Plumbline Solutions - Software Consulting Services

Newsletter - September 2006


Plumbline Solutions provides software engineering services for Microsoft Certified Partners and Microsoft^® Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). We offer software development, application support, and technology consulting, with a dedicated focus on delivering excellence and building lasting relationships.
Order Management Custom Order Step The Challenge Do any of your customers using Microsoft Dynamics™ SL distribution modules need a way to review invoices prior to confirming shipment on customer orders? Some of your customers may have a need to make adjustments to Shippers and Sales Orders before confirming shipment and printing the invoice. They may also need the flexibility to change terms and substitute items. Normally, your customers using Microsoft Dynamics SL would confirm shipment, close the Shipper, and then print the invoice. They may find it cumbersome and time-consuming to reverse and re-enter the sales transaction if errors are found while reviewing the printed invoice. They may want their managers to be able to review a copy of the invoice and make any needed changes before confirming shipment and closing the Shipper. The Solution A custom order step could be created to address the need to review invoices while they can still be adjusted and to provide managers with more control over the final invoice. This custom order step called “Print Draft Invoice” would allow a draft invoice to be printed as many times as necessary before the Shipper is ready to be confirmed and the final invoice is ready to be printed. The Benefit Using a “Print Draft Invoice” custom step would help companies using Microsoft Dynamics SL provide better service and would cut down on errors occurring during the fulfillment process. Errors would be dramatically reduced when managers and staff have the ability to review a printed draft invoice and to make the necessary changes prior to shipment confirmation. Demo on This Solution For a better understanding of the value this custom order step provides, click here to view our solution overview demo. If you are interested in walking through the creation and implementation of this solution, click here to see the tutorial. To download step-by-step instructions, click here. For more information on how we can provide solutions for your customers, e-mail us or call us toll free at 1-866-510-7826.	Name: Pat Busch Role: Application Developer Team: Solomon Contract Development Background: I began my association with the Solomon product 17 years ago. Prior to joining Plumbline Solutions, I worked for several software companies: Rawhide, Fox Software, TLB/Solomon Software, Great Plains Software, and Microsoft. I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University. Likes best about developing: I learn something new and challenging every day. Hobbies: Family and friends, bike riding, Liberty-Benton High School sports. At Plumbline Solutions, we value hearing from you. Are there specific Hints & Tips, Solutions of the Month, or other information you would like to see in our monthly newsletter? If so, please e-mail us or call us at 419-421-0270, extension 119, and we will do our best to fulfill them. To read previous issues of our Newsletter click here. To unsubscribe from the newsletter, click here and send an e-mail with the title "Unsubscribe." Looking for a third-party application or vertical solution that can be used with Microsoft Dynamics™ SL (formerly Microsoft^® Business Solutions—Solomon)? Access Plumbline Solutions' ISV Link Exchange for a list of add-on products. Would like to participate in the Plumbline Solutions' ISV Link Exchange Program? E-mail us or call us at 419-421-0270, extension 119.

Consolidated Invoicing

Consolidated invoicing in the Order Management module allows you to include multiple shippers on a single invoice. With consolidated invoicing, you can recognize revenue and the related cost of goods sold at the time the goods are shipped.

Here are some troubleshooting tips that we hope will help you when you are consolidating invoices.

• Before shippers can be included on a consolidated invoice, you must first take them through the shipment confirmation order step in Order Management.

• Set up the customer for consolidated invoicing.
1. In Accounts Receivable, open Customer Maintenance (08.260.00) and click the Order Management tab.
2. Select the Consolidated Invoice check box.
3. Save your work and close the screen.

• Make sure the sales order is set for consolidated invoicing.
On the Other Information tab in Sales Orders (40.100.00), select the Consolidated Invoice check box for each shipper that you want to include on one invoice.
Consolidated invoicing is optional on a shipper-by-shipper basis. Certain shippers for the same customer can be excluded from consolidated invoicing by clearing the check box.

• Run the Order Management Consolidated Invoice (40.682.00) report to consolidate the shippers onto one invoice.

• Print the Order Management Sales Journal (40.690.00) to post the consolidated invoice to Accounts Receivable.
On the Options tab, make sure that the Accrue Rev for Consol Invoice Shippers check box is selected. It will default to selected if the Consolidated Invoicing Available and Default Sales Journal to Accrue Revenue check boxes are selected on the Invoicing tab in Order Management Setup (40.950.00).

• Verify that the order type is not Counter Sales Order (CS).
The CS order type is designed to be printed at the time of sale. Consequently, when you use this order type, the Consolidated Invoice check box is not enabled.

For additional information regarding Order Management troubleshooting, e-mail us or call us toll free at 1-866-510-7826.