#VSIT FAQ Why am I getting invoiced for or being asked to update Visual Studio Integration Toolkit
Starting in August 2026, the planned changes to the subscription model for 2027 for Visual Studio Integration Toolkit (VSIT) have been taking effect.
This article explains how those changes effect customers and partners of the product and hopefully answers any and all questions you might have. This article has been added to the VSIT Portal: https://winthropdc.com/VSIT
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below:
What has changed with the subscription model?
Almost 20 years ago, David Musgrave created Menus for Visual Studio Tools to allow Visual Studio Tools developers to add menu items into the Microsoft Dynamics GP Navigation. Now called Visual Studio Integration Toolkit (VSIT), the product was provided free of charge, just requiring registration. This was David’s personal gift to the Microsoft Dynamics GP community.
Commencing 2027, the subscription model is changing to include a small fee as maintaining the software and the registration systems has a cost, and it is no longer possible to continue supporting the product for free. This is all explained in the article below, first published in March 2026.
What does the Toolkit and its modules do?
The Visual Studio Integration Toolkit is a Dexterity based suite of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to allow Visual Studio Tools developers to access Dexterity only functionality that is not available from C# or Visual Basic.Net. Today, it is made up of three modules:
- Menus base module: This is the original module which allowed developers to add menu items to the Microsoft Dynamics GP Navigation. Support for Areas Pages was added in Build 15. This module has been provided free of charge since it was created.
- Helpers base module: Added in Build 15, this module adds over 260 helper functions that can be called by .Net developers to perform Dexterity only functions. This module has been provided free of charge since it was added.
- Custom Forms module: Added in Build 18, this module allows .Net developers to create new Dexterity based windows instead of WinForms. Being Dexterity based, these new windows will work in the Web Client when WinForms will not. They also include much of the base functionality expected on Dexterity windows. They also look and function like standard Microsoft Dynamics GP windows. This module has required a small subscription fee since it was added.
What modules do the subscription changes affect?
The changes affect the Menus and Helpers base modules which are required and must be registered for any of the modules in the product to work. These are the two modules that have been provided free of charge for almost 20 years.
Does this change affect the Custom Forms module?
No, the Custom Forms module in Visual Studio Integration Toolkit has always had a subscription fee and nothing changes with the subscription for this module.
However, it is still a requirement that Visual Studio Integration Toolkit as a product is registered, so the subscription fee for the required base modules will also need to be paid.
How much is the subscription fee?
The subscription fee is currently US$100. It will be shown as US$50 for the Visual Studio Integration Toolkit – Menus (required) module and US$50 for the Visual Studio Integration Toolkit – Helpers (required) module. Both modules are required.
Note: In Australia, the cost will be AU$100 and GST will be charged, as per our normal processes.
When does a site need to start paying the subscription fee?
The change comes into effect for the year 2027. So, any site with a subscription expiring on 31-Dec-2026 (or later) will be charged the subscription fee as their new subscription starts on 01-Jan-2027 (or later).
Can I align the renewal date with my GP renewal?
Yes, you