Category Archives: D365 Finance and Operations
How to Connect to a Sandbox (UAT) Database in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365 F&O) is a powerful enterprise solution that helps businesses streamline their operations. However, troubleshooting issues in D365 F&O can be challenging if the root cause isn’t visible on a form. One of the most effective ways to diagnose problems is by connecting to the UAT (Sandbox) database and querying tables directly. This blog will walk you through: How to retrieve SQL connection details from LCS (Lifecycle Services) How to enable firewall access to allow a secure connection How to connect to the D365 UAT database using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) Why Connect to the UAT Database? Diagnose Issues: Querying the database allows you to inspect data and troubleshoot errors that aren’t visible in the front-end UI. Microsoft-Managed Environments: In sandbox/UAT environments, remote desktop access is restricted, making database queries essential for analysis. Test Before Deployment: Ensures that all configurations and data changes work as expected before going live. Step 1: Retrieve SQL Connection Details from LCS To connect to a D365 F&O UAT database, you must obtain SQL connection details from Lifecycle Services (LCS). Follow these steps: Go to Lifecycle Services (LCS): Select Your Project: Find the UAT Environment: Request Database Access: Find Database Connection Info: Step 2: Enable Firewall Access for Your IP Address By default, the D365 UAT database is secured behind a firewall. You must add a rule to allow access from your machine. Go to the LCS “Full Details” page for your UAT environment. Select: Maintain > Enable Access. Add a Firewall Rule: Note: The firewall rule expires after 8 hours, so you may need to re-add it later. Step 3: Connect to the UAT Database Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) The best tool for connecting to the database is Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Launch SSMS and Open the Connection Dialog Enter Connection Details from LCS Set Database Name in Connection Properties Click ‘Connect’ to Establish the Connection Key Takeaway Direct Access to Data: Enables in-depth troubleshooting by querying database tables directly. Secure and Controlled Access: LCS-managed firewall rules ensure data security. Easy Setup: The process takes only a few minutes to complete. By following these steps, you can quickly and efficiently connect to your D365 F&O UAT database and retrieve critical data for testing and issue resolution. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com. Need help troubleshooting your D365 environment? Let us know in the comments!
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Cancellation of Old Purchase Orders in D365 F&O
In Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 F&O), managing the lifecycle of purchase orders (POs) is important for maintaining accurate procurement, inventory, and financial records. Over time, companies may accumulate old or obsolete purchase orders that are no longer valid — whether due to supplier changes, business needs evolving, or operational delays. Cancelling these POs helps keep the system clean, improves reporting accuracy, and prevents unnecessary financial commitments. Purchase orders can have the following status & stages: Stage Status Confirmed Invoiced Rejected Received Draft Open order Approved Cancelled In review Finalized From Finance & Accounts point of view, Open PO means commitments to order and contingent financial liabilities. Rationale behind cancelling of old Pos: Cancelling old or unordered POs ensures that your records are up to date and reflective of actual business needs, which is important for financial planning, reporting, and auditing. Companies can streamline their procurement processes by maintaining only those Purchase Orders which are active and required as per current business needs. This was an issue faced by one of our Client in Oil and Gas industries which was resolved by using the below method. Stage Status Finalized Invoiced Received Closing of Purchase orders: Purchase Orders can be closed only if all the items contained in the Purchase order are invoiced and the delivery is completed. Cancelling of Purchase orders: Purchase orders having In principle, in the above cases, PO is no longer required, and requirements are not fulfilled though the particular PO. Hence, it is justified to cancel the PO and not close it. Stage Status Confirmed Open order Rejected Draft Approved In review Click on Cancel quantity. In case of approved & draft purchase orders. Deactivate the workflow and continue the same process. We can delete the purchase orders which are in draft, however, then it would not be traceable in the system and the number sequences would be disrupted. By following the above process, Companies can maintain only active Purchase Orders, thereby, showing the actual committed value of an organization. Effectively cancelling old purchase orders in D365 F&O is crucial for maintaining clean procurement records, improving reporting accuracy, and ensuring better control over open financial commitments. By following systematic cancellation processes and adhering to best practices, organizations can avoid confusion, prevent overstatement of liabilities, and streamline operational workflows. Regularly reviewing and closing obsolete purchase orders not only enhances system performance but also supports better decision-making for purchasing, budgeting, and inventory management. A disciplined approach to managing old POs ultimately leads to greater efficiency, improved compliance, and stronger financial governance within D365 F&O. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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How to Use the Debugger in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations
