This is a reposting of an article I originally wrote on my Developing for Dynamics GP blog.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Support Debugging Tool is now GP Power Tools from Winthrop Development Consultants (http://winthropdc.com/GPPT)
You may have heard about the Support Debugging Tool for Microsoft Dynamics GP. A sneak preview of the tool was shown at the Microsoft Dynamics GP Technical Airlift 2008 in May and it was extremely well received. The demo was a little premature as the tool’s release to the partner community was still in the planning stage, but the opportunity to show what it can do to the partners at the conference could not be missed.
What is the Support Debugging Tool?
The Support Debugging Tool is a Dexterity built application which contains a collection of utilities and tools to make the task of supporting, developing and debugging Microsoft Dynamics GP easier and faster.
I originally developed the tool when Microsoft Dynamics Support in the Asia Pacific region was assisting a customer with a situation that produced invalid data in a table, but no cause could be replicated. Looking at the customer’s data it was verified that there was an incorrect value in the table. No one was able to identify when the previously correct value in the table was being changed to the incorrect value.
Using Dexterity triggers and the ability to programmatically control Dexterity and SQL logging, the Support Debugging Tool was built and used to monitor the table field in question and log the steps which led up to the field changing to the incorrect value. It was able to identify the situation and provide the exact scripts being executed up to the point the error occurred. This information allowed the code issue to be identified and fixed.
Since then the features of the tool have been expanded and will continue to expand as feedback and needs demand.
What can it do for me?
The tool currently contains the following Standard Mode features (that do not require system administrator or database owner (dbo) privileges):
-
Manual Logging Mode
Turn on SQL logging, Dexterity script logging, and Dexterity script profiling with a single mouse click without needing to edit the dex.ini file or exit the application. Start logging just before an error or performance problem and stop logging immediately afterwards. -
Individual Logging Mode
Control SQL logging, Dexterity script logging, and Dexterity script profiling individually. -
Dex.ini Settings
Provides an user interface to a number of Debugging Tool, application and debugging related dex.ini file settings. -
Resource Information
Identifies display names, technical names, physical names and resource IDs for dictionary resources (forms, windows, reports, tables and fields) from any one known value. Great for entering obscure SQL column names (physical names) and getting the field’s technical name. -
Security Profiler
Monitors all application level security requests. This is a great tool for identifying the cause of privilege errors caused by hidden windows. -
Configuration Export/Import
Allows Support Debugging Tool settings to be exported and imported using XML files. You can create settings on your system and send them to the customer to use.
The tool currently contains the following Advanced Mode features (that do require system administrator or database owner (dbo) privileges. Dexterity and SQL skills are also necessary):
-
Automatic Debugger Mode
This is the mode where you can create a Dexterity trigger to execute off almost any event. It can then run a sanScript script (which can include SQL queries) to check for some sort of error condition. While this mode is active, the system will be logging all Dexterity and SQL activity and so when the error condition occurs the complete logs of the events leading up to the condition have been captured. -
Dictionary Control
This window allows the application dictionaries in the system to be control without manually editing the Dynamics.set launch file. You can disable triggers and use of alternate windows and these changes can be remembered for next login. Great for “removing” 3rd party add-ons when testing. You can also re-order products in the Dynamics.set launch file to resolve potential clashes between 3rd party add-ons.
-
XML Table Export
You can select any number of tables from any product in the system and export them as a single XML file. This can be used to backup demo or test data, or can be used to obtain specific data from the customer without sending a backup of the entire database.
-
XML Table Import
You can import back any table(s) previously exported using the XML Table Export tool. -
Runtime Execute
This is a Dexterity sanScript editor which can be used to execute any script in the context of any dictionary. It includes a number of helper functions to make working across dictionaries easier. Sometimes fixing data is much easier in a procedural language environment rather than a SQL query.
-
SQL Execute
This is a mini SQL Query Analyzer which can be used to execute almost any Transact-SQL script. It includes the ability to automatically translate Dexterity technical names for tables and fields into their physical name equivalents used by SQL. No need to install the SQL Administration tools just to run a quick query.
-
Configuration Maintenance
This option just allows the settings in the tool to be cleared if they are no longer needed.
NOTE: While in Standard Mode, the Automatic Debugger Mode can be active, it just cannot have any settings changed.
More Information
For more information, please see the GP Power Tools portal, which replaced the Support Debugging Tool Portal.
Please add your feedback as comments, will this tool be useful to you?
David
This article was originally posted on the Developing for Dynamics GP Blog and has been reposted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.
PingBack from http://blogs.msdn.com/developingfordynamicsgp/archive/2008/07/11/microsoft-dynamics-gp-technical-airlift-2008.aspx
Dave, this is superb! Thanks for the update and all the other wonderful posts!
