Problem Statement: While I was working on some custom EFT project, I thought of using XMLPort as it is the safest and easiest method to get the data successfully directly from the tables. Unfortunately, XMLPort is not supported to work on WebClient and I was stuck with writing code to do exactly what XMLPort would do.Also, another issue that Business Central d extension support is using File methods i.e Open, Write, Close, etc.   Introduction: In Business Central even if you’re not given explicit rights to deal with files directly there are streams using which we can be downloaded as files. Enough of introduction, let’s start working now! Pre-requisites: VS Code AL Language Extension Microsoft Dynamics Business Central. Demonstration: 1. Creation of File Contents: In this case, I’ve simply text string ‘Hello World!’ Although it’s perfectly possible to create more complicated strings such as XML contents using a combination of loops and text manipulating functions as needed.     2. Creation of Streams: Using  TempBlob.Blob.CREATEOUTSTREAM(Var_OutStream) initialize the OutStream.       Using Var_OutStream.WriteText(Var_FileContent) write the text to the BLOB       Using TempBlob.Blob.CREATEINSTREAM(Var_InStream) read the contents of BLOB to InStream variable.   3. Downloading the contents of the Streams to a file: Using DownloadFromStream(Var_Instream,FileName.FileExtension) download the contents of the InStream to a file.     Output:   Conclusion: That’s exactly how I was able to create a Custom Text File and download it in Business Central. You can even try with any type of text-based exports.

If you want to set the alternate key to detecting duplicate record based on lookup it was not earlier. If you want to have duplicated detection based on you would not be able to that you have to write a plugin to get that result. Description: You can now achieve a duplicate detection rule by defining the lookup as an alternate key. You can create an alternate key by following the below steps To define the alternate keys, go to Go to Settings> Customizations Choose Customize the System–>Components ->Entities –> Entity–>Keys. Choose New. 3. On the form, fill in the required fields (Display Name and Name) and then choose and add the fields to the key. Save the key. In the example shown here, we used the ParentId field in the alternate key definition. Conclusion Hope this helps while defining the alternate key with lookup/entity reference

Introduction Sometime there is requirement where we need to set a null value based on certain condition. We usually use script to set the null value this can be achieved using the workflow. Description: To set the null value of you need to create a new workflow. Follow the below steps. Go to setting —> Process 2. Create new work flow 3. Set clear value for field which is you want to set the null value as shown as below. 4. Set the value and save the work flow. Conclusion Hope this helps while setting null value using the flow.

There is good news for people who were using Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation (PSA) with the latest update. Microsoft allows it’s users to make adjustments to time entry using the plain journal entry in the past. For example, if a user wants to adjust the time entry from one to three hours, they have to make a new journal entry for the three hours. But, the only problem is that you cannot track it against a particular time entry. Now, if you are using PSA V3.7, you can make the correction or adjustments on the existing time entries with ease. Here are the steps you need to follow: Problem definition: With the previous releases, PSA could allow adjustment of Time Entry hours via mere plain Journal entries. That means, if we need to adjust a couple of hours or adjust a time entry worth 4 hours, we needed to make a 4 hours journal entry, which could not be tracked against a Time entry. Problem Solution: With PSA V3.7 there is a Journal correction for Time Entries which can be done against a Time Entry done. How do we do it is shown in the below steps: Suppose we a do a Time entry of 1 hours for a Project and Submit it for approval as shown in the below screen shot. 2. Approve the same via Time Entries for approvals. 3. As soon as the time entries are approved, they get converted to Actuals. This can be validated by going to Project Contract – Select the appropriate Contract – Actuals. You will see there are 2 records that get created: 1.Cost 2.Unbilled Sales. 4. In order to get the same adjusted via Journals, go to Journal Entries, SalesàJournals and click on +New 5. Write the Description and select the Journal Type Equals “Time Correction” and Save the record. 6. Click on Browsers back button, Open the Record from Active Journal view and click on Time Entry Corrections Tab. 7.Fill in the fields: Project Project Task Time Entry Date Bookable Resource Resource Role 8. From the below grid select the Time Entry for which the correction is needed, by clicking on the Add Existing Time Entry and then select the time entry from the quick create form that opens and click on Add. 9. Post Step 7 and Step 8 is done, click on Preview Button from the Ribbon control as highlighted in the screen shot below. 10. It will highlight the Journal Lines Tab and show you the Journal Entries with negative values of the value of the time entry and there will be 4 records that can be seen. 2 with a positive value of the time entry and 2 with negative that is the Adjustment value. This is how we can do the adjustment of the time entry which indirectly creates a Journal entry against the time entry done. This blog reflects my personal findings and based solely on my experience of using PSA for last 3+ years. For those who are looking for a platform that can track and manage the entire procedures of sales and project managements, I would highly recommend them to try Microsoft dynamics 365 for project service automation.