Debugging is an essential skill for developers working with Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 F&O). The built-in debugger helps you identify and fix issues in your X++ code efficiently. In this blog post, we’ll walk through how to use the debugger effectively in D365 F&O. Prerequisites Before you can start debugging, you’ll need: Access to a D365 F&O development environment Appropriate permissions (developer role) Visual Studio installed (for some debugging scenarios) Enabling Debugging Set up debugging permissions: Navigate to System administration > Setup > License configuration Ensure the “Debugger” privilege is enabled for your user role Configure debugging options: Go to Tools > Options > Development > Debugging Configure your preferred debugging settings Starting a Debug Session There are several ways to start debugging in D365 F&O: 1. Attaching to a Process Open the Debugger workspace Click on Attach debugger Select the process you want to debug (user session) Click Attach 2. Debugging from Visual Studio Open your X++ project in Visual Studio Set breakpoints in your code Press F5 to start debugging (or use the Debug menu) 3. Using Conditional Breakpoints Navigate to the form or process you want to debug After adding the breakpoint, right-click it in the breakpoints list Select “Edit breakpoint” In the “Condition” field, enter your X++ expression Example: custAccount == “US-001” Key Debugging Features Breakpoints Breakpoints pause execution at specific lines of code. You can: Set conditional breakpoints that only trigger when certain conditions are met Set hit count breakpoints that trigger after a specified number of hits Enable/disable breakpoints as needed Stepping Through Code When execution is paused, you can: Step Over (F10): Execute the current line and move to the next Step Into (F11): Dive into method calls Step Out (Shift+F11): Complete the current method and return to the caller Examining Variables The debugger allows you to: View local variables in the Locals window Add watches for specific variables Quickly evaluate expressions in the Immediate window Call Stack The call stack shows: The hierarchy of method calls that led to the current execution point , Allows navigation to different levels of the call stack Debugging Different Scenarios Batch Jobs To debug batch jobs: Set breakpoints in the batch job code , submit the batch job and Attach the debugger to the batch process Business Events To debug business events: Set breakpoints in the event handler code Trigger the business event The debugger will pause when the event is processed Tips for Effective Debugging Use the debugger’s data tips (hover over variables to see their values) Common Debugging Challenges Solution: Use thread debugging and pay attention to execution order Solution: Replicate the production environment configuration as closely as possible Solution: Use targeted debugging rather than broad breakpoints To Conclude, The D365 F&O debugger is a powerful tool that can save you hours of troubleshooting time. By mastering breakpoints, variable inspection, and call stack navigation, you can quickly identify and resolve issues in your X++ code. Remember to use debugging judiciously in production environments and always follow your organization’s guidelines for debugging in live systems. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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Method of Depreciation – Consumption Depreciation – D365 F&O
Financial records of a Company should show its true and fair value of its assets and liabilities. In circumstances, for value of assets to be shown correctly, they have to be depreciated as per their use. For examples, car (kms run), production machine (number of hours run). In this case, straight line or reducing balance method of depreciation is not appropriate. How to set up Consumption Depreciation in D365F&O: 2. Set up consumption units under Fixed Assets=>Setup=>Consumption depreciation=> Consumption units. 3. Set up the consumption factor, either percent or units. 4. Define the depreciation method to the specific asset. 5. Run depreciation proposal by selecting consumption depreciation proposal. This depreciation method is applicable to Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics, Mining & Oil and Gas, Utilities & Energy, Agriculture, Printing and Publishing. This depreciation method is useful for performance-based maintenance and replacement planning. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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Elevating SSRS Reports with Dynamics Company Logo in D365 F&O
In the world of corporate reporting, presentation matters just as much as data. The more personalized and professional your reports look, the more impactful they become. If you’re using Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (F&O), chances are you rely on SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) reports to generate vital business insights. But have you ever wondered how to make those reports more aligned with your company’s branding? Are you struggling with adding your company logo to SSRS reports in F&O? I am going to show you how to easily embed your corporate logo into your SSRS reports within Dynamics 365 F&O, transforming your data into visually appealing reports that reflect your brand identity. Whether you’re preparing financial statements, customer invoices, or custom reports, adding a logo enhances the look and feel, ensuring that your reports maintain a consistent and professional corporate image. Steps to Achieve the goal Before embedding your logo into the SSRS report, ensure that the image file (usually in PNG, JPG, or GIF format) is prepared and accessible. You need to upload the logo to a location within the F&O environment where your SSRS report can access it. Follow these steps: To conclude, adding your company logo to your SSRS reports in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations is a powerful way to enhance your brand’s presence across all reports. You can instantly elevate the look and feel of your documents. Happy Coding! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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Understanding the “Find Next” Option in Trade Agreements in D365 Finance & Operations
