What's New with Microsoft Navision 4.0
January 11, 2005
Please note: Portions of this transcript have been edited for clarity
Introduction
Experts: Todd Bergeson—the U.S. Product Manager for Microsoft Navision; and Susanne Priess, John Ponzio, and Tom Blaisdell from the Microsoft Business Solutions support team
Related Web sites: Microsoft Navision Community and Microsoft Navision newsgroup
Andy Q (Moderator):
Welcome to today’s chat. Our topic today is “What's New in Microsoft Navision 4.0.”
Andy Q (Moderator):
We are pleased to welcome our Experts for today’s chat. I will have them introduce themselves now.
Tom B (Expert):
Hi, I am Tom Blaisdell from the Microsoft Business Solution support team.
Todd (Expert):
Hi - I’m Todd Bergeson, the US Product Manager for Microsoft Navision.
Susanne (Expert):
Hi, I am Susanne from Navision Support.
John (Expert):
I'm John Ponzio, I provide developer support for the Navision product, as part of Navision Support.
Andy Q (Moderator):
So we are off! Please submit your questions anytime using the submit a question radio button
Start of Chat
Todd (Expert):
Q: When will Business Analytics be released for 4.0?
A: Business Analytics is currently going through security review. Once that has been completed we will be releasing Business Analytics for version 4.0. In the mean time please contact your partner to have them show you the beta version.
Tom B (Expert):
Q: Are any archiving capabilities to be included in v4, and if so how are they implemented.
A: The Archive functionality for Orders, Invoices, and other Documents that was included in previous 3.X Version is available in 4.0. If you go to a Sales Order, you can select the Function-Archive Document. Is this what you are referring to?
Andy Q (Moderator):
Great questions guys, keep em coming!
Todd (Expert):
Q: This might sound a bit rude, but a new customer is asking for it: Are there any release notes regarding bugs/issues in Navision 4.0?
A: Currently we do not have any documents that discuss this. In the US we released a critical update for version 4.0. In the release notes of this critical update, there is discussion of the errors that have been corrected. This is all that we would have, even though it is after the fact.
Tom B (Expert):
Q: Thanks for the answer Tom. What I am referring to is the ability to summarise data such as sales orders and extract the original data, to decrease the size of the database. We currently have a database of about 70Gb, growing at about 3Gb per month.
A: Hey Matt. You are actually referring to the Date Compression functionality rather than Archive functionality. The Date Compression functionality summarizes and deletes data, so the only option would be to backup the database before running Date Compression so that you could restore the data at some point in the future if you need to have access to the detail that was deleted. There is no way to undo this to see deleted detail records.
John (Expert):
Q: What was the reasons for the new "Navigation Pane" (some people call it "Navigation Pain"), except of the "look and feel" of Office Outlook 2003?
A: A large part of it was to achieve the "look and feel" of Outlook, and as a start to creating a common interface across the Microsoft product line. The greatest benefit is that it gives greater control to the user interface, both to the partner or administrator of the system, and to the individual end-users. Unfortunately, as with all change, there is a painful transition period to overcome before acceptance of the new technology.
Tom B (Expert):
Q: This is exactly the functionality we are asking about. So it is possible to 'compress' the data, but not to restore the original data for auditing or other purposes, short of a full restore? Does this date compression exist in older versions as well?
A: Yes it does. You will find Date Compression under Periodic Activities under most of the Main Menu - Functional Area Menus in Version 3.70B and prior versions. For instance, you can access Date Compression for the Customer Ledger from the Sales & Receivables Main Menu under Period Activities.
Todd (Expert):
Q: Have the support team been trained in Business Notification manager? I have been struggling to get it to work (i.e. sending notifications). I have logged a call, but will need to re-open it soon.
A: In the US, yes the support team has gone through training for Business Notification. I believe that global training was held last month, but am not aware of what countries attended the training
John (Expert):
Q: Forgive me experts what is a navigation pane ? a new server software or what ?
A: In 4.0, the old Main Menu form was replaced by the more dynamic Navigation Pane. This Navigation Pane is anchored to the left side of the Navision client screen in 4.0 and serves the purpose of, and replaces, all of the menu forms. It has the look and feel of Outlook 2003. It is maintained in layers, starting with the worldwide menu options at the top, then allowing for different menu options for local regions, add-ons that might be installed, partner changes, customer changes, and changes for individual end-users, in a cascading fashion. All of this is transparent to the end-user, so that what they see is only the menu options that are important to them.
Tom B (Expert):
Q: Tom Could you give me an example of where the date compression would be found for the Sales Ledger (Cust) module in version 3.0? There is a 'Sales update history cleanup' under Periodic\Cleanup.. is this it?
