Windows 8 and Yammer

Software updates can be sometimes be easy and sometimes cause howling of frustration

People have started to updated to windows 8, which seems a lot a faster than the previously version of windows but does take a little bit of time to get used to (there’s no start button!).  The first impressions of Windows 8 is it looks fantastic and new interface is easy to use.  The one puzzling aspect is it does act like a tablet screen which means you can only have one application on screen at one time, this is great for tablets but not always ideal for desktops.

The developer who upgraded his windows 7 desktop had a very simple job taking under 2 hours to upgrade but the person who had to update their MAC had quite a task on their hand, which even involved visiting an Apple shop to get some help from someone known as Obi-Wan.  Obi-Wan used the force and we now have Windows 8 successfully running on a Mac.

I haven’t taken the plunge myself yet because I (in my wisdom) setup my laptop to use windows server 2008 so I could have hyper v on my laptop.  The downside is I would have to have a totally new install to have Windows 8.  I am at the moment working up the ethusiams for the task, it might be a new year thing.

One gotcha with Windows 8 and installing .NET 3.5, the full details are below in the Microsoft kb article

Error codes when you try to install the .NET Framework 3.5 in Windows 8 or in Windows Server 2012

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2734782

Yammer

The company I work for (Metaphorix) have decided to use Yammer.  I think this is a good idea because hopefully in a future release of CRM yammer will be fully integrated.

My first impression is Yammer seems to be a bit like an internal company twitter feed where you can create groups (twitter lists maybe or hashtag) which enables users to subscribe to groups (sales, developers, CRM, NAV, Support, etc etc) and share/receive information for certain groups.

The main driver for wanting to use Yammer is reduce the amount of internal emails being sent because  this is not an efficient method of sharing information.  Also users who receive a lot of emails can basically lose information because their inbox is receive too many emails for them to read and respond to all of them.

Like most new pieces of software the trick is understanding how to use it to fit in your companies working ecosystem and processes, not to mention it can be difficult to change peoples working habits.

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Dynamic CRM and NAV KB Articles published (16/01/12 – 16/02/12)

Dynamics NAV
KB article			Publish Date	Product	Title
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/b4	b4	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/b4	31/01/2012	Dynamics NAV 5.0	“Please specify a filter for the Liquidity Date field in the Liquidity Analysis View Entry table” error message when you run the Export to Excel function in the “Liq. Analysis by Dimension” dialog box in the Swiss version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2673193	2673193	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2673193	03/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 5.0	“Your upgrade program for Microsoft Dynamics NAV has expired” error message when installing a new Microsoft Dynamics NAV license file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664863	2664863	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664863	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 5.0	“G/L Entry No. [xxxx] already exists” error message when you run the Dimensions – Detail report (28) in the Portuguese version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 Service Pack 1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664880	2664880	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664880	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 5.0	The “Calc. and Post VAT Settlement” function does not work as expected in certain scenarios in the Portuguese version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 Service Pack 1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664883	2664883	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664883	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 5.0	VAT entries of the reversal are not displayed in the VAT Statement report when the entries use the Straight results type in the Portuguese version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 Service Pack 1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664885	2664885	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664885	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 5.0	Bank statements that use the ABN-AMRO MT940 format are imported incorrectly in the Dutch version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 Service Pack 1
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664449	2664449	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664449	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The Customer Bills List report (12117) does not work as expected in the Italian version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664549	2664549	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664549	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The validation of the SEPA file still fails after you apply hotfix 2664548 in the Dutch version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664587	2664587	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664587	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	Infinite loop occurs when you apply a document that is included in a bill group in a Cartera journal in the Spanish version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664596	2664596	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664596	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The upgrade tool upgrades a purchase order when you upgrade Microsoft Dynamics NAV 4.0 to Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 even though the “Quantity Received” value is not equal to the “Quantity Invoiced posted on Job” value
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664651	2664651	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664651	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The list in the G/L Budgets page does not update when you change the “View by” value in the RoleTailored client (RTC) in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664653	2664653	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664653	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The line is not updated when you remove an account number in a Payment Slip line in the French version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664655	2664655	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664655	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The “Job Unit Price (LCY)” field is not updated when you change the “Unit of Measure” value for an item in a purchase order line in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664657	2664657	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664657	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	“Total Reg. [Number1] is different from Total Document [Number2]” error message when you post a credit memo in the Italian version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664659	2664659	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664659	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The system does not create one-to-one relationship between the VAT and general ledger entries in table 253 when you reverse a transaction under Registers in the Italian version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664664	2664664	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664664	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The “Amount to apply” value is used incorrectly when you correct the “Amount to apply” value on an invoice in which the “Payment discount” value will be used in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664674	2664674	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664674	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	A general journal does not display a correct caption of a journal batch in the title in the RoleTailored client (RTC) in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664865	2664865	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664865	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	Incorrect line types are used in job ledger entries when you create sales invoices from job planning lines in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664871	2664871	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664871	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	You cannot create an electronic invoice that contains a negative sales invoice line amount in the Danish version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664875	2664875	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664875	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The Payment Terms Code fields in customer ledger entries or vendor ledger entries are updated incorrectly in the Spanish version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2664895	2264895	=A24	10/02/2012	Dynamics NAV 2009	The system creates empty pages when you print the Depreciation Book report in the Italian version of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009
Dynamics CRM
PartnerSource Link		Kb Article	Publish Date	Product	Title
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2621054	2621054	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2621054	10/02/2012	Dynamics CRM 4.0	Update Rollup 21 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2667140	2667140	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2667140	19/01/2012	Dynamics CRM 2011	The ‘Allow Email Router to use my credentials’ option unavailable in CRM 2011
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2495243	2495243	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2495243	20/01/2012	Dynamics CRM 2011	CRM SE : 117794 ConvertToManaged: User does not get OOB picklist options back once an ISV uninstalls all of the customizations