Introduction When setting up trade agreements in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365FO), you may notice the “Find Next” option. What does this Find Next flag do? How does it affect discount calculations in the system? This blog will break it down with a simple example! What Does “Find Next” Do? Find Next = ON → The system accumulates multiple applicable trade agreement lines and applies all eligible discounts. Find Next = OFF → The system only applies the first best-fit discount and ignores other possible discounts. Key Impact: When enabled, multiple discounts can be combined. If disabled, only the most specific discount is applied. Step-by-Step Example: Trade Agreement with “Find Next” Let’s walk through a real-world scenario to see how this setting changes discount application. Step 1: Create a Trade Agreement Step 2: Add Discount Lines We add three discount lines for Item A: Line Condition Discount % 1 Basic discount for Item A 5% 2 Quantity-based discount (10 – 100 units) 10% 3 Quantity-based discount (101 – 500 units) 20% Scenario 1: “Find Next” is OFF (Disabled) Step 3: Create a Purchase Order Step 4: Increase the Order Quantity Scenario 2: “Find Next” is ON (Enabled) Step 5: Enable “Find Next” Step 6: Recreate the Purchase Order Step 7: How the Discount is Applied Key Takeaways Find Next OFF → The system applies only the first matching discount. Find Next ON → The system adds up multiple applicable discounts. Best Practice: Use Find Next when you want multiple discounts to be applied together. Understanding how Find Next works helps businesses configure trade agreements properly and avoid unexpected pricing issues. Need more D365 tips? Stay tuned for our next blog! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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Get Started with Reservation Hierarchies in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations
Managing inventory in a systematic way is essential for any business. Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365F&O) provides reservation hierarchies to streamline how inventory is reserved and tracked across dimensions like site, warehouse, batch, or serial number. This guide explains the steps to enable reservation hierarchies and demonstrates their usage with practical examples. Reservation hierarchies are tools that determine the order in which inventory dimensions are used to allocate stock. For example, you might first reserve items by site and warehouse, followed by batch and serial numbers. This process helps ensure that inventory is allocated in a logical and efficient manner. Creating Reservation Hierarchies 2. Define the Hierarchy: 3. Select Dimensions: 4. Save and Finalize: Assigning Reservation Hierarchies to Products After creating the hierarchy, assign it to products to activate its functionality: Repeat these steps for all applicable products to standardize the process. Assigning Reservation Hierarchies to Products After creating the hierarchy, assign it to products to activate its functionality: Repeat these steps for all applicable products to standardize the process. Using Reservation Hierarchies in Transactions Sales Orders: When processing a sales order, the system automatically reserves inventory based on the hierarchy. It allocates stock step-by-step through the defined dimensions. Production Orders: For production, reservation hierarchies ensure materials are reserved systematically, avoiding stock conflicts. Transfer Orders: While transferring stock, the hierarchy helps select inventory from the correct dimensions, improving accuracy. Benefits of Reservation Hierarchies To conclude, reservation hierarchies are a simple yet powerful feature in D365F&O. They allow businesses to control how inventory is reserved, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in every transaction. By configuring them properly, you can streamline your operations and reduce errors. Take the time to test these features in a sandbox environment before using them in your live setup. This will help you understand how they work and ensure they fit your business needs. With reservation hierarchies in place, managing inventory becomes easier and more reliable, helping your business stay organized and efficient. That’s it for this blog! Hope this helps! Keep Sharing!! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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A Guide to Batch and Serial Numbers in D365 F&O: Part 1
In today’s fast-moving world, keeping track of inventory is incredibly important for businesses of all types and sizes. Proper inventory tracking ensures that businesses can maintain product quality, comply with industry regulations, and deliver better customer experiences. Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365F&O) offers powerful tools to simplify this process, including the use of batch and serial numbers. These features allow businesses to track and manage products accurately, from the time they are manufactured or received to when they reach the customer. Let’s take a closer look at what batch and serial numbers are, how they work in D365F&O, and why they are essential for efficient inventory management. What Are Batch and Serial Numbers? Batch Numbers: Batch numbers are unique identifiers used to group items that were manufactured or received under similar conditions, such as during the same production run or shipment. These numbers make it easier to track and manage items collectively. Batch numbers are particularly useful for businesses that deal with perishable goods or need to maintain strict quality control. For example: Serial Numbers: Serial numbers are unique codes assigned to individual items, allowing each product to be tracked separately. Unlike batch numbers, which apply to groups of items, serial numbers provide item-level traceability. This is especially important for businesses dealing with high-value or complex products. For example: How to Configure Batch and Serial Numbers in D365F&O D365F&O makes it simple to set up and manage batch and serial numbers, ensuring smooth inventory operations. Here’s how you can configure these features step by step: 1. Set Up Tracking Dimensions: 2.Assign Tracking Dimensions to Items: 3.Enable Automatic Numbering: 4.Test and Train: Why Are Batch and Serial Numbers Important? Batch and serial numbers play a crucial role in modern inventory management, offering a range of benefits that streamline operations and reduce risks. Some key advantages include: To conclude, this blog is Part 1 of our detailed guide on batch and serial numbers in D365F&O. We’ve explored what batch and serial numbers are, why they’re important, and how to set them up in the system. By implementing these features, businesses can improve traceability, enhance inventory accuracy, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. In the next part, we’ll take a practical look at how to use batch and serial numbers in day-to-day operations. This will include real-world examples, step-by-step processes, and screenshots to help you better understand how these features can streamline your inventory management. Stay tuned for more insights and practical tips to make the most of D365F&O’s powerful inventory tracking capabilities! That’s it for this blog. Hope this helps!! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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Avoiding Negative Inventory: Tips and Tricks in D365 F&O
Managing inventory is an important part of any business, and keeping track of stock levels is key to smooth operations. Negative inventory happens when your system shows that you have less than zero items in stock. This can cause problems like delays, mistakes in finances, and unhappy customers. Luckily, Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365F&O) has tools to help you avoid negative inventory. In this blog, we’ll share simple tips and tricks to keep your inventory accurate. What is Negative Inventory? Negative inventory means your system says you have less stock than zero. For example, if you sell or use more items than you have in storage, the system might show a negative number. This can happen because: Negative inventory can cause confusion, financial mistakes, and problems in planning and ordering stock. How to Avoid Negative Inventory in D365F&O Here are some easy steps to prevent negative inventory in D365F&O: 1. Set Up Item Model Groups Item model groups control how inventory is managed. Setting them up properly helps avoid negative inventory. 2. Use Inventory Reservations Inventory reservations make sure stock is set aside for specific orders, so you don’t overcommit. 3. Track Inventory Dimensions Inventory dimensions, like site, warehouse, batch, and serial number, help you track stock accurately. Make sure these are used correctly for each product. 4. Do Regular Cycle Counts Cycle counts help you check if the stock in your system matches what you actually have. Fixing any mistakes quickly avoids negative inventory. 5. Post Transactions in Order Posting transactions in the wrong order can cause temporary negative inventory. For example, issuing stock before recording receipts. 6. Check Inventory Transactions Often Review inventory transactions to catch and fix issues early. 7. Train Your Team Training your team is key to preventing mistakes that lead to negative inventory. Benefits of Avoiding Negative Inventory Preventing negative inventory can make a big difference for your business: Avoiding negative inventory in D365F&O is about using the right settings and following good processes. By setting up item model groups, using reservations, doing regular cycle counts, and keeping an eye on transactions, you can prevent negative inventory and keep your stock levels accurate. These steps will improve your operations, make customers happy, and help your business run smoothly. Start using these tips today to get the most out of Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations for inventory management! So, that its for this blog. Thanks for reading!! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
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Correction of Inventory Cost
Inventory valuation is important for any manufacturing and trading business. The stakeholders would be Cost Accountants, CFOs and investors. Further, Inventory cost is the major budget element. Recently, we had a client raise the issue of cost price of inventory items not getting correctly calculated because of the following factors: Steps to be followed: 2. Go to Adjustment=>Fixed Price 3. It will show inventory transactions as per the selection criteria, with their quantity and cost price. 4. Click on Fixed Price and put the approved cost price per unit for the item variant.Click on the post button. 5. There will be a posting entry in Closing & Adjustment tab. 6. Run recalculation for the item as on the cost price date. 7. Review the Inventory Aging report or Inventory transaction report. The updated price must be reflected. 8. Recalculation can be run together after updating individual item’s cost price. 9. This must be done prior to the running inventory month close. Conclusion : This process should be an integral part of inventory valuation. Correct inventory valuation would ensure correct cost of goods sold (COGS), gross profit (GP) and cost value of asset in Balance Sheet. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.
