subject: Dynamics GP Transition to Microsoft Management Reporter and Comparison with FRx [print this page] Dynamics GP Transition to Microsoft Management Reporter and Comparison with FRx
With the introduction of Management Report for Microsoft Dynamics ERP in 2010 the traditional financial reporting tool FRx was deemphasized and recommended to be replaced by MMR. We tried several migration and we would like to share our impression and customers feeling about learning new reporting tool. One of the reasons for larger companies to switch to Management Reporter was the declaration by MBS that FRx is not supported on 64 bit user workstation, such as Windows 7, Vista or Win XP 64. In our opinion for smaller installations it is OK to install it on 64 bit computer, we tried it for several customers and it was working smooth. However, if you need technical support call to Microsoft Dynamics support team it might be a problem for them to resolve the issue or even accept the call. Let's review the paragraphs:
1. Installation. It might be a bit more sophisticated, as you need to install Server, Connector for GP, and then client. Instead of FRx data storage in Microsoft Access format, MR creates Data base on the SQL Server with the name ManagementReporter. Client connects via URL and default port 4712. On the server, where you usually don not install MS Office, you may need to load AccessDatabaseEngine_x64.exe, which installs OLEDB technology, deployed by the reporter. Definite advantage over FRx is the possibility to launch client application if your computer has remote internet connection (travelling with your laptop), and of course Server application performs all the calculation and report building, meaning that performance is on the server side
2. Conversion from FRx to Management Reporter for Dynamics ERP. In our opinion FRx database table structure is somewhat primitive and it is not a big epopee for Microsoft developers to convert FRx catalogs to the SQL based Reporter. You may expect to lose some formatting, such us bold, italic, special fonts (we need more tests, as we could not figure out exact trend). We definitely recommend you as Great Plains consultant to take a safe route and recommend test migration and do not go into production next morning
3. Interface comparison. It was really a surprise for the users, that Reporter has very similar and in most of the cases recognizable reports design interface: Rows, Columns, Reporting Trees and Reports (in FRx they are named as Catalogs, but this is intuitively clear that it is the same thing). Even Detail Level is exactly the same as it was in FRx
4. Advantages of Reporter. This tool is more open to contemporary Microsoft technologies, such as Web publishing, XBRL, Excel. There are also wizards to create new blocks or reports. You can also add company graphical logo. Security seems to be finally allowing you to add Windows domain users, as SQL Server allows you mixed security mode for GP
5. Microsoft Dynamics user interface standards. MR is following such guidelines as Navigation Pane, Toolbars, Status Bar
6. GP version compatibility. We found that it works for Dynamics GP 10.0 with Service pack at least the first one
7. 64 Bit Platform native compatibility. This fact gives Reporter a huge plus over the FRx, even if FRx may work as well on 64 bit Windows
8. If you are GP application consultant. We think that MR is not a bit obstacle for you and you can come through your learning curve in couple of days of self-study, or do intuitive discovery while moving your customers to new platform. There should be more involvement at least with initial versions from your Technical Consulting team, as such technologies, as URL, Router TCP port redirection might be too challenging for CPA type of person
9. Some Concerns. If you are working for large organization where FRx reporting includes such complexities as linking to Excel tables (to consolidate overseas subsidiaries), Multicurrency related consolidations. Plus you have ten or more reporting users looking and generating reports at the same time, we would rather recommend you to be a bit conservative and stay with FRx in version upgrade to 2010/11.0. Later on you will have a leverage to roll out Reporter. If you stay with FRx, consider deploying Windows 7, Vista or XP on 32 bit platform (this decision will cap you to 2.5 GB RAM, but we think it is better for you to be eligible for FRx tech support calls placement to Microsoft option)
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