A: There isn't a Periodic - Cleanup in Navision Attain Verision 3.0, so it could be added functionality that your partner provided in setting up your system or they renamed this, or it may be another country Version. What country are you located?
The Customer Ledger is the history of postings by Customer for each customer for all posted Invoices, Credit Memos, Payments, and Finance Charge posting that affected the A/R balance for the customer. In base Navision Attain Version 3.01B in the North America Version, you would click on the Sales & Receivables Menu > Periodic Activities > Date Compression > Customer Ledger.
Andy Q (Moderator):
For those new to the chat - Our topic is What's New in Microsoft Navision 4.0. We’re about halfway in, so keep those questions coming!
Susanne (Expert):
Q: In a few words, what are the main new features for version 4.0 and are there any case studies on your site from businesses that widely use Navision 4.0?
A: The main new features in Navision 4.0 is the new Navigation Pane, Intercompany, new Analysis functionality in Supply Chain with a graphic component, pre-defined Key Performance Indicators, Partial Payments, new Un-Apply functionality, Reversal of Journal Postings, Consolidation modifications, Business Notifications, new XML port objects, new ODBC driver, SmartTags integration. New functionality in manufacturing, new Order Planning window, new Production Journal window and a Production Schedule (Gantt chart). There are no case studies for 4.0 yet.
John (Expert):
Q: If you log a call on the Microsoft's partnersource site, which support team respond (or is it based on time zones)?
A: A support call logged into PartnerSource is assigned to a queue based on the location on file of the partner. In other words, a partner located in Canada would be assigned to the North American queue. There is some overlap in afterhours type situations, but that is actually somewhat rare.
John (Expert):
Q: Have there been significant database design changes in version 4.0? No offense intended to anyone at all, but the database behind Axapta seems very inefficiently designed. Is MS getting it's SQL gurus in there to optimise it?
A: No, there have not been any database design changes for 4.0. The Navision server/database is actually very efficient. I can't speak for Axapta, but in the case of Navision, when the SQL option is used, there are some inefficiencies, but they are due to the fact that it was decided early on that it should be seamless to the application as far as which database option was being used. This resulted in some design compromises, and in the case of all compromises, there is some inefficiency. It is possible to fine-tune the Navision application to be more efficient when using the SQL. There is more information on this process in white papers that have been released, including on the Tools CD.
Susanne (Expert):
Q: I have a very, very, very technical question: When I tried to switch on BNM: Administration, Application Setup, General, Business Notification Setup. I got an error that said that BNM was not installed. Have you seen this before?
A: Gustav, this could be a license issue. I assume you are a Navision partner and there were some issues with Partner licenses in regards to Business Notification permissions. If your license was updated before the end of November you will need to have it updated again to gain access to Business Notifications.
Todd (Expert):
Q: Business Analytics for Nav4.0: Do you still need to download the software from Targit, or will MBS be releasing it as part of the product CD? And will licensing be solely done by Microsoft (i.e. .flf file) instead of having a license for the Targit prod?
A: Yes, BA can be downloaded from Targit. With version 4.0 the licensing has changed to Microsoft. In the US all new licenses that are created have the capability to include the BA licensing. Once the product has been released, it will be included on the CD. Do to the delays with BA I am not sure when this will happen.
Todd (Expert):
Q: I would like to know whether you guys can release some notes regarding what is to be expected in v4.x or 5.x?
A: The next release 4.x is being decided at this time, so I do not have any answers for you as of yet. The same goes for 5.x In the US you could attend Convergence the first week of March to see and learn more about the coming future.
John (Expert):
Q: Where can I find the notes for the critical update on 4.0? Partner Source?
A: All of this information is related on PartnerSource. I'll caution you though, that not all documents relate to all countries. The recent critical updates that were released were only for North
John (Expert):
Q: Where can I find the notes for the critical update on 4.0? Partner Source?
A: America.
Susanne (Expert):
Q: Had my license renewed just the other day... I will double check the granules for Business Notification Manager. There is some data missing in a table called property store (and is not populated during installation). So I don't know if I am missing a step
A: Gustav, you will actually not see the Business Notification granule on your license, but if the license was updated the other day it should be fine. I am sorry but I don't know what could be causing this error. I think you will have to contact support in Australia and have them troubleshoot this. Sorry.
Andy Q (Moderator):
Thanks all for your participation, we had some great questions today!!
Tom B (Expert):
Good bye everyone. Thanks for coming to the chat.
Andy Q (Moderator):
but it is time to go now....look for more MBS chats at http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/community/default.mspx
Andy Q (Moderator):
and here's a link to the full chat listings http://www.microsoft.com/communities/chats/default.mspx
Michelle (Moderator):
Thanks, all of you. Hope to see you again!
Susanne (Expert):
Bye