So, I struggled some time in trying to make something just work as it was supposed to work. And for no conscious reason, I was able to figure out why. As to why my Quote wouldn’t save and auto generate the usual Quote ID? It kept asking me to enter it! Problem OOB, Quote ID is locked and is auto-generated when you save the record. Instead, I got this And asks me to enter Quote in the field again. Ideally, if you have a required field locked, you can save it and the form won’t force you. But, nothing would work. After much hassle, I finally noticed the culprit lying in plain sight. Let’s look at why this was happening. Culprit This happened because the same field was on the Business Process Flow and was unlocked That was the issue. As a part of the requirement, I had put it there, but either didn’t lock it or shouldn’t be there. I just removed it since it wasn’t a big deal and things were fine now. Hope this helps you! 🙂

Introduction: As you know that SharePoint Online can be used as a document management platform and with the help of Document Id’s you can effectively manage your documents by providing an easy way to track irrespective of their location. Document Id’s are automatically assigned to the documents uploaded on document or record management platform. Before using the Document ID features for our document management system, you must enable it for each site collection in which your documents are located. You must be a Site Collection Administrator for enabling this feature in SPO. Activate, enable and configure Document ID’s: Go to the top-level Site collection > Site Settings. Under Site Collection Administration, click Site collection features. Next to Document ID, click Activate. Activate icon will appear once the feature is activated. Go back to the Site Settings page and under Site Collection Administration, select Document ID settings. You will have to assign a prefix for the Document ID’s and the prefix should be between 4 to 12 characters with no special character. If you want all the documents within the Site Collection, to be assigned with a Document ID with the specified prefix, check the box “Reset all Document ID’s” (See above image). Once this feature is enabled, any new document created or uploaded to any document library in this particular Site Collection received a unique Document ID. Document Id’s can be viewed from the document properties, these are the hyperlinks that you can copy and use it to open a document in Office. Moving and Copying a file with a Document ID: When you move a file in SharePoint Online, Document ID will move with the file. It basically depends on whether the service is enabled or not at the destination site. So, if the service is not enabled at that site then the document will no longer have the Document ID. When a copy of the document is made, a new Document ID is created for the copy and obviously, the service needs to be enabled at the site where you are copying the file.

Introduction: This blog explains how to Count No of files in SharePoint folder using MS Flow. Steps to be followed: Select “Send an HTTP request to SharePoint” from Actions.  Enter below details:Site Address: Select the site address from the list. Method: GETUri: _api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl(‘LibraryTitle/foldername’)/ItemCountExample: _api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl(‘account/CFS Organization_584732FD1267E911A997000D3AA2C8D1‘)/ItemCount-> It will count the no of files in “CFS Organization_584732FD1267E911A997000D3AA2C8D1” folder. Output of above request:  Accessing value of ItemCount: Add Compose Action. Add below expression in Inputs: body(‘Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint_’)[‘d’][‘ItemCount’]