Jivtesh
Can not wait for this tool. As a ‘patient’ partner when to expect to release the product for BETA testing?
Posting from Dynamics GL Blogster
http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2008/07/microsoft-dynamics-gp-support-debugging.html
Sound like good
I’m waiting for that tools
Thank David
Posting from the Dynamics GP Blogster
http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2008/08/first-look-at-support-debugging-tool.html
Posting from DynamicAccounting.net
http://msdynamicsgp.blogspot.com/2008/08/support-debugging-tool.html
Fantastic news for the all the partner consultants and developers in the Dynamics GP community. The Support
David, this is most awaited tool. Thanks for bringing to notice.
I have been involved in the Great Plains world now since 1994. During that time I have become known for
Sorry, this is late notice, but I thought I would let you know that I am presenting a free Live Meeting
Sorry, I posted this too late for most people. I thought I would let you know that I presented a free
You might say that I am biased. As the developer of the Support Debugging Tool for Microsoft Dynamics
With the change from the optimistic user and class based security model in Microsoft Dynamics GP v9.0
For the next couple of weeks, I have decided to focus on Microsoft Dynamics GP application level security and methods for resolving security related issues.
From the Microsoft Dynamics GP Application Level Security Series . In the previous post, How to identify
From the Microsoft Dynamics GP Application Level Security Series . In the previous post, How to identify
From the Microsoft Dynamics GP Application Level Security Series . Microsoft Dynamics GP version 10.0
From the Microsoft Dynamics GP Application Level Security Series . When logging into Microsoft Dynamics
From the Microsoft Dynamics GP Application Level Security Series . When access is denied by the application
From the Microsoft Dynamics GP Application Level Security Series . When logging into Microsoft Dynamics
From the Microsoft Dynamics GP Application Level Security Series . When access is denied by the application
Alright, I admit it, this is one of my favorite subjects. I am currently working on the next build of
Some of you might know that I have been busy working on the next build of the Support Debugging Tool
By David Musgrave Some of you might know that I have been busy working on the next build of the Support
The Support Debugging Tool for Dynamics GP 10 has been released by Dave Musgrave. Below is a list of
One of the great things about Dexterity is that you can develop complex customisations without needing
Over the years, I have been asked many times how to call a Report Writer report to make it behave the
Many times on the newsgroups, I see questions from developers new to Microsoft Dynamics GP along the
As a developer there are often times when I need to write and maintain code which works for multiple
Dexterity has a long development history, dating back to the late 1980’s. There were many people involved
Posting from Jivtesh Singh
http://www.jivtesh.com/2009/04/dummys-guide-to-capturing-log-files.html
There have been a number of great articles posted on various Microsoft Dynamics GP Blogs in the last
The Support Debugging Tool for Microsoft Dynamics GP has the ability to create triggers against Functions
The Support Debugging Tool for Microsoft Dynamics GP has the ability to create triggers against Functions
Posting from the Dynamics GP Blogster
http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/2009/05/moving-data-between-microsoft-dynamics.html
A while back, there were several posts in the public Dynamics GP newsgroup about that HR & Payroll
Over the last few months I have been working hard on the next build of the Support Debugging Tool for
This is one of my favourite examples mainly because it achieves something that most people thought was
I did not start this thread, but I thought I would give a bit of insight into the subject. Vaidy Mohan
The Support Debugging Tool for Microsoft Dynamics GP has the facility to create non-logging triggers
A new feature to the Support Debugging Tool for Microsoft Dynamics GP build 11 is the support for the
There is an issue with the Shift+F11 keyboard shortcut which is used by Visual Basic for Applications
Awesome Tool! This would be valuable to have available to install on all client systems!
Couple of suggestions for consideration in a future release:
(1) The ability to have a client export a table to XML is amazing. But instead of importing over the top of data on my side, it would be awesome if we had easy access to either an XML viewer or could create and delete a temporary SQL table to house the data.
(2) Maybe consider expanding the options in the DEX.INI file and then store the settings in a shared location. For example, the suppression of the print dialog, or my most recent pain — the location of the OLEPATH (we just had to change 30 client machines because there is an outstanding issue where a UNC path suppresses the ability to attach documents).
This tool can be used by customers?
Carlos,
Yes – however the download is only on partnersource. So in order to get the app, you’d have to contact your partner for them to acquire it for you.
Posting from Victoria Yudin
victoriayudin.com/…/new-resource-to-find-dynamics-gp-table-and-field-information
Posting from Vaidy Mohan at Dynamics GP – Learn & Discuss
http://www.vaidy-dyngp.com/…/new-resource-to-find-tables-fields.html
Posting from Terry Blaser at Dynamics GP Support and Services Blog
blogs.msdn.com/…/administering-gp-security.aspx