As a presenter at last week’s Feeding America Finance Conference I realized there’s a hidden gem in Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Ceres, and eFood. When asked how they manage Fixed Assets most of the attendees admitted frustratingly that they still used Excel spreadsheets or Access databases with manual entry for fixed assets tracking. When I investigated further I found they didn’t realize Fixed Asset management is already included in their MS Dynamics NAV license (Ceres, and eFood, too). With both BE and AM BRL licenses you already get Fixed Assets life cycle management.

To Automate Fixed Assets Tracking or Not, That is the Question

How do you know if you are ready to move your Fixed Assets from your spreadsheets or databases to Dynamics NAV, eFood, or Ceres? If you answer yes to any of the following, you are ready to take advantage of the improved functionality and automation offered by Ceres, eFood, and Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

• Tired of spending so much time manipulating fixed assets data manually in spreadsheets?
• Wish you had real-time fixed assets information?
• Want to reduce the time it takes you to provide the required tax and reporting information?
• Want to improve your fixed asset reporting capabilities?

Fixed Assets Life Cycle Management in Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Ceres, and eFood

Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Ceres, and eFood help you control and manage the entire life cycle of your fixed assets—from acquisition to disposal. You can manage fixed assets allocation, reclassification, maintenance, and reporting. You can improve your team’s productivity by streamlining your fixed asset management. Automating Fixed Assets management gives you control to automatically track fixed and intangible assets, calculate depreciation accurately, as well as easily complete tax reporting and compliance requirements.

Here are a few screen shots to give you a quick overview of fixed assets life cycle management.

1. From the Main Menu select Fixed Assets (under General Ledger)
2. The Fixed Assets Main Menu includes one-click access to:
   1. Reports, Insurance, & Periodic Activities
   2. Fixed Assets G/L Journals & Fixed Assets Journals
   3. Fixed Assets Reclass. Journals (Fixed Assets Reclassification Journals)
   4. Fixed Assets Registers & Insurance Registers
3. The Fixed Assets Card gives easy access to each Fixed Asset’s:
   1. Book Value, Depreciation Book Code, Posting Group, & Straight-line percentage
   2. Depreciation Method, start date, end date, and automatically calculates the length of depreciation
4. Fixed Assets Maintenance Ledger and Integration with Purchase and Payables Granule
   1. Includes transaction posting dates, amounts, G/L entry number

Here is the NAV 2009 quick reference card with all the essential keyboard shortcuts for NAV 2009 and Ceres 2009. Download the NAV 2009 Keyboard Shortcuts PDF in portrait or get the Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 in landscape format. You can also download these quick reference cards from our ERP resources library.

One of the benefits of the new Role Tailored Client (RTC) offered by Dynamics NAV 2009 is the ability users now have to personalize their own Role Center, Pages, and Cards to fit their specific daily business processes. Unlike previous versions, most personalization can be performed without any modifications to the base product. For example, the following is the standard – out of the box – Dynamics NAV 2009 Order Action Pane.

Standard Action Pane (no RTC Personalization)

Out-of-the-box Dynamics NAV 2009 Order Action Pane

If the order processor is required to Calculate Delivery Fees, then Calculate Grants prior to Post & Printing the Orders, using RTC the user could personalize their Order Action Pane to mirror that process flow and increase their productivity each time they perform these tasks.

Order Action Pane with RTC Personalization

Role Tailored Client Personalization in Dynamics NAV 2009

This is just one example of the robust nature of Role Tailored Client Personalization available in Dynamics NAV 2009. RTC personalization can be performed throughout the entire product on Journals, List Pages, Cards, Fast Tabs on Cards, etc… the possibilities and opportunities for productivity improvements and improved business processes are endless.

Role Tailored Client Personalization can also be deployed by Profile to multiple users. An administrator can access a Profile in Configuration Mode and personalize a Profile then deploy those changes to anyone who is also assigned that specific Profile.  To do so the Administrator will need access to the Classic Client. Follow the steps below to deploy a RoleTailored Client Profile to each user with the Profile you have personalized.

Mass Deployment of RTC Profile in Dynamics NAV 2009

Make yourself Administrator for the Profile

1. Launch the Classic Client
2. Go to Administration > Application Setup > RoleTailored Client > Profiles
3. Find the Profile in question; here you can hit F5 to view the list.
   1. For demonstration purposes we will use the “Agency Order Processor” Profile.
4. Add your login as the administrator for this profile
   1. Uncheck the Default Role Center (if it is checked.)
   2. Place cursor in the Owner ID field then click the Assist Button to select your user name
   3. Recheck Default Role Center

Create a Role Tailored Client Profile in Dynamics NAV 2009

Open Role Tailored Client in Configuration Mode

1. Open a Command Prompt
   1. Start > Command Prompt (or Start > Run… then type “CMD” and hit Enter


Open a Command Prompt in NAV 2009

2. Change to the directory containing the RoleTailored client executable.
   1. Type the following command:
      cd c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Dynamics NAV\60\RoleTailored Client
3. Open the RoleTailored client in configuration mode.
   1. Type the following command:
      Microsoft.Dynamics.Nav.Client.exe -configure -profile:”order processor”


Role Tailored Client Command Prompt

4. The RoleTailored client opens in Configuration Mode. NOTE: There is no indication you are working in “Configuration Mode.”


Configuration Mode Dynamics NAV 2009

5. Once you have configured your screens accordingly, exit Dynamics NAV 2009. The next time users who are assigned this profile log in, they will see these changes.
6. You can now remove yourself as the Administrator for this Profile (see above)