Solutions Conference – Spring 2015www.manersolutions.com

(517) 323‐7500

Using Report Writer 

Matt Mason

Introduction

• Report Writer one of many reporting tools

• Best used for modifying existing reports

• Don’t need to be ‘sa’ to use

Solutions Conference – Spring 2015www.manersolutions.com

(517) 323‐7500

Basic Concepts

• Original reports ALWAYS intact

• Modified reports stored in dictionary file called Reports.dic

• This file should be stored on the network

• File should be backed up before adding new reports 

LAB EXERCISES

Report Writer Lab

Exercise 1

Simple Commands within Report Writer

Log into Report Writer

Microsoft Dynamics GP – Tools – Customize – Report Writer OR Alt F9 Product: Microsoft Dynamics GP. Click OK

Choose Report

Click Reports Button

Original Reports: Choose 1099 Miscellaneous. Click Insert button to create Modified Report on right. Highlight 1099 Miscellaneous and click Open

Click Layout button

Commands

Action Mouse Keyboard

Move field Click on field and drag Move with Arrows

Multiple fields “Lasso” several fields and move Hold Shift Key and highlight

Resize field larger Click on border of field and drag Hold Shift key and use Arrow

Resize field smaller Click on border of field and drag Hold Crtl key and use Arrow

Delete field Use Delete key

Insert field Highlight field from Toolbox and drag onto layout

Close window to save changes

Report Writer Lab

Exercise 2

Modify Accounts Payable Edit List/Posting Journal

Print Edit List to screen

Screen: Purchasing – Transactions – Batches

Batch ID: Look up and Select PAYABLES BATCH

Click Print icon. Print to screen.

Click Modify button. This takes the user into the Report Writer layout.

From here, you will perform several actions:

1. Delete most of the data fields in the Header section

2. Delete the corresponding text headers in the Header section

3. Add the Vendor Name field from the Toolbox

4. Add a Text field – “Vendor Name”.

5. Reduce the size of the Header area

6. Revamp the Errors section

7. Remove most of the Totals Fields

8. Add “Modified” as a Report Header

Take Document Amount and move up two spaces

Lasso all fields in Payment Information and the two lines above and delete

Find

Delete Voucher Number field

Move other data fields to the left

Insert Vendor Name field from Toolbox

1. Change table to PM Vendor Master (blue) 2. Find Vendor Name’ 3. Drag to right side of screen

Make Vendor Name smaller and move up 1 line Create a Text Field

1. Click Static Font button 2. Put cursor in body of Layout and type “ERRORS:”

Resize Error Fields and move upward

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Resize H3 Section Put cursor on H3 square and move upward

Remove all Text Fields and Re-position

Resize H1 Section Put cursor on H1 square and move upward

Insert Text Field into Report Header

1. Click Static Text button 2. Put cursor in body of Layout and type “Modified:”

Close Window to save changes

Click “X” in upper right corner.

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Report Writer Lab

Exercise 3

Modify Detail Trial Balance Report

Print Report to screen

Screen: Financial – Reports – Trial Balance. Choose Detailed.

Select Demo Option. Click Modify.

Year: 2014

Click Destination button. Make sure report prints to Screen and click OK.

Click Print icon at top of screen.

Click Modify button. This takes the user into the Report Writer layout.

From here, you will perform the following actions:

1. Delete Originating Audit Trail – both Data box and Text

2. Delete Posting Number and Posting Number Prompt fields

3. Delete LedgerName and Ledger Header fields

4. Move Originating Master Number, Originating Master Name, Distribution Reference fields

5. Insert Reference from the Toolbox.

6. Add “Reference” as a Text Field

7. Add “Modified” as a Report Header

Delete Originating Trx Source, Ledger Names, and Posting Number fields

Hint: Use Shift key to highlight multiple fields Hint: if you can’t read the data field, double-click it to get Report Options window. Then you can read the Field Name.

Move Originating Master Number and Originating Master Name (and text headers) to the right

Hint: Use Shift key to highlight multiple fields Hint: Use Arrow keys for more precise placement

Move Distribution Reference (and text header) to the left

Insert Reference field onto report

From Toolbox, choose Year-to-Date Transaction table Scroll down and choose Reference field Drag onto F1 section in an open area

Resize and place Reference field

Click on Reference box

Click Ctrl D

Change Font size to Helvetica 7 point

Click OK

Resize and place to the right of Description field

Create a Text Field

1. Click Static Font button 2. Put cursor in body of Layout and type “Reference”

Resize Text Field

Click on Reference box

Click Ctrl D

Change Font size to Helvetica 7 point

Click OK. Move field

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Insert Text Field into Report Header

1. Click Static Text button 2. Put cursor in body of Layout after “General Ledger” and type “Modified:”

Close Window to save changes

Click “X” in upper right corner.

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