri 11th at 2pm. Although you do not have to be attending Convergence, we would love for most of our Advisory Board memebers to truly be taking advantage of opportunities like Convergence to expand their knowledge. Use this initiative to express your ideas, concerns, and comments surrounding your relationship with Collins Computing.

CLICK HERE is you are interested in participating on our CAB for 2011.

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Drilldown from SQL Reporting Services Reports

Why this feature is cool!

This feature allows a user to render a summary report then drill back into a detailed report to display the financial details behind the totals. This gives your end user a closer look into the numbers the report is displaying and the ability to drill right into the transaction through the Microsoft Dynamics GP client for more analysis if necessary.

What does it look like?

In this example, the KPI report was created along with the summary line graph but there wasn't an easy way to see the details behind the summary totals. With the 12 additional reports that were created, we were able to give the details behind the amount plus the added ability to drilldown into the Microsoft Dynamics GP client and analyze the transaction if needed.

Tip – AR Customer Trial Balance not matching to GL?

Here are a few tips that should solve your problem......

• Run Microsoft Dynamics GP - Maintenance - Checklinks - Sales (All) and then Microsoft Dynamics GP - Tools - Utilities - Reconcile to make sure all the data and tables correlate.


• Verify your AR Aging buckets include ALL days (up to 999). Go to Microsoft Dynamics GP - Tools - Setup - Receivables. Do ALL of the aging periods appear on your report? Either modify this screen to have a shorter number of periods, or modify your report to include additional aging buckets (Contact support@collinscomputing.com) for assistance with this).

From This:

To This:

• Find out if any customer have document older than 999 days. Go to Inquiry - Sales - Transaction By Document and enter in a date range that is more than 999 days out. You can then choose to write-off the older documents. Or add a field to your aging report to include to include in the last bucket any document older than a specific date (starting date).

Dynamics GP2010 R2 Feature of the Day

Business Intelligence Refresh

Why this feature is cool!

Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 R2 gives people a Business Intelligence refresh of the SQL Reporting Services (SRS) reports. Redesigning the reports gives a consistent look throughout all SRS reports and an updated graphical interface. The Reports have alson been updated to pull in the Currency symbol and decimal places based on the Company Setup within Microsoft Dynamics GP.

What does it look like?

Dynamics GP 2010 R2 Highlights

New features are constantly being added to Microsoft Dynamics GP. Even though version 2010 has been released, Microsoft continues to enhance the solution and will release the R2 version of GP2010 after Convergence.

The Microsoft Dynamics GP product team has a "Feature of the Day" within their "Inside Dynamics GP" blog that we encourage you to visit or subscribe to. Here is an entry from last Thursday regarding one of the new features in R2:

Navigation List Views up to 360% faster! The introduction of list views in version 10 and the action pane has provided you with greater access to your data. For some of the larger, more robust lists, it can take a while for data to appear in the list. In Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 R2, those lists have been re-architected so the information appears more quickly. As an example, the Sales Transactions List with Business Analyzer metrics will display data 360% faster.



Some of our other favorite GP2010 R2 features are:

• Ability to email Dynamics reports directly from GP!


• SOP Returns now able to be sent in Word format.


• Easier to create templates in Word format.


• New Report Deployment Wizard.


• Over 50 new SQL reporting services reports.


• Drilldown from Summary to Detail in SRS reports.


• Multi-Company reporting with SRS.


• Copy Security acress Dynamics installations of GP, BP, and CRM.


• Dexterity table expansions for developers.

After Convergence we will share any specific user features and enhancements we know you will love!

Don't let these Secrets for Microsoft Convergence 2011 be kept from you

Microsoft's Annual customer conference, Convergence, being held April 10th-13th 2011 in Atlanta, GA is at the same location as it was last year. Therefore, last year's attendees have an upper-hand on some of the insights to getting around the convention center, selecting the best restaurants, and booking the most convenient hotels. So, we'd like to share some of these "secrets" (and a few others) with new attendees who perhaps are prospects of one of Microsoft's Dynamics products - or customers who are deciding to go to this significant event for the first time!

Additional Convergence Tips are mentioned within Collins Computing's Dynamics Community blog entry, but here are some of our favorites:

• Ask the Convention Center guides where the 'secret' tunnel is that takes you from the Community and Learning Center to the Expo and eating halls. This tunnel will save you hundreds of steps, which become important after four days of attending all the exciting sessions you don't want to miss.
• Join the Facebook "Microsoft Dynamics Community" to keep up with key Convergence and product announcements, updates, and 'tips'.
• While at Convergence, send Tweets from MSDYNCOMM concerning #CONV11 to your PDA to be alerted to event updates while on-site!
• Watch the display consoles at the Convention Center for sessions added due to higher attendance earlier in the week.
• Try real "Southern Cooking" restaurants like South City Kitchen or Pitty Pat's Porch and experience Southern Fried Chicken, Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes and more!

Any questions, please contact our Collins Computing Convergence Ambassadors.

It might be time to upgrade your Microsoft Dynamics GP application IF....

I was reading a colleague's blog about old versions of Microsoft Dynamics GP and decided to turn it into a take on an old joke, "You might be a redneck if..." So here is a truthful, but humurous look at some key reasons for upgrading your system soon (and at the end I have listed a couple of "You might be a redneck" offerings for your amusement).