Metaphorix unleashes a new website

Metaphorix who I am currently employed by have a brand new website today, so I thought I would put a link on my blog and here it is

http://www.metaphorix.co.uk/

Metaphorix specialise in NAV but are doing lots more work with CRM and a lot of projects with CRM and NAV schronising data user  CRM/NAV connector.  The connector is great once you get the project working but can involve a lot of head banging and a painfully slow trial and error method of learning how the connector works.  If you want some more information about Metaphorix then have a look at the website and the about page, there is also some information on linkedin

I have to say it’s a lot better looking than the last site and it’s about 10 times faster.

There is also a section now for news, where you can get to all the social media channels I am in charge (twitter, linkedin, Blog, Facebook)

http://www.metaphorix.co.uk/news/

They have got a feed from the blog or twitter yet but this I hear is in stage two of the new website project.

The blog is of course excellent, so I will put an individual link to the blog

http://metaphorix.wordpress.com/

The twitter feed has a mix of links to NAV and CRM articles and a few comments from myself

So there we go hopefully I can encourage a few people to click on the new website because there would be nothing worse than having a great new website and then no one looking at it.

 

Metaphorix Gold ERP Status with Microsoft Dynamics NAV

Metaphorix the company I work for and which you can read more about here on their homepage or you can read their excellent blog here and yes it’s me who keeps this up to date.

After passing a few people at the company passing some sure step exams and already having the relevant NAV exams passed we retained our Gold Partner status for ERP with Microsoft Dynamics NAV, you can read about this in more detail on this blog page

Gold partner status is worth a bit more these days with Microsoft bumping up the number of certified professionals needed, so well done to everyone involved.

 

 

New Company Adventures at Metaphorix

I have been in my new job for 3 months and it has been an active time, the company I joined is called Metaphorix and they specialise in Microsoft Dynamics NAV and CRM.

I have moved from being a CRM developer to Mr CRM who now does everything.  It’s quite daunting at first because you start off doing lots of things you haven’t done before.

Over the last 3 months I have

Setup and installed 1 CRM 4 server

Setup and installed CRM 2011 6 times, 3 customer installations.

imported 1 customer organisation

done one upgrade from CRM 4 to CRM 2011.

 

I have done one workshop and requirements gathering exercise.

I have installed setup my laptop from scratch installing windows server 2008.

I have setup three virtual pcs.

I have installed and setup subversion

passed Sure Step 2010 certification.

Written my first FRD and FDD

Setup, installed and used the NAV/CRM connector

started the company blog for metaphorix which you can read here, we have just had 1000 views.

I have also managed to write plenty of blog posts for my CRM blog.

It has been a very interesting 3 months.  I am working on 3 customer projects, two CRM 2011 and one CRM 4.  I have also upgraded the internal CRM system from CRM 4 to CRM 2011.  Finally as Metaphorix specialise in NAV, I have also had a look at Microsoft Dynamics NAV and I have to say I prefer CRM hands down, Nav is very confusing and they don’t have a save button!!!!!

Things are also about to get even more interesting because my lovely wife is about to give birth to my first child at any time.

A Interesting blog on Microsoft Dynamics from Metaphorix

[tweetmeme source=”BenHosk” only_single=false]

I thought I would just let people know I have started to write blog entries for my company blog, which I have set up this week.

The blog will be about CRM, NAV on the technical side and with articles about Metaphorix and the people who work for Metaphorix.

It might be worth adding the blog to your RSS feeds because I other wise you might not come across the articles because it’s a new blog the blog posts appear very far down the google search rankings.

It’s quite a challenge to began a blog from scratch again but it is interesting to write about other things other than just CRM.

I will of course keep writing this CRM blog.

You can read the Metaphorix blog by clicking here 

there are two blog posts of interest (currently there is more on the way)

SQL Optimization

and

a blog entry about the new starters at Metaphorix which you can read about here of which I am one.

if you want to learn more about Metaphorix than you can have a look at the website which you can find here or you can have a look at the company and the employees by looking on linkedin here