December Newsletter - Business & NAV Insights

ABC as a company has always been prompt to respond to our needs, even if it meant having to work remotely. They have always been very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. We would highly recommend them to other companies.

Dawn Smith, Hunting Science

Read and watch more testimonials

Shiny New Gadget
of the Month:

CordCruncher Headphones

Check It Out!

Distance Learning for Dynamics NAV Users

Live instructor, NAV training at your desk!

NAVUG, the independent Dynamics NAV User Group, has developed an awesome lineup of training classes for 2013.

Check out the schedule!

Some of the classes will be led by ABC Consultants.

November Quick Quiz

Enter our Quick Quiz drawing for your chance to win this month's Shiny New Gadget.

Question:

George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America on which date?

a. November 26, 1789

b. November 22, 1791

c. November 28, 1794

d. November 20, 1797

Submit your answer to info@abc-computers.com

A winner will be drawn from the correct responses.

Last Quick Quiz Winner

Question:

If you uncoiled and straightened out a toy slinky, how many feet would it measure?

a. 36 Feet

b. 55 Feet

c. 71 Feet

d. 87 Feet

Answer:

(D) 87 Feet

Winner:

Congratulations go to

Mary Hansen

who has won a

HydraCoach Water Bottle.

Greetings!

If you are anything like me, you are realizing how quickly the end of the year is approaching - only about 3 weeks left! In that timeframe, we'll have Christmas and New Years behind us, as well as finishing the 4th quarter strong, year-end activities, and putting a plan and budget together for next year. Yes, we all have a busy personal life and a busy work life. Let's take a minute and promise to focus on balance, the journey itself and not just the destination. Let's take some time to enjoy each event, be aware of the details around us as we go, and appreciate each other along the way.

This approach does not happen easily - it takes effort, but the payback is worth it! So, here's to a busy, yet balanced and thoughtful, holiday season!

Sincerely,

NewMicrosoftCompetencyLogo

Mark Christie, CEO

ABC Computers, Inc.

Dynamics NAV Developer Tip: Use F9 when viewing Global Functions to jump directly to the code

By Bill Warnke

If you're using the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 R2 (possibly an older SP1 build) or the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 Development Environment, you can hop directly to a specific object's function in code by pressing the F9 key. Older versions of NAV will either do nothing if you're in a codeunit, or if you're in a table, just bring up the code behind, not at a specific spot. If you're in an object, go to View -> C/AL Globals -> Functions. Read More.

Microsoft's New RDP App for iOS and Android

By Jeff Pergolski

When Microsoft announced last month the availability of Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1 (among other things), one item that I overlooked was the release of Microsoft's own RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) app for iOS and Android devices. As someone who spends a lot of time working on different devices and different computers and servers, a dependable RDP app is a must have for any device I'm using. My two primary devices are an HP laptop and a Microsoft Surface Pro. Both of those are running Windows 8 and have the RDP client installed natively, but sometimes I find myself, like lots of other business people I know, holding an iPad. As an iPad user for the past several years, I've struggled to find an RDP app that didn't frustrate me.

RDP apps allow you to remote in to a server or PC using Microsoft's remote desktop protocol. For organizations that have TS or RDS servers deployed (Terminal Services or Remote Desktop Services-the terms are used interchangeably), there are great advantages for both the IT staff as well as end users. In general, network admins find it easier to support users and their applications via TS/RDS sessions, and users aren't as dependent on their local machines, so things are simplified for them. All they need to connect is a working network connection, and they can run their applications on the server. One reason I like to use RDP on my iPad is that I don't have to worry about my kids messing with my work email or files when they are using the iPad. Rather than setting up my email on the iPad, I log in to one of ABC's TS servers and check it. I can also run programs that don't have an app in the iOS app store through TS, and best of all, when I'm finished, I simply log off and there is no corporate data left behind on my iPad...a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) solution, perhaps? Read More.

Error while renaming a company or field in the Dynamics NAV 2013 Development Environment? Here is a quick solution.

By Bill Warnke

One of our Application consultants ran into the error below while renaming a company, and shortly thereafter, another developer ran into the exact same error while renaming a field in a table. What's going on here? This was never an issue with previous NAV versions.

The fix ended up being rather simple: Re-open the database either by picking it from your list of available databases or type in the case exactly as it appears in the dropdown list of databases. That's it. Read More.

Announcing ERP Services

By Chad Williams

At ABC, our goal is always to provide our customers with a timely experience that does not compromise on quality. To support that goal, we have added a new team called ERP Services. Like the ERP Support team, the ERP Services team is focused on providing excellent customer service. However, unlike the ERP Services team, which focuses on break/fix requests that are critical to business operations and require timely attention, the ERP Services team, with a combination of application, development, and project management skills designed to handle customer requests that are not necessarily a part of a specific project, will focus on requests that are more proactive in nature and generally require more design and analysis work. With these two teams, we can offer comprehensive support regardless of need. Using the ERP Services team is the same as using the Support team: customers submit tickets to support@abc-computers.com, which will be sent to either the ERP Support team or the ERP Services team.

About ABC Computers

ABC Computers has been providing a unique blend of business software solutions and computer support services to businesses - small and large - since 1984. Over the last 25+ years, we have earned a reputation for exceeding clients' expectations and developing lasting relationships by first listening - learning about your business - and only then suggesting solutions to help you achieve your objectives.

With 3 locations in Wisconsin (WI), 1 location in South Bend, IN, and staff throughout the upper Midwest, ABC offers business consulting and IT services through two distinctly related teams.

Our business management systems group specializes in financial management and enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision).

ABC's computer support services team specializes in troubleshooting IT problems that disrupt business operations and transforming technology from a burden into an asset.

Donavan Lane, as well as each team member of ABC, is dedicated to your complete satisfaction. Thus our commitment to implementing "Business Solutions...Your Way."