Our Blog

Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

« Older Entries

Dynamics GP Keyboard Shortcuts

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

I don’t have anything against a mouse – a computer mouse that is – but sometimes I find I can be more efficient using the keyboard.  Over the years, you have probably gotten so familiar with some keyboard shortcuts that you find yourself even using the shortcut keys when you speak instead of the actual function it is used for – “Just Control+V that in the email.”

Sound like you?  If it does, you may find some of these Microsoft Dynamics GP Keyboard Shortcuts to be quite handy:

  • ALT+F:  Activates the File menu in a GP window
  • ALT+E:  Activates the Edit menu in a GP window
  • ALT+M:  Activates the Microsoft Dynamics GP menu on the main toolbar
  • ALT+R:  Activates the Reports menu on the main toolbar
  • ALT+A:  Activates the Transactions menu on the main toolbar
  • ALT+I:  Activates the Inquiry menu on the main toolbar
  • ALT+C:  Activates the Cards menu on the main toolbar
  • ALT+H:  Activates the Help menu
  • CTRL+L: Opens a Lookup Window

 By: Rahim Jiwani, Application Specialist, WebSan Solutions Inc.

Tags: ,
Posted in Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Uncategorized, WebSan Blog | No Comments »

Built In Informational Messages on Login

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

One of the lesser known setup features of Microsoft Dynamics GP2010 is the ability to have the system pop-up a predefined message box on login advising to the status of an environment.

If anyone has used the fabrikam company, you know what I’m referring to, the modal dialog box that appears advising that this is a demonstration company, etc etc.

There are actually two other message boxes that you can trigger for your own company.

If you navigate to your company setup screen  (Tools–> Setup –> Company –> Company)

compsetup

You can add two different reserved tags to the end of the Company Name.

The first is <TEST>, (make sure you include the angle brackets and enter all UPPERCASE letters). This will trigger the following popup for all users to this company on login:

testpopup

Alternatively, if you change the company name and a “<HISTORICAL>” tag to the end of the company name you will trigger this pop-up:

histpopup

These are both handy messages to advise users that this is a Test or Archive instance.

This works in both GP10 and Gp2010, however, as of build 1752, there is a small known glitch in which the Dynamics Connect home-screen widget will not work when using these tags. See this blog for details…

A word of caution, don’t modify any other parts of the company name, and always put the tag at the end, as some modules require exact spelling of the company name for their registration keys to operate (for example Canadian Payroll).

In my next post I’ll discuss the various methods to have different colours by company, in both GP10 and GP2010.

Stay tuned until next time…

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Getting Started With Codeigniter PHP Framework

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

PHP is one of the most versatile programming languages for building web applications.   However, one of the problems with PHP is that there is more than one way to do the same thing.  This might not sound like a problem, but PHP’s ease of use is also its downfall.  Because there are less restrictions on the structure of the code you write, it’s much easier to write bad code. The solution to this problem is to use a framework and design pattern such as Model, View, and Controller (MVC).

There are many PHP frameworks out there.  Here, at WebSan, one of the PHP frameworks we use regularly is Codeigniter.  The reason is that it is well documented, small footprint, exceptional performance and has a large user community.

Here are some resources to get started with Codeigniter:

Tutorials:
CodeIgniter From Scratch: Day 1, Nettuts.com – Getting Started With the Framework
CodeIgniter From Scratch: Day 2, Nettuts.com – Database Selecting Methods
CodeIgniter From Scratch: Day 3, Nettuts.com – Sending Emails
CodeIgniter From Scratch: Day 4, Nettuts.com – Newsletter Signup

IBM developerWorks – Getting started with CodeIgniter

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

WebSan Solutions Inc. raises $1,260 in Ride for Heart!

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Congratulations Team WebSan! The final tally of the fundraiser is in at a respectable total of $1,260 in the Becel Heart and Stroke Ride for Heart. It has been a proud moment for all the employees here at the office. Dressed in bright orange shirts, the team could be visibly seen from miles away – way to represent! (Pictures soon to follow)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Dynamics GP in Canada – Buy 1, get 3!

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

For a limited time, take advantage of the rich functionality of one of the top Enterprise Accounting systems on the market today!

From now until June 24, 2011, buy 1 Dynamics GP user (either AM or BE) and get 3!

“Microsoft is excited to announce the “Buy 1, Get 3” offer – a Microsoft Dynamics promotion for small and medium sized businesses that wish to take advantage of the rich functionality offered by Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2. The promotion allows a customer purchasing either the Advanced Management (AM) or Business Essential (BE) Foundation Pack (which both includes 1 user as standard) to then get two (2) additional user licenses. This offer applies to new customers making their initial purchase of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010″

By : Andrew King, Managing Partner, WebSan Solutions Inc.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Come see our blog at techrepublic.com!

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

Recently, one of our Directors, Andrew King, has been featured at www.techrepublic.com, a website for IT professionals.

