1. Reporting in Microsoft Dynamics GP
How do I find the right tables to use with SQL Server Reporting Services
or Crystal Reports?
Demo’s open:
Dynamics GP with Table Import
DynamicAccounting.net
Excel Sheet
DDB
ERD from SDK
SQL Management Studio (Smartlist Builder Views & Search whole DB)
IG.pdf (c:\program files\Microsoft Dexterity\Manuals) Page 313
SQL Saturday Jacksonville - May 3, 2008
Mark Polino, CPA
Microsoft MVP - Dynamics GP
Senior Consultant, I.B.I.S., Inc.

2. Butt Ugly Table Names in GP
Other Systems
Chart of Accounts
Chart, COA, Accounts
Inventory
Inventory, Inv, Inven
Microsoft Dynamics GP
GL00100, GL00105
IV00101, IV00102

3. History Great Plains -> Microsoft Dynamics GP
GP table names go all the way back to Btrieve
Tables names are part of the legacy

4. Logic Dynamics DB holds system wide settings
Company DB holds company specific settings and transactions
Table names have an Alpha prefix and numeric ID (usually 5 digits)
Alpha prefix identifies the module (Example: PM=Payables Management)
There is logic to the numeric ID

5. Common Table Prefixes GL – General Ledger PM – Payables Management
RM – Receivables Management
POP – Purchase Order Processing
SOP – Sales Order Processing
IV – Inventory
CM – Cash Management (Banking)
PA – Project Accounting

6. Table Number Logic
‘00000’ - Master tables contain all the permanent data about your business. Accounts, vendors, customers, items, and so on.
‘10000’ - Work tables contain unposted batches of transactions entered using windows that can be opened using the Transactions button on the toolbar. Temporary transactions that can be changed or deleted until they are posted to an open table.
‘20000’ - Open tables contain posted transactions for the current year, of which some may be unpaid. Information in open tables is moved to history tables when the transactions are paid.
‘30000’ - History tables contain paid transactions, or transactions from a previous year.
‘40000’ and up - Setup tables contain all the default settings and module options you’ve specified in the setup windows for each series.

7. Tip Dex_Row_ID is a unique identifier within a table
It DOES NOT cross table boundaries and is of little or no use for reporting.
It CANNOT be used to link tables

8. Tools
Different tools for figuring out the tables and fields that you need
There is no single magic tool
Start with comprehensive but slow tools and move to faster tools with experience
GP is NOT highly normalized. The application is balanced between entry and reporting. This can make reporting easier.

9. Lookup Tools

10. Table Descriptions inside GP
Dynamics GP->Tools->Resources Descriptions -> Tables
Table Descriptions, Fields, Windows Available
Comprehensive but clunky and slow
Requires a GP login
Demo
Demo’s open:
Dynamics GP with Table Import
DynamicAccounting.net
Excel Sheet
DDB
ERD from SDK
SQL Management Studio (Smartlist Builder Views)

11. Excel Based Guide Free Download Same Data as GP Table Descriptions
DynamicAccounting.net
Same Data as GP Table Descriptions
Faster Access
Not as comprehensive as GP Descriptions for fields and windows.
Demo

12. Table Import Instructions
Open Window
Select Tools->Integrate->Table Import
Window opens with all the tables tied to that entry window with friendly names.
Use Excel guide or Table Descriptions to get SQL Names.
Demo

13. Dynamic Data Browser Free Download DynamicAccounting.net
Similar to SQL but with English field names, table keys and toggle to SQL field names
Requires a GP login
Demo

14. Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD)
Part of the Software Development Kit (SDK) on CD 2, requires an install.
Can use the 120 day trial if CD 2 not available
Free
Good Luck with the ERD’s, GP is a beast of an app with an ERD to match
Demo

15. Info Flow & Posting Book
Covers Transaction Flow
Shows Tables Updated by a Transaction Type
Written by another Dynamics GP MVP
Not Free. Not all that cheap. Very Good.
So good, we’re giving one away.

16. Smartlist Builder Views
Need to Install Smartlist Builder (even if not registered)
Smartlist Builder allows creation of new Ad Hoc reporting templates (Smartlists)
Install creates SQL Views suitable for reporting
Smartlist diagrams are in Dexterity Integration Guide
(c:\program files\microsoft dexterity\manuals\ig.pdf)
Pg 272
Demo

17. Other Tools

18. Tracing Tools Dex SQL Log SQL Profiler SnapShot
GP based tracing of SQL Calls
SQL Profiler
SnapShot
Free, Complicated
WinthropDC

19. Desperation Tools SQL Script to search for Column name across tables
SQL Script/Stored Proc to search for a piece of data across

20. Other Tools Modifier Pre-built SSRS files
Modify a form to see tables and fields
Pre-built SSRS files
Use these as building blocks
Pre-built connected Excel files
Use the connections built in here as building blocks
Report Writer
Temp tables can cause problems

21. Resources DynamicAccounting.net (Mark Polino) Dynamics GP Newsgroup
Dynamics GP Newsgroup
Newsgroup / Table Structure Thread
VS Tools Forum/4Penny.net (Steve Gray)
About Dynamics, Development & Life (Jivtesh Singh)
CustomerSource
Accolade Publications (Richard Whaley)
Call a professional like I.B.I.S.