Monday, January 26, 2009

Dynamics AX query improvements

Filtering is a quick and easy way to make a huge set of data manageable.
Dynamics AX offers practical features to filter records. With the possibility to link additional tables in the filter form, the tool provides almost unlimited possibilities to search for data.
The ability to save filtering criteria is useful when users have a few repetitive tasks that require different subsets of records.

There are, however, some limitations:
  • "Not exist" table linking is not available.
  • Queries can only be saved per user. If all users require the same sets of filters, the query has to be setup and saved for every single user.
  • Searching for date values is only possible by using absolute values. A filter for a relative date such as "today" or "two weeks from today" cannot be setup nor saved.

The Smart Query add-on helps building smarter queries and allows saving them for all users.
Smart Query comes with the following features:

  • Easy to use: The tool is integrated into the standard filter mask. For any linked table, the mode can be changed from „exists join" to „not exists join".
    The link setting is saved, just as all other filter settings.
  • Date filters with placeholders: Search for current date (today), beginning or end of current month, period, quarter or year. Search in relation to “placeholder date” (+- x days or months). Searching for today is as simple as typing a "d", tomorrow "d+1" etc.
    In case of batch jobs, placeholders are saved in the query and replaced with the corresponding date in every run.
    An example: The warehouse needs an overview of orders whose delivery date is within the next two weeks. With Smart Query, that's as easy as saving a query with the filter "d+14" on the delivery date field. No daily update of the filter required.
  • Save queries for all users. All users can select these queries in addition to their own saved queries.
  • Select saved queries on the report dialog form; there's no need to open the query selection form.
  • Access rights: It is possible to restrict the access to the tool to certain users.

For more details, please visit http://www.dynamics-ax-addons.com/en/add_ons/smart_query.html

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