See his latest blogs here :

Tags: ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Join the WebSan Team! Here we grow again…

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

Interested in a career with a dynamic, growing Firm? Check out our open postings: here

We are currently advertising for a PHP developer, but we’re interested in meeting talented people willing to join our team.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Growth and Adoption Rates of ERP Systems in Recessions

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

The foundations of ERP are found in manufacturing resource planning, traditionally used by companies which produced tangible goods in factories. The adoption of ERP and MRP systems was initially quite slow – management were content with the status quo and saw no reason to change what seemed to be working. However, the recession experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s forced many companies to make a choice: Either find new ways of operating more efficiently and effectively, or go under. This created a massive boom in the ERP market, which lead to massive changes in the ways in which fundamental business operations were conducted, and those organizations that made it through the recession came out stronger.

North America is no longer the goods-producing collection of nations it once was and is instead dominated by service industries. However, many of the same problems that existed in manufacturing organizations twenty years ago still exist in these businesses: Lack of integration, inability to respond and take advantage of environmental change, time and money wasted on data entry and redundancies, and so on. Much like the recession twenty years ago, the economic downturn caused by the subprime mortgage crisis has forced many modern companies to find new ways of performing more effectively and efficiently.

This is the time to get ahead of the competition, and Microsoft Dynamics GP is the perfect solution for organizations looking for more than simple accounting and reporting features without high maintenance costs and complexity.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Is Software as a Service (SaaS) a Passing Fad?

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

I’ve heard people say that Software as a service (SaaS) is the “best thing since life’s bread” and I’ve also heard others claim that it’s just the newest thing and it will pass.

The best analysis I’ve seen on the subject came from an associate of mine, Pat Gray, in his blog on “Cloud Computing for Mere Mortals”.

His analogy was that determining whether SaaS is right for your company is the same as making a “make/buy” decision when procuring product for a company. You have to take a look at the ENTIRE picture (cost, strategy, capabilities…) to determine the right course of action.

For instance, if I’m selling coffee, then I need to look at the costs of procuring it from the various sources out there, or is it more economical for me to purchase a coffee plantation in South America and make my own beans? If I’m not really in the business of managing coffee growers directly, then why don’t I focus on what I’m good at, the marketing and sale of coffee, rather than the actual manufacturing of it?

Dynamics GP vs. Hosted Dynamics GP

This is the same analysis I need to do when evaluating whether to purchase Dynamics GP or subscribe to Hosted (SaaS) Dynamics GP:

- Do I have the appropriate server to run the software or do I need to purchase one?

- Do I have the technical expertise in house to manage the upgrades, patches and backups necessary for a world-class software such as this?

- Am I comfortable with my data to be housed outside of my facility?

- Finally, what is my capital budget like for this type of purchase and what’s the break-even if I host it vs purchase it?

Making a decision to host or purchase Dynamics GP is no different than deciding to manufacture coffee or just sell and market it. Focus on what your expertise is and leave the superfluous details to others.

Because people have been making “make vs buy” decisions for hundreds of years, I see SaaS as just another option, or another method of deploying software. With that in mind, I seriously doubt that SaaS is a passing fad. It’s definitely here to stay, and according to some, may overtake on-premise software someday.

To learn more about the options for hosting or purchasing Dynamics GP, please visit our website or contact us.

By Andrew King, WebSan Solutions Inc.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Software as a Service (Saas) vs. On-Premise Dynamics GP

Monday, December 13th, 2010

The world is changing…companies are looking more and more towards “the cloud” for their computing needs. It started with CRM systems, which some organizations consider “not business critical”, but now the cloud has encompassed full-blown Enterprise software and Microsoft Dynamics GP is no different.

So what is driving this trend towards Hosted solutions? Is it cost? Is it efficiency, or is it just a passing fad?

Aberdeen (c) reports recently released a study that highlighted the fact that the number of small to medium companies looking towards hosted solutions has increased substantially since 2009.

What’s driving organizations into the Cloud?

What I’ve found with my Clients and interactions with “soon to be” Clients is that cost is not the biggest driver pushing people into the Cloud. It’s strategy and focus. In other words, some organizations realize that their expertise does not lie with maintaining servers and upgrading system patches. They reserve those efforts for others while they remain laser-focused on growing their business effectively and efficiently. They let others worry about keeping their systems up to date and working properly…as they should.

When a company can find a “best of breed” accounting system like MS Dynamics GP available in the Cloud as a Hosted solution, then the decision is relatively simple. Microsoft has ingeniously developed a business model whereby their VARs (Value Added Resellers) can now offer Dynamics GP as a Hosted system. It’s quite competitively priced against other Cloud ERP systems (eg: NetSuite). Since Microsoft is still heavily investing R&D $’s in the future of MS Dynamics GP, the competition is going to struggle to keep up.

So how can I find out more about Hosted Dynamics GP?

If you’re interested in learning more about Dynamics GP in the cloud, feel free to contact us or comment on this post. We offer all of our Clients a side-by-side comparison of the total cost of ownership of the on-premise solution vs. hosted and let them make the decision. As a Silver Enterprise Resource Planning Microsoft Dynamics Partner, we offer both solutions and are happy to allow that flexibility for our Clients.

By Andrew King, WebSan Solutions Inc.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Older Entries