#GPPT FAQ: What features belong to each GP Power Tools Module?

Each time a new build of GP Power Tools is released (currently Build 33), it comes with new features and functionality and enhancements to existing features. This article is updated each time to show what is new for each release. To see all the release notices, check out the GP Power Tools Portal at the link below:

• https://winthropdc.com/GPPT

Build 21 introduced the three modules (Administrator Tools, Developer Tools, Database Tools) which can be registered separately along with the required System Module. Build 31 adds a new fourth Form Control Tools module. This allows users to only purchase the parts of the product that they want to use.

Below are a number of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) with their answers:

Why was GP Power Tools separated into modules?

When GP Power Tools build 20 was first released in August 2015, the annual subscription was priced with a special introductory offer. It was always known that this offer undervalued the product, but it was offered to help the transition from the previously free (read as subsidized by Microsoft) Support Debugging Tool.

With the release of GP Power Tools build 21 in July 2016, the special introductory offer finished and the pricing model for the product was changed. GP Power Tools has many features and our research showed that some features were not being used by some users. To allow users to only pay for the features they wanted to use, the product was broken into three modules. The fourth module was added for GP Power Tools build 31 in August 2024.

• Administrator Tools
• Developer Tools
• Form Control Tools
• Database Tools

What is the function of each module?

Below is the summary description of what each module does:

Administrator Tools

• Avoid data entry errors! Company based colour schemes provide a visual cue.
• Full administrative and audit control of your security, inc. Deny-Based Security.
• Roll out Dex.ini settings and Launch File changes to all workstations.
• Simplify troubleshooting by disabling third party products and customizations.
• Users can Customize window positions and sizes based on their preferences.
• Manage user licenses with user activity tracking, automatic logout and login limits.

Developer Tools

• Create scripts inside Dynamics GP, using Dexterity, Transact-SQL, C# and VB.Net.
• Create triggers to schedule events, customize Dynamics GP, and debug issues.
• Build custom Report Writer functions, SBA Web Services and URL Drill Backs.
• Create Self Service scripts with parameters for users to fix issues themselves.
• Group resources into projects for easy maintenance and exporting & importing.
• Create Custom SQL Tables, Virtual Fields, and Custom Forms (with VSIT product).

Form Control Tools

• Add “No Code/Low Code” customizations to Dynamics GP for any window or field.
• Replace Field Level Security with a more powerful and easier to maintain system.
• Has over 60 rules to apply many common customizations without needing code.
• Use resource filters to seamlessly apply rules across multiple windows and fields.
• Add Passwords with multilingual dialog prompts to any form, window or field.
• Works with Developer Tools to allow code to be applied across multiple resources.

Database Tools

• Synchronize SQL Server settings to match Dynamics GP Companies and Users.
• Update Logins after moving to a new SQL Server or creating test environments.
• Minimize upgrade issues by validating system data and database table structures.
• Identify and fix issues with company record notes and note index values.
• Recover unused space and apply SQL compression to tables in SQL Databases.
• Generate friendly views and optimize Auto Procedures to maintain performance.

What features are available to all modules?

Get these powerful IT Support features with the purchase of any module:

• Capture and email five different system logs with “One-Click”.
• Capture and email a system status report and screenshots of all windows with “One-Click”.
• Send emails from inside Dynamics GP even with no email client installed.
• Change Dex.ini and registry settings from inside GP, including making GP work well on high resolution monitors.

Are there still Standard mode and Advanced mode features?

Yes, the features are still divided into standard mode and advanced mode features.

Standard Mode features are “user level” features that are safe for any user to use. They only require standard application level security to access.

Advanced Mode features are “administrator level” features that should only be used by administrators, developers or partner consultants. They require application level security as well as sysadmin or dbo privileges on system and company databases at the SQL level. They will also need to know the GP System Password (or GP Power Tools Administrator Password) if one is in use.

What windows are contained within each module?

To be more specific, below is a list of the windows that are contained in each module with the latest features highlighted and build numbers where the feature was added shown in parenthesis.

