Feature of the Week for Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011: User Interface - Activity Panes & Quick Views

Jeff Suwyn

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User Interface – Activity Panes & Quick Views

Why this feature is cool!

When users log into Microsoft Dynamics SL each day, they can visually see what needs their attention. Activity Panes & Quick Views deliver predefined views of payables, receivables and project information. This allows users to proactively manage business critical situations before they turn into a crisis. A graphical icon shows the number of items requiring attention in areas like overdue receivables or past due payments. Associated with each activity is a quick list displaying the details like vendor, customer or project information. Clicking on an item in a quick list opens the associated Microsoft Dynamics SL screen to get more information on the situation that needs attention.

What’s even cooler is that a software development toolkit is included with Microsoft Dynamics SL 2011 so a partner or customer can create their own custom alerts. Custom alerts lets you decide which scenarios or items you want to be proactively notified of – so you can take preemptive action avoid more serious issues down the road.

Examples:

When the payables manager logs into Microsoft Dynamics SL each day, the action pane displays the latest payables payments due and past due payments. Clicking on the icon, labeled, past due payments, displays a quick list that shows the vendors and the associated AP document reference numbers. Double clicking on an entry in the Past Due Quick List opens the Vendor maintenance screen to view and take action on the vendor. The best part about this from the payables manager’s perspective is that the information is delivered proactively – there is no report to run, nothing to remember – the information is displayed automatically, so it’s very easy to identify, view and resolve issues as they pop up. Clicking an item in the Quick List opens the screen where, for example, the source invoices can be reviewed.

What does it look like?