How to add a user date calculated field and a month name calculated field to any report in Dynamics GP

This article describes how to modify Microsoft Business Solutions – Great Plains reports to include a user date calculated field and a month name calculated field. To successfully modify reports, you must first create the two new calculated fields. After you create the calculated fields, you can add them to your report layout and then save your changes. Finally, you must grant security to the report. Detailed instructions are included for each of these steps.

Step 1: Back up the Reports.dic file

  1. Click Tools, point to Setup, point to System, and then click Edit Launch File.
  2. Type your system password if you are prompted to type a password.
  3. Click Great Plains. The Reports.dic file path is displayed in the Reports box.
  4. Back up the Reports.dic file.

Step 2: Open the report

  1. Click Tools, point to Customize, and then click Great Plains.
  2. In the Product list, click Great Plains to open Report Writer.
  3. In Report Writer, click Reports.
  4. Click the report that you want to modify in the Original Reports list, and then click Insert.
  5. Click the same report in the Modified Reports list, and then click Open.

Step 3: Create the first calculated field

  1. In the Report Definition window, click Layout.
  2. In the Toolbox list, click Calculated Fields, and then click New.
  3. In the Name box, type User Date Calc.
    Note: In this step, we recommend that you name the calculated field “User Date Calc.” You do not have to use this name. However, this procedure refers to this field by this name.
  4. In the Result Type list, click Integer. Then, click Calculated under Expression Type.
  5. Click the Fields tab. In the Resources list, click Globals.
  6. In the Field list, click User Date, and then click Add.
  7. Click OK to save the calculated field.

Step 4: Create the second calculated field

  1. In the Toolbox list, click Calculated Fields, and then click New.
  2. In the Name box, type Month Name.
    Note In this step, we recommend that you name the calculated field “Month Name.” You do not have to use this name. However, this procedure refers to this field by this name.
  3. In the Result Type list, click String. Then, click Calculated under Expression Type.
  4. Click the Functions tab, and then click System-Defined.
  5. In the Function list, click Month Name, and then click Add.
  6. Click the Fields tab. In the Resources list, click Calculated Fields.
  7. In the Field list, click User Date Calc, and then click Add.
  8. Click OK to save the calculated field.

Step 5: Add the calculated field to your report

  1. In the Toolbox list, click Calculated Fields.
  2. Drag Month Name to the PH section, to the RH section, or to both sections.

Step 6: Save your changes

  1. Close the report, and then save the changes when you are prompted to.
  2. Click File, and then click Microsoft Business Solutions-Great Plains.

Step 7: Grant security to the report

  1. Click Tools, point to Setup, point to System, and then click Advanced Security.
  2. Type your password if you are prompted to.
  3. Click View, and then click by Alternate, Modified and Custom.
  4. Expand the Great Plains node.
  5. Expand the Reports node.
  6. Expand the node for the series that your modified report applies to.
  7. Expand the node for the modified report.
  8. Click to select the Great Plains (Modified) check box.
  9. Click Apply, and then click OK.

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