Extender SP4 for GP 10.0 - Another Pro & Con

I was working on a feature addition for which I decided to use the Extender SP4 for GP 10.0.

With Extender SP4 for GP 10.0, we have new features called "Extender Forms" and "Extender Detailed Forms". This is different from Windows and Detailed Windows. The Forms and Detailed Forms will be created as a Stand Alone Forms just like any other GP Form under a Menu Item which we define in Extender Menus.

Pro: This is a great boon for us to define additional Masters which are not provided in GP. Anything that we need, can be created. We don't have to place this form anywhere in GP as an Additional Form.

Con: There is something called ID Field Prompt. Extender by default and mandatorily gives us an ID field for each such Individual Form. This ID field is also configurable to Auto-Increment the ID values. An example is shown below:



In the Options section for this Detailed Form, I setup the Next ID Number (which will be incremented whenever I create a new record). This is shown below:




Now, once this is setup and saved, when I try to create a new record, the Next ID Number is taken correctly from the Extender Options Setup. But if I don't save this record and simply click on Clear to start a fresh entry, I can notice that my Next ID Number is not reverted back.

It just increment the ID Number but it does not revert back even if I do not use the generated one.



You just keep on press Clear, and it will keep on incrementing my Next ID Number. Which is absurd to any user's point of view. But we cannot help it I believe, as GP does not maintain the Unused ID Numbers and prompt the user whether he/she would like to use any of these Unused Numbers.

Nevertheless this is a BIG MISS and I would like to see some improvement in this area when the next version is released.

VAIDY

Dex Basics - David Musgrave

You got to be delighted to learn the basics from the Master. David has given us an article which sums up the Dex Basics while designing the UI. Read it here: Checklist for creating a new Dexterity Window.

I would add one more point to this: When you compile your code and see some Warnings, just be a bit patient and go thru' each Warning. You would certainly be looking at something really critical which may not pose critical at the time of compiling. Take a look at this article of mine for instance: Declaring Variables to Relevant Datatypes. This could have been avoided if that Developer had taken care of the Warning message Possible Data Loss due to Type Mismatch.

While Dex Basics have been taught again and again, articles like this are still needed as we tend to forget the basics while concentrating on the complexities. For a Customer UI is the window to a Product. He/She does not really worry about what is written beneath that UI and how it is.

A product is judged first by it's Look & Feel and only then the Features itself. I am sure many would disagree but that's my humble thought.

VAIDY

In General - Critical Mistakes Freelancers Commit

I read this article today: Critical Mistakes Freelancers Make, by Robert Bowen in Smashing Magazine.

I would admit that this article will enlighten all Freelancers (and also the Soon-To-Be Freelancers). The points which are highlighted in this article are really critical and those who want to become a Successful Freelancer must read this.

Added to what is explained in that article, I would also add one more point: Put Quality over Price of your Project.

I would rather take up a project which will educate me more with concepts than a project which is simply going to increase my Bank Account. I am not advocating that Money is not at all important. All I am trying to say is: Price will automatically start coming if you have the Substance in you. And to gain that Substance, you need to take up more Concepts Oriented Projects instead of mere Touch & Go ones.

You are most welcome to share your thoughts on this with our Community.

VAIDY

Thank you for all of my Blog Readers

18th Nov 2009 (yesterday), my blog reached it's first ever distinction of crossing 100 visitors per day.

Yeah I know it's something silly :-) but it is indeed an achievement for an Amateur Blogger like me. I strive hard to be more responsible and informative when I blog. And I hope in coming days and years I will be able to contribute to the GP Community.

Thanks for all Readers & Visitors to keep this blog alive and successful, and needless to say, do read and visit my blog as usual.

VAIDY

Item Site & Primary Vendor Issue

Recently I was working on an Issue which occurred in GP8.0. This one's pretty interesting I would say.

An Item was created and while entering the Item Quantity/Site Assignment, the user could not save the record. He assigned a Site and assigned a Vendor as Primary Vendor. But clicking on Save did not actually save the record, but on the surface it did seem like saved.

I tried all possible ways but in vain. I then checked the table IV00102 (IV Qty Site Master) to check whether there is any issue pertaining to this Item. And it did. There was a record entered for this Item with a Record Type as 1 (All Sites). Now while the User did not assign this Item to ALL SITES, this record is not possible at all, unless he saved the Specific Site & Primary Vendor Assignment, which did not happen at all. Somehow this record had got created.

I deleted this record from the table and then tried assigning Site and Primary Vendor. It merrily got saved.

Well, I do not know the reason and the exact pattern under which I could recreate this scenario. But it did exist. Probably a One-Off case, or probably something else.

VAIDY

Microsoft Dynamics ERPs - A Nice Article from SoftwareAdvice

This article, from Houston Neal, is pretty good starter for those who are in a dilemma to go for any one of the Microsoft Dynamics ERP Suites. The article explains each product (AX, GP, NAV, SL) with illustrating graphics and comparison diagrams.

Read it here: Understanding the difference between GP, NAV, SL and AX.

VAIDY

Work, Open & History - Janakiram & Leslie

This one is another good one from Newsgroup.

Janakiram has given a very brief yet clear information of what a Work, Open & History Document(s) is all about. Read it here: Work, Open and History.

Now that's not all. Read Leslie's article on the same. It's enough for anyone to understand this completely. Completely, I mean it. Read it here: Moving from Work to Open to History.

Good ones to learn.

VAIDY

Frank completes 50 Tips on his GPTip42Day Series

This is awesome. Frank Hamelly completes 50 Tips on his GP Tip For The Day Series, with a tip on Inventory KIT Item Types.

Each one is a gem to treasure and remember.

Congrats Frank and we expect more, apparently.

VAIDY

Going to miss GP Tech Conference 2009 Badly

More than the concepts, it's the interaction with Consultants and Peers that's make a difference in our day-to-day consultancy. Learning from the experiences and getting involved with such people is something which would always be a great experience.

Having said that, I honestly miss This year's GP Technical Conference in Fargo. I sincerely hope I would make it next year without fail. Those who make it, do share your experiences and what you learned from it.

VAIDY

FRx Installation Error - Windows Updates

This error is not documented in anywhere I believe. Would be helpful for people to have a reference on this error here.

Couple of days back, I noticed an error message on installing FRx. Below is the screenshot of the error message:

The environment is Windows 7.0 Enterprise and FRx 6.7. Initially the suspect was the Windows 7.0 OS as there is no official word of FRx support on Windows 7.0 yet, if I am not wrong. Checked couple of other sources.

But after reading the message again, I got a doubt on the programs that were running at that time. No active programs were found running. The only final option was to check any Background Process(es) and close it off. Before that I tried installing FRx on my own laptop with the same environment and it proceeded without this message.

The only difference between my laptop and that client machine was Windows Updates running while the installation of FRx. I tried completing the Updates and then restarted the FRx Installation, it worked.

So anyone out there, facing this issue, just make sure that you either complete the Windows Updates or Cancel it for the moment till you install the FRx.

VAIDY