web
You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
close
Skip to main content

Announcements

No record found.

News and Announcements icon
Community site session details

Community site session details

Session Id :
Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Microsoft Dynamics GP (Archived) / Report Writer Issue
Microsoft Dynamics GP (Archived)

Report Writer Issue

(0) ShareShare
ReportReport
Posted on by SwinerBock 20

Ok, I am somewhat new to GP, so bear with me.

For customization of reports, the way I understand it is I go to Tools > Customize > Report Writer, select a Product, click on the Reports button, and from there I can do my thing.  Once I am done, it is my understanding that I need to go back into GP, and select Tools > Setup > System > Alternate/Modified Forms and Reports, and in the window that pops up, select an ID, select the appropriate product, select the Reports type, wait for the List window to populate, expand the appropriate folder, and then look for my modified report name, expand it and select the (Modified) version.  At that point, the modified report is now "active".  So far so good?

 Here's where my issue comes in.  When GP was installed at our site, a certain set of reports were customized for us by a consultant.  Let's say a report entitled "ABC" was customized.  Let's also say that a report entitled "ABCHist" was not customized.  Our users say they now want "ABCHist" to look just like "ABC".  No problem, I think to myself.  I recalled seeing that 'Duplicate' button in Report Writer, so should be a piece of cake.  So I go into Report Writer, find the modified version of "ABC", click the 'Duplicate' button, give it the name "ABCHist", and viola, an entry for "ABCHist" shows in the 'Modified' side of the Report Writer window.  However, when I go back to Alternate/Modified Forms and Reports, I cannot find an entry for "ABCHist" anywhere. 

Only when I pull "ABCHist" from 'Original' to 'Modified' in Report Writer using the Insert or Copy button will an entry for "ABCHist" show up in the Alternate/Modified Forms and Reports.  However, if I go that route, I am not aware of a way I can simply "copy" the "ABC" modified layout over to the "ABCHist" modified layout.

In other words, I am trying to find a way to make one modified report look exactly like another without having to do all the layout changes by hand.

Any ideas?

*This post is locked for comments

I have the same question (0)
  • L Vail Profile Picture
    L Vail 65,271 on at

    Hi SwinerBock,

    Welcome to the Community GP Forum! You will find a lot of help on this forum. Don't forget to 'search', sometimes the same or similar questions have already been answered. No waiting!

    I'll try to help with your question.

    In certain instances you can copy the ABC modified report to ABCHist by editing the package file. It can be a complicated procedure even to a GP veteran. In short, you have to create the .package file using the Customization Maintenance window. The package file can be opened in Notebook, it is a text file - though not one easily recognizable as a report. If the table construct of the ABCHist report is similar to the ABC report, you can edit the report name and table names (to the HIST table). Then using the Customization Maintenance window again, you import the edited .package file to create (or overwrite) the ABCHist report.

    It is nearly as complicated as it sounds. If the modifications are extensive, it would be worth your time to learn this method. There is no source that I know of that details the steps, because each report is different, or lists the reports that can be copied in this way.

    That said, there are several reports that I have modified in this way. If you can tell us which specific reports you are needing to copy, we (I) may be able to help more. I often copy the SOP Documents this way because the modifications are usually very extensive.

    One correction in reading your post. If you want the report to show up in the Alternate\Modified Forms and Reports list you need to use the 'Insert' button. The 'Copy' button will not get you there.

    Good Luck!

    Kind regards,

    Leslie

Under review

Thank you for your reply! To ensure a great experience for everyone, your content is awaiting approval by our Community Managers. Please check back later.

Helpful resources

Quick Links

Introducing the 2026 Season 1 community Super Users

Congratulations to our 2026 Super Stars!

Congratulations to our 2025 Community Spotlights

Thanks to all of our 2025 Community Spotlight stars!

Congratulations to the February Top 10 Community Leaders

These are the community rock stars!

Leaderboard > 🔒一 Microsoft Dynamics GP (Archived)

Last 30 days Overall leaderboard

Featured topics

Product updates

Dynamics 365 release plans