Can't print report after service pack, hotfix or tax update in Dynamics

I appologize to my faithful blog follower Chris G for not being as prolific this week. Chris emailed to remind me I have at least one person reading these posts. Thanks for the encouragement. This ones for you Chris.

I referenced this issue in a previous blog but let me give a few more details. The screen shot below is a GL trial balance that would not print after a tax CODE update. Dynamics simply crashed without giving any useful error. (this was an MSI file that was installed, went through the "include new code" routine in gp.) I'm assuming that this will be an issue with all updates in the future until the GP community revolts and refuses to use report writer any more.



The thing to note is this was not a modified report but it was still giving an error. I tried updating the modified forms and reports like is says in the documentation for SP's but received the same response (GP crashed after generating the report below). I recreated the reports.dic file (see steps below) and it fixed the issue.


Don't know if you can tell from the screen shot but the account numbers were all messed up with a box in the second segment and all spaced out. Click on screen shot for a better look.


Personally I would just do the below process and recreate the reports.dic file when doing updates from now on.

1. Have all user Exit out of GP
2. Save a copy of the reports.dic file
3. log into gp and export out all reports etc. by going to Microsoft Dynamics GP>>tools>>customize>>customization maintenance
4. Select everything in the window and choose export
5. Save reports - I usually name it something like allreportsdate.package
6. Exit out of GP
7. Do the SP, Hotfix, Tax update
8. Delete reports.dic file
9. Log into GP
10. Go to Microsoft Dynamics GP>>tools>>customize>>customization maintenance and choose import
11. Select the file you exported in step 4 and choose Open, then OK. If you receive an error about "unable to open customization dictionary" you probably had someone sneak into GP and it can't import because of it.

New Dynamics GP Updates Released

We just received news about the following Dynamics GP updates:

GP 9.0 Tax Update
This would include the following regulatory changes:
941 form change, include the COBRA tracking changes
I-9 changes
April Canadian Payroll Tax update

US 9.0 Tax Updatehttps://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/taxupdates/usgptu9.htm?printpage=false

Canada 9.0 Tax Update
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/taxupdates/candynye9.htm?printpage=false

All inclusive 9.0 patch listing/versions
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/products/greatplains/downloads/hotfixes/microsoftdynamicsgp90_mspreleases.htm?printpage=false


SBF 9.0
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/taxupdates/ussbftu9.htm?printpage=false


10.0 March English Hotfix KB 968118
This also includes the U.S. Payroll Round 4 Update and the Canadian Payroll April 2009 Tax Update.

Please note the following items regarding updates: (This info will be on the Update Hot Topic)
1. Users currently on Microsoft Business Solutions-Great Plains 8.0 cannot update to Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 with this March hotfix. The update will fail. These users can install the February hotfix or earlier prior to launching Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 Utilities for the update.
2. This hotfix does not include the update path for users who have installed the 9.0 March hotfix. Those users who installed the March hotfix for Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 still cannot update to Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 until the next hotfix release.
3. All Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 service packs, hotfixes, and compliance releases now require a modified reports and forms dictionary update. Click HERE to refer to a Hot Topic detailing the information.

CustomerSource
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/servicepacks/mdgp10_patchreleases.htm?printpage=false
PartnerSource
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/downloads/servicepack/mdgp10_patchreleases.htm?printpage=false


GP 10.0 Tax Update
All inclusive 10.0 patch listing/versions
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/servicepacks/mdgp10_patchreleases.htm?printpage=false

US 10.0 Tax Update
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/taxupdates/usgptu10.htm?printpage=false

Canada 10.0 Tax Update
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/taxupdates/candynye10.htm?printpage=false

Reports.dic file and updating SP's in 10.0

Got the below email from Terry Heley (MBS payroll lead) in conjunction with the new payroll update coming out today. Sounds like a major pain for any SP updates but does sound like job security for Dynamics support people.

Basically, Make sure you update Reports.dic before you do anything. I'd probably export out all reports etc using customization maintenance. Then update the reports using Utilities (I'd probably say a prayer, cross your fingers, commence any other helpful acts of meditation and serenity etc.)

Haven't needed to do this for a SP yet but my guess is creating a new reports.dic file and importing in your old reports after the SP update would be an easier way to update the reports after a SP.

Notice no error messages will be given if you don't do this step other than some probably errors when you run the report. Nice one MBS.

*****************
A new requirement has been added to the Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 service pack, hot fix and compliance release install process. All modified reports and forms must be updated in Microsoft Dynamics GP Utilities following the database update. In the past this was only a requirement for the major release update, such as from GP 9.0 to GP 10.0. Because of data model changes, etc. that are now in the MSP patch files, the modified reports and forms must also be updated. This new process does not apply to Microsoft Dynamic GP 9.0.

The FTE System Team and VMC System Team handles the support for all service packs, hotfixes and compliance update installations on GP 9.0 and GP 10.0. The support for the new modified reports and forms update process on GP 10.0 will also be handled by the FTE and VMC System Teams.

PLEASE NOTE: If a user launches into Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 without updating the modified dictionaries, they WILL NOT get prompted to update the files. Therefore, the user might see errors running reports and accessing forms. If you have a case where a user is getting errors running a report or accessing a form following a service pack, hotfix, or compliance update, please ask if they went through the modified dictionary update process following the MSP patch install.

This new process has been added to the U.S. Payroll/Canadian Payroll Documents and the 10.0 Hotfix Install Guide. A new Hot Topic has also been published. The current hot topic indicating that GP 10.0 patches may damage the reports and forms will also be updated with this new process.

Here are the links to the new Hot Topic that is live right now. Once the March hotfix is available, this link will also be available on the hotfix download page.

CustomerSourcehttps://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/support/selfsupport/hottopics/hot_topic_mdgp10_modifiedreportsformsupdaterequiredforpatchreleases.htm?printpage=false

PartnerSourcehttps://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/resources/support/selfsupport/hottopics/greatplains/hot_topic_mdgp10_modifiedreportsformsupdaterequiredforpatchreleases.htm?printpage=false