Dynamics GP 2016 - Product Enhancement Suggesstion | Open more than one window at a time in Web Client

It goes without saying that the HTML web client introduced in GP 2016 release represents the most important enhancement which stands tall among all other features and enhancements. Although, there has been a specific drawback which was initially addressed by MVP Belinda Allen and then discussed by other Dynamics GP MVPs.

In previous versions of Dynamics GP web clients which is Silverlight-based, the user were accustomed to a specific behavior of the client, in which manipulating among the windows of the system was an easy option making such a rich user experience. Although, the new web client which is HTML based has dropped this important feature, preventing the user from opening more than one window at a time. 

If you would like to get this functionality back, vote on the link below created by MVP Belinda Allen

• MSConnect Suggestion |  Open more than one window at a time in GP2016 Web Client

Best Regards,
Mahmoud M. AlSaadi

Error when using the Workflow E-mail Actions "The server encountered an error processing the request"

In this post, I am sharing an error related to the workflow e-mail actions with the new Dynamics GP Workflow - e-mail actions. The scenario of the case is illustrated below:

• Requisition Management is deployed and used heavily across the departments
• Requisition Management workflow is activated
• Approvals, rejections or delegations is mostly managed through the e-mail actions

All the users are working without any reported issues, except for a specific user that is not able to use the e-mail actions at all. 

1. The user receives an e-mail for a specific requisition with all the associated details, in order to be approved, rejected or delegated.
   
   

   

   Workflow E-mail

2. As the user clicks on the appropriate actions; any of the actions, the internet explorer opens with an error. "The server encountered an error processing the request. See server logs for more details"
   

   

   Workflow e-mail Actions Error

After thorough troubleshooting, it appears that the internet explorer on this specific machine is the root cause of the error, since other users are working smoothly without any reported issues. The setting to be checked is illustrated below:

• On the Internet Explorer, Click on Settings > Internet Options
• On the General Tab, Under Appearance Section, click on "Languages"
• Make sure that the "English" is added under the (Language Preferences)
• As shown below, this specific machine had the "Arabic" added instead of "English" which is why the e-mail action was not working. The issue was resolved as soon as the "English" is added.

Language Preferences - Arabic

Language Preferences - English

Best Regards,
Mahmoud M. AlSaadi

Dynamics GP 2015 – Web Client [ArgumentNull_Generic] error on Home Page

A client recently reported an issue related to the web client, it occurs with specifically one user as they are on the home page of the web client version. Once they click on “Sales” tab on the Navigation List, an [ArgumentNull_Generic] error pops up as stated below:

 

 

Severity: Critical

Summary: [ArgumentNull_Generic]

 

Arguments:

Debugging resource strings are unavailable. Often the key and arguments provide sufficient information

to diagnose the problem.

Parameter name: contentValue

 

Details:

System.ArgumentNullException: [ArgumentNull_Generic]

Arguments:

Debugging resource strings are unavailable. Often the key and arguments provide sufficient information to diagnose the problem.

Parameter name: contentValue

 

 

Troubleshooting a web client related error could sometimes be tiring, especially when the pattern of the error is not quite obvious. There is one reference that I admire about troubleshooting Microsoft Dynamics Web Client by MVP Mariano Gomez, a comprehensive list of seven parts that is a must-read.

 

The error is user-related, it occurs only for this specific user on the web-client version, there is no VBA modifications on the screen which could be in any way the root-cause of the problem.

 

When the user logged in the desktop version of Dynamics GP, they could easily click on the navigation list – Sales module tab with no issues. Checking the “Customize this page” option shown unexpected options as shown below:

 

 

These are not standard options, the standard options to customize the area page includes the following:

• Transactions
• Inquiry
• Reports
• Cards
• Utilities
• Routines
• Setup

The associated tables to be checked include the following:

SY08000 syHomePage

SY08100 syHomePageLayout

SY08120 syHomePageSubSection

SY08130 syHomePageMetrics

SY08140 syHomePageQuickLinks

On the SQL Profilder, the system calls each section as derived from the options and configuration on the “Customize this report”. For instance, when calling the [Transaction] section, you will find the following on the SQL Profiler:

 

exec sp_execute 31,'<section title="Transactions" image="Images/Transactions.png" expanded="true" column="1"><item title="Sales Transaction Entry"

link="http://dexterity/product=0/script=ExecuteAreaPageLink/args=0,1567,75"/><item title="Sales Batches"

link="http://dexterity/product=0/script=ExecuteAreaPageLink/args=0,1567,70"/><item title="Print Sales Documents"

link="http://dexterity/product=0/script=ExecuteAreaPageLink/args=0,1567,80"/><item title="-"/></section>',544,750,0

 

Solution:

 

Although there is still an ambiguous part of this issue as related to those other options (Purchasing and Inventory), unchecking them and keeping the original seven options above (Cards, Transaction,Reports, Setup, Inquiry, Utilities and Routines) from the “Desktop” version; (since the user is not being able to get in the sales area page at all) got the problem resolved.

 

 

Best Regards,
Mahmoud M. AlSaadi

Dynamics GP Web Client – Manage User Sessions

When a user opens the web client, they receive a message indicating whether there are any open sessions, this leaves the choice for user to manage their own sessions which usually results with a mess. The below message is received when a user first login to the Dynamics GP Web Client

“You have an existing Dynamics GP Session. If you want to connect to an existing session, select the session in the list and click the connect to existing session button. If you want to create a new session, click the create new session button.”

In this essence, the user is left to choose and they usually decide to create a new session, at least what I have seen quite often. The result is not quite promising as shown below:

In order to get things settled, you will have to often make proper communications with the customer and provide awareness sessions that they are not supposed to leave open sessions.

1. The user shall sign out rather than closing the browser
2. System admin should check the web management consol to get rid of idle open sessions
3. Communications with the users.

Proposed Alternative Solution

In the desktop version of Dynamics GP, the user is not allowed to have more than one open session to a specific company, which is managed by the Activity reference. When a user renter Dynamics GP, if there is an open session, they will have to delete it first in order to be able to login.

The web client should behave similarly. Although it’s technically different, but from a process perspective the same rule should be applied regardless of the way a user logs in the company.

I have created a request on MS Connect to get this functionality in future releases. If you are convinced that this will be of an added value, share your vote on MS Connect – ID 983432 | Prevent multiple open sessions per user on Dynamics GP Web Client.

Best Regards,
Mahmoud M. AlSaadi