Project management teams use an array of products to manage different projects that they manage. They also use various tools or software to take care of tasks such as time tracking, raising invoices, etc. It is wise to use a PSA or Professional Service Automation software instead to do all the activities mentioned above with ease. There is so much action in a CPA or Certified Public Accountant Firms than in any other firm. Many companies have developed PSAs or Professional Services Automation Software for CPA Firms these days. Selecting the best product will help you to manage the tasks better. With the evolution of Technology, every industry is getting process oriented and so are CPA firms getting more organized and professional in their way of working. The software provides the immense capability for CPA’s to look into there Books of Accounts, manage their allocation for clients, Create Project Plan, Perform accurate Invoicing and what not. Impact on CPA firms with PSA As CPA firms complain about process orientation and adoption of software tools, as per our existing New York-based CPA firms, Project Service Automation (PSA) has helped them streamline the process and the inter-communication between the departments have becomes seamless and more optimal. Organized Central Repository of Data PSA being the data source and a single point where the data is stored makes it more powerful. System Administrators have a full view of the data and can provide access restrictions to who should have access to the data, what is visible and what can be modified. This is impossible without the central repository of data. The power unleashes itself, with solid reporting and dashboard, that allows you to take a dive in how and what’s of the business. Seamless Mobile Experience With the era of Smart Phones, applications are becoming smart enough to be accessed from mobile phones. PSA has a seamless mobile experience and when clubbed with Power BI reporting makes it one of its kind. A lot of strategic decisions can be made based on these Power BI reports. People while driving back home on the signal can do their time entries, raise expenses, access their opportunities, type in notes and what not via Mobile phones. Allocations Vs Time Entry & Expense Entry needs Technology keeps a business structured and so is Resource Allocation a good example of what PSA offers in its bucket. While the management can take a decision as to which employee is more billable and who is busy working on a client project, who is billable can all be taken out if the CPA’s are well allocated. While CPA’s do not believe in allocation, but this is the only way to run a result and data-driven the organisation. This is a proven fact with one of our CPA based firms. Along with Allocations by default comes the Time Entries. CPA’s if they do their Time Entries regularly are more likely to save 10% – 15% of revenue loss per annum. Also, what I heard from a CPA firm was even shocking “We do expense approvals based on trust”. PSA allows you to remove that factor as already mentioned, doing time and expense entries is a matter or seconds and can be easily done via mobile phone even when you are waiting at a signal. The receipts of the expenses also can be uploaded right at that time via your camera phone to make it more user-friendly.   Project Management and Accounting makes PSA a choice of CPA firms Right from the sales cycle i.e. OpportunityàQuoteàContract and then from there to Project in PSA, CPA firms get benefitted since PSA guides them the processes at various levels as to keep the business organized. Like for e.g. our existing clients, a CPA firm, used to initiate the work even without the contract getting signed by the customer. Wherein PSA asks you to confirm the contract, post the same is signed by the customer. With the integration of SharePoint Online, CPA’s can access the signed contract directly from the Opportunity. All of the above drills down to how effectively CPA’s can Invoice it to the customer and this can be done with the practise of Time Entries and Expense Entries in the system religiously. PSA caters to all Fixed Bid and Time and Material projects which CPA firms make a choice between. Improvised Skill Selection and Schedule view Every allocation, before getting done asks for a variety of questions like, where can the Resource Manager see the schedule of all the Team. Which Resource bears what Skills. All such typical allocation questions are well addressed via PSA. Every Hour counts Yes, it true a thing as to every hour, in fact even a minute spent of CPA advisors are precious. It is Technology that can only help them get it converted into effective revenue. With PSA the effective way of working and dedicating time to a client gets better with time. A Happy CPA firm will only be when they will be able to offer enhanced services to the clients, offer stability and reduce errors. It is tough for a CPA firm to walk aligned with software as getting the right value from the same needs complete streamlining of processes. The opportunity is abundant if utilized well. CPA’s being not technically sound can rely on what is dictated by PSA to get a better outcome and indirectly improvise billing. This also helps the clients as the service offerings improve and hence the billing so too.  

Problem Definition: I have observed a fact in PSA that when the task in PSA Schedule (WBS) is deleted, the corresponding Resource Requirement doesn’t get deleted. Hence, it keeps on appearing in the Schedule Board to allocate. Resource Managers face difficulties in order to understand whether to allocate them or not. Hence, it is a job of Project Manager to ensure they are not appearing on the Schedule Board to allocate. Solution: Following are the steps with which the Resource Managers can ensure they do their job end-to-end post the task is deleted from the Schedule (WBS). Step 1: Check in the Schedule Board in the Project Tab whether the task appears to schedule. If not, then the job is done. Else, do an advanced find on the Resource Requirement with the below-mentioned criteria shown in the screen shot. See the results of the Advanced Find shown below. Open the task from Advanced Find by Double Clicking on it and check the status of the task. Change the Status of the Task to Canceled and Save the form. The task will now not appear in the Resource Requirement. You are done with the solution. This blog reflects my personal findings and based solely on my experience of using PSA for last 3+ years. For those who are looking for a platform that can track and manage the entire procedures of sales and project managements, I would highly recommend them to try Microsoft dynamics 365 for project service automation.

For Line Item entities Opportunity Products, Quotes Products, Order Products or Invoice Products, you can chose what type of Discount you want to give out. This is a simple Organization-wise setting  that you’ll need to set to define how Discount should be given on the Line Item level. System Setting Navigate to System Settings and under Sales tab, find this setting You can chose either between Line Item or Per Unit. Discount Behavior Line Item Now, when the Discount method is set to Line Item, the Discount value will be given to each of the Line Item regardless of the Quantity In the above example, the Discount $50 is applied to the entire Line Item entry of 2 quantities of the commodity of the price $1200 is 2 x 1200 = $2400 – $50 = $2350 ($50 Discount given to the Extended Amount) Per Unit And in case of Per Unit, the Discount amount of $50 is given to each Quantity in the Line Item In the above example, the $50 Discount is given to the quantity of commodity of worth $1200 each. i.e. 2 x $1150 ($50 Discount given to each Price Per Unit amount) = $2300 Hence, it vital what setting you want to use while giving Discount to Line Items in D365 Sales Hope this helps! 🙂