One of the well kept Microsoft Dynamics GP Extender secrets – is that you can have different eXtender windows pop up based upon the data you are working with. For Example, you may want to capture extra information about an inventory code but the data you need to capture is different depending on the inventory item. Lets say you sell both telephones and hard drives. For the telephone you need to track (make, model, color, hands free, number of lines, and a host of phone features such as call back and number storage) while for the hard drive you need different information (storage capacity, make, connection types, connection speed, Mac support etc)
Using Extender you do not need the user to be aware of the different data types. Users simply need to open the item extras window (or have it pop up automatically) and Extender will ask for the correct information based on the item currently open in the inventory screen.
So how do you do this?
1. Create two independent Extender windows with both linked to item maintenance
2. Use the window Groups function to link these two windows together. Call this group ‘Item Details ‘ or a similar useful descriptor. You are able to group in here as many windows as you require, so it might be just two or you can have 50 different windows for inventory.
3. Use the conditions section to define under what circumstances you want this window to open. In this case we have said “if the item number = ‘INSTALL'” open the Extender install window. You can use any field from the main GP screen in your condition. (e.g. you can use item class, price list etc).
4. Set this group (under options) to either auto open, leave it as a manual exercise or add a hot key CTRL E for Extra is good. (using a hot key is useful in that no matter where the user is they can hit CTRL E and be sure the extra window will open).
That’s it. Next time you open the item window and select one of these items – the correct eXtender window will be available.
Using your imagination you can use this in many ways, and not just with inventory. You can have different windows pop up based on zip code, state, salesperson, customer class, vendor class, price list and so forth.
This functionality is available with both Microsoft Dynamics GP Extender as well as with Extender Enterprise.
When to Show it?
All the time. You can see how easy it is to build this scenario, and if you want to differentiate GP from AX, NAV, Sage, Accpac etc then this is a great way. Then have your prospect ask to see how Accpac can configure data specific user defined fields – during the demo?
In you pre-sales discovery find a ‘need’ for this functionality. It is something you know the opposition can not do, so find a need and change the customers expectations of an ERP.
Changing the ERP Game with eXtender