Administrator Tools

• Resource Information
• Resource Finder (28)
• Security Profiler
• Security Information
• Security Log (20)
• Security Analyzer (21)
• Enhanced Security (22)
• Security Denied (22)
• Security Hidden (22)
• Administrator Settings (A) including Automatic Logout (26)
• Dex.ini Configuration (A)
• Dictionary Control (A)
• Company Login Filter (22) (A)
• Window Position Memory (22) (A)
• User Activity Log (26) (A)
• Login Limits (26) (A)
• Launch File Configuration (27) (A)
• Dynamic Product Selection (27) (A)
• Website Settings (28) (A)
• Product Version Validation (28) (A)
• Workstation Access (32) (A)

Developer Tools

• Trigger Status
• Parameter Inspector (32) (A)
• Runtime Executer (20)
• SQL Executer (20) with SQL Gotos (27)
• .Net Executer (20)
• Project Setup (22) (A)
• Trigger Setup (A)
• Runtime Execute Setup (A)
• SQL Execute Setup (A)
• .Net Execute Setup (20) (A)
• Snippets Setup (29) (A)
• Parameter Lists (21) (A)
• Messages Setup (28) (A)
• Custom Tables Setup (32) (A)
• Custom Fields Setup (33) (A)
• Dynamic Trigger Logging (22) (A)

Form Control Tools

• Form Control Status (31)
• Form Control Resources (31)
• Form Control Setup (31) (A)
• Password Setup (31) (A)

Database Tools

• XML Export (A)
• XML Import (A)
• Database Validation (20) (A)
• SQL Login Maintenance (27) (A)
• Password Reset Email Settings (28) (A)
• Copy User Settings (28) (A)
• SQL Trigger Control (28) (A)
• Note Fix Utility (29) (A)
• Database Space Recovery (31) (A)
• GenView SQL View Generator (32) (A)
• Auto Procedure Optimizer (32) (A)
• Login Control (33) (A)

System Module (available with the required system module)

• GP Power Tools Logging Control
• Capture Screenshots
• Send Email
• Dex.ini Settings
• Calculator (27)
• Administrator Password Setup (20) (A)
• Logging Settings (21) (A)
• Email Settings (21) (A)
• Configuration Export/Import (A)
• Dictionary Assembly Generator Control (28) (A)

Additional windows (available at all times)

• About GP Power Tools
• GP Power Tools Registration
• GP Power Tools Feedback Survey
• Configuration Maintenance (A)
• Setup Backup and Restore (20) (A)

(A) Advanced Mode Feature

How does the menu navigation relate to the modules?

Below is a screenshot of the GP Power Tools Area Page showing the windows on the menus and the modules they belong to:

Click for full size image

Note that windows under the Transactions, Reports and Inquiry sections are all standard mode features.

Can I trial features I am not registered for?

Yes, you can. Once GP Power Tools is registered (the System Module is registered when any of the three modules is purchased), you can open a window for a module you do not have registered. A dialog will open and tell you that the window is not registered and offer to open the window in Preview mode.

Once the window is open in Preview mode (“Preview:” will be shown in the window title), you will be able to use the window with limitations. Some functionality will be disabled while the window is in preview mode. For example: You can create and edit scripts but you cannot execute them.

If you want to trial the feature with full functionality, please just activate a free 30 day trial from the Registration window by clicking the key icon on the individual module.

Note: Certain features in the Database Tools module are not fully functional during a trial period and require a subscription.

Can I use GP Power Tools without registration in the sample company?

Yes and No.

GP Power Tools is a system based module which means that most of its functions are available regardless of which company you are logged into at the time. Because of this, it is not possible to just allow it to be registered when in the sample Fabrikam company.

If you use GP Power Tools on a system where the ONLY company installed is the sample company, then you will be able to use its features in Trial Mode. As soon as another company exists, you will need to be registered.

Note: Certain features in the Database Tools module are not fully functional in Trial Mode and require a subscription.

Hope this explains everything.

David

12-Feb-2019: Updated after the release of build 26 of GP Power Tools.
24-May-2019: Updated after the release of build 27 of GP Power Tools.
11-Aug-2020: Updated after the release of build 28 of GP Power Tools.
13-Aug-2022: Updated after the release of build 29 of GP Power Tools.
22-Aug-2023: Updated after the release of build 30.1 of GP Power Tools.
19-Aug-2024: Updated after the release of build 31.1 of GP Power Tools.
23-Jun-2025: Updated after the release of build 32.1 of GP Power Tools.
01-May-2026: Updated after the release of build 33.1 of GP Power Tools.

This article was originally posted on https://www.winthropdc.com/blog.