You might need to upgrade IF:

1. Your version's "Help > About" screen still refers to the software as "Great Plains Software" or "Microsoft Business Solutions - Great Plains". ("GP" has now been the proper name for 10 years).
2. Your system still refers to your menus as "Palettes". (GP now uses real menus, along with Navigation Bars, Area Pages, Lists).
3. You are greeted by a sexy "Welcome to Dynamics" voice when you login (suggesting you are running a 15 year old version of the software).
4. You have a grey background instead of a "Home Page" with shortcuts (introduced in version 9).
5. You have to go thru four steps to edit AP checks created during the "Select" checks process (the screens available for edit checks get better with EACH version!).
6. You don't have a "Copy" function for GL Journals.
7. You don't have any choices for configuring EFTs to your bank's specifications (there is a configurator option available now).
8. Your smartlists are not in alphabetical order! (That might be a redneck issue also :) )

And now for the promised "You might be a redneck if....":

• You think the last works to the Star Spangled Banner are "Gentleman, start your engines." (Yes, I am a NASCAR fan!)
• You think a stock tip is advice on worming' your hogs.
• You carried a fishing pole into Sea World.
• You think subdivision is part of a math problem. (For you accountants :) )
• You stare at an orange juice container because it says, "CONCENTRATE".

REMINDER: Microsoft Support Ended January 11th, 2011 - If you are currently on Dynamics v9.0 or a previous version, NOW is the time to upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics GP2010.

Want to upgrade and need Collins Computing's help? Please contact your Collins Managing Consultant, email us at support@collinscomputing, or call us at 949-457-0500.

Customers who are current on a Microsofty Dynamics GP service plan can continue to access the following benefits through CustomerSource:

• Previously released Upgrades, Updates, Service Packs, Fixes and Regulatory/Tax Updates
• Self-Help Support through KnowledgeBase articles and online content
• Unlimited Online Training
• CustomerSource Community and Tools

Convergence 2011 Registration is Open!

Get a jump on the premier Microsoft Dynamics event of the year!

Registration for Convergence 2011 Atlanta is now under way - REGISTER NOW so you can start planning your event activities early.

Top 5 Reasons to Attend:

1. You will learn how you can get the most out of your Micrsoft Dynamics solution through the many training and user sessions offered.
2. You will learn about add-on solutions that will enhance and extend your MIcrosoft Dynamics solutions.
3. You will be able to network and collaborate with your peers and the product experts from Microsoft in sessions, hands-on labs and in the Community & Learning Center.
4. You will learn about the latest Microsoft products and business technologies such as Office 2010, SharePoint 2010 and SQL Server and how these products can enhance your Microsoft Dynamics solution.
5. You will gain insights into Microsoft's corporate direction and future plans for their Microsoft Dynamics solutions.

REGISTER by February 21st to receive a $300 "Early Bird" discount!

Oops, I meant 2011, not 2010!

With 2011 in effect, we all know users make the msitake of entering their dates with a '2010' year and may even mistakenly type '2012' in fields by accident. By using the "FREE" Microsoft Miscellaneous Tool "DocDate Verify", the user could get a warning message right away....

When DocDate Verify is activated, and a document date is entered, a check will be performed determining whether the document date is in a valid fiscal period or if the fiscal period is closed.

• If the date does not fall within a valid fiscal period, a message will be displayed and the user will not be allowed to continue until the date is in a valid period.
• If the Document Date falls within a period that is closed, a message will be displayed that will allow the user to correct the date or continue on leaving the date.

This functionality is available in the following windows:

• Payables Transaction Entry
• Receivables Transaction Entry
• Invoice Entry
• Payables Manual Payment Entry
• Sales Transaction Entry
• Inventory Transaction Entry
• Cash Receipts Entry
• Purchase Order Entry
• Receivings Transaction Entry
• Purchasing Invoice Entry

To activate this tool, simply mark the second check box next to Doc Date Verify in the Professional Services Tools Library window after installing the appropriate Professional Tool dictionary.

To get this free tool installed and implemented, just contact our support team and they can help you find the correct version of the chunk file and show you how to implement this free tool, and many others you may want to take advantage of, like:

• Default Add Item POP/SOP - Automatically mark the "Add Item" option in POP/SOP
• Decimal Place Tool - Adjust the Check Amount in words to two decimals for Payables/Payroll
• Payables Select Check Combiner - Allows checks of the same vendor to be consolidated
• Payables Minimum Check Utility - Pick a minimum amount for select checks process
• Minimum PO/Receipt Number - To prevent deleted numbers from being re-used

See the window below for an indication if the varied list of tools available for Microsoft Dynamics GP.


To find out more information on these free tools, or the other tools that range from $750 - $1,000 each, please email our existing customer managers here.

2011 Payroll Tax Updates for Dynamics GP

Round 1 tax update for 2011 was released on December 17, 2010.

• US Payroll Tax Update for Microsoft Small Business Financials 9.0
• US Payroll Tax Update for Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0
• US Payroll Tax Update for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0
• US Payroll Tax Update for Microsoft Dynamics GP2010

Effected states: Alabama, California, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New York City, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island.

Federal Changes:

• Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit - has been repealed and recipients will not receive Advanced EITC on paychecks after December 31, 2010
• FICA/Social Security withholding table - changed to 4.2% for employee FICA withholding. Be sure to create the year end wage file before installing this update. **Important Note: The FICA/Social Security withholding table will be updated for employers in a release scheduled for January, 2011. General Ledger posting, inquires and reports that show FICA amounts for employers will be calculated using 4.2% until that time. We understand the challenges you face with this; however, it was important to release with accurate employee paychecks starting January 1, 2011
• Personal exemption amount has changed
• Federal tax wage ranges, tax amounts, tax rates have been changed

Round 2 tax update for 2011 is scheduled to be released on January 24th, 2011.

Effected states: Maryland, Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont, North Dakota, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahama, Oregon.

For questions or if you need help installing the tax updates, please email support@collinscomputing.com or call 949-457-0500.