Dynamics GP interfaces with Excel in several different ways. The most common ways are through built in functions like Smartlists, Excel Budgets and Dynamics pre-defined Excel reports. These are the base interfaces, but there are also several other methods to link GP data to Excel. Some of the other ways are through an ODBC driver, third party add-ons, an Excel connection, etc. In this article, we will discuss the base methods as well as the Excel connection, as these are the quickest ways to get linked.
There are several ways that Excel can be used with Microsoft Dynamics GP:
SmartList
SmartList is a very powerful reporting tool found in Dynamics GP that provides custom results based on criteria presented by the user. Once the user has created the desired results in the SmartList utilizing the Search and Column buttons on the SmartList toolbar, the results can then be exported to Excel utilizing the Excel button on the SmartList toolbar. This allows the user to further customize the SmartList results by adding custom sorts, groupings, calculations, formats, etc. and other features found in Excel.
SmartList also has the capability to create more advanced exports to Excel utilizing the Export Solutions option found under the SmartList Options toolbar button. This feature allows the user to not only export to Excel, but to apply Macros prior to or post Export.
Excel Budgets
Excel Budgets interface with Dynamics GP. When creating a new budget in Dynamics GP, the option is to create the budget “using Microsoft Dynamics GP” or “using Budget Wizard from Excel”. To utilize an Excel Budget, select the “using Budget Wizard from Excel”. This will kick off the budget wizard in Dynamics GP to create a new budget that links to an Excel spreadsheet.
Dynamics GP budgets can be imported from or exported to Excel. This allows the user to change how the budget data is stored either from Dynamics GP or Excel.
Excel Reports for Dynamics GP
Excel Reports for Dynamics GP offers options for linking to Dynamics GP data. It contains numerous pre-defined reports that may be modified that are directly linked and refreshable. It further is a great tool for quickly creating custom reports directly linked to Dynamics GP data. This tool allows the user to quickly build a report within Dynamics GP and utilize the robust analytical features found in Excel.
Excel Direct links to Dynamics GP
Similar to the Excel Reports for Dynamics GP, from Excel, you can create a direct link to Dynamics GP SQL data. This allows you to link directly to views and tables in GP, which may be refreshed with the current data, when the report is open.
· Open Excel
· Select the Data tab
· Select From Other Sources
· Select From SQL Server
· Enter the name of the server
· Enter Credentials (AD or SQL)
· Select the Database from the drop down list where you want to get the data from
· Locate and select the table or view from the list
· Click Next
· Click Finish
· Select the Type of Connection
· Select OK
· View, Customize, and Format the Report in Excel
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by KTL Solutions