Microsoft Dynamics AX: Task Guides Demystified

With the arrival of the new version of Dynamics AX, there are a series of useful features that are now possible. Here, we will have a quick discussion of the new task recorder, in Q & A fashion.

What are the Task Guides?

The task guide is successor to the Dynamics AX 2012 task recorder, which allows any user to create or follow a set of guided instructions within the Dynamics AX application. Task guides can be launched from the help menu and the settings icon, and can be created by any user.

Which browsers can I use?

Task guides, along with the Dynamics AX application, can be run from any of the popular browsers. For best performance, use with the following browsers:

• Internet Explorer 11 or above
• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Apple Safari

Where can I save task guides that I have created?

As a user, you have the ability to:

• Save in your company’s Lifecycle Services Business Process Modeler (BPM) repository
• Download a file as an .axtr file, to import to BPM or load manually for each use
• Export to Microsoft word (sorry, no screenshots yet!)
• Save as an .xml file for developers

How easy is the process for creating or editing task guides?

The process for creating task guides is as follows:

1. Create: In the browser, click on the settings icon, then click Task recorder. 
2. Name recording: Enter the name of the task guide, then enter a description. 
3. Start recording: When you finished naming, click Start. When you click Start, you will notice the red recording icon next to the name.
4. Stop recording: Click Stop when you have finished recording the steps. 
5. Save recording: Select one of the options: Save to PC, Save to LCS library, Export as a Word document, or Save as a developer recording.
6. Play recording: Immediately after loading a task guide that you finished, you can play back the recording. To start, go to Settings > Task recorder. Then click Play recording as a guide. 

Select a method of opening the task guide, and then click OK to open it once it is loaded. 

Once loaded, click Open Task guide. 

Click Start Task guide. 

While editing, you can also walk through various steps. 

You also can play any recording based on search results from the Help menu. Each form loads task guides that are relevant to functions based on that form. 

What are some practical uses for the new task recorder (Task Guides)?

• Create Standard Work/Standard Operating Procedures for your company
• Provide self-driven on-the-job training
• Document issues or bugs encountered during the course of business
• Upload to Visual Studio for validation of a process
• Analyze employee work patterns for potential process improvements

What, if any, are some missing features of the new task recorder?

• Ability to save screenshots in the Word document output (users of the AX 2012 task recorder will miss this function, which is slated for future release)
• Ability to save video recordings (users of the AX 2012 updated task recorder will miss this function, which is not currently on the horizon)

By Cody Bess, Functional Consultant for Arbela Technologies

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