Can someone please clarify smartlist designer security for me? My partner says they heard something that designer was only available to power users and SA, which to me seems pointless.
If that isn't the case, how do I get other users the ability to use it?
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Hi Bishop,
Let me list out points which will make you better understanding of security implemented for this feature.
1. Smartlist Designer only accessible to 'sa' user is a bug in Smartlist designer and there is a hot fix available for this and you can contact MS Support for the same. The issue here is there are some SQL functions used to build the SL Designer query and these SQL functions were not assigned to 'DYNGRP' (default SQL Server role applied for all GP users). This fix will be available in GP2013 R2 which is slated to release next month.
Also you can get fix for this issue by executing the SQL statements provide in the post https://community.dynamics.com/gp/f/32/t/117053.aspx
However if you are creating a smartlist using a SQL View you created in the backend you should be sure that they were granted access to DYNGRP.
2. If a non-sa or non-power user doesn't have access to a GP table, it will not show up in SL Designer tree-view. So users can create smartlists using only the SQL Tables they have access to.
3. Once a non-sa or non-power creates and saves a report in Smartlist Designer, it will not show up in the Smartlist window until 'sa' or 'POWERUSER' gives him access to that user-created smartlist object. I agree that it is point less from user standpoint. This is the result of existing security rule for a smartlist object where - A POWERUSER or 'sa' user should provide access to each and every Smartlist. This sounds good for 'Pre-defined' smartlists which were not created using SmartList Designer. But with Smartlist Designer, this should change to 'Provide default access to the User who created the smartlist and consider the existing security only for Other users'.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Is there any way to grant security to modify existing reports or is that not possible?
Mahmuod, I will humbly disagree with your statement about Dynamics GP users not getting access to Smartlist Designer. This was promoted by Microsoft as a great tool for users to modify the existing standard reports, and a higher technical level was not required.
The issue of locking it down and even needing a SA to grant access to a report that a user created seems pointless and a great annoyance from the user standpoint. If there is a table that a user doesn't have access to, then it should not be open to them while using Designer, otherwise, they should be able to access with Developer and immediately have access to the new report. Many times, a user may need to modify the report several times to get the desired result, so timeliness is key.
In my humble opinion, the security rules setup by GP need an overhaul. They are inefficient for the fast-paced needs of business today.. When I need information, it isn't when I can get someone in my IT area to allow me access to a Smartlist Builder/Designer Report that I just created, I need it in a hurry. If you put obstacles in front of users, then the tool will not be used.
Having users being able to join tables, add calculated fields, etc., takes the strain off of IT Departments, and is basic job enhancement skills that will improve user's knowledge of their data, which would benefit their employer as well as the employee.
Microsoft has to be aware that there is a large percentage of GP users that have really struggled with the security rules on Builder and Developer. When is this going to be fixed properly?
Al Bishop
CFO, Service Spring Corp.
It seems I went quickly through your post not considering the main essence of it. The point mentioned by your partner is totally correct, the designer is part of a power user or (sa) account
I may humbly disagree with you though regarding your inquiry to have it granted to any Dynamics GP user, the tool requires a specific level of technical knowledge that is not available with any Dynamics GP user, such as tables names, T-SQL query, relation ship and joins !
Originally, any Dynamics GP users can add or remove columns and create their "own" favorite smart lists without missing with the original smart lists that are shown for all the GP Company users. To me, granting smart list designer for any Dynamics GP user is like having your reports modified through report writer by any Dynamics GP User ..
Thanks, but that seems directly opposite of what I want to do. I don't want to be apart of creating any views in SQL..I just want whomever to be able to go in and modify/create a smartlist.
Smart List designer is a very nice feature that I have been using quite often recently in several implementations. Creating and deploying new smart list through it is quite simple and straight to the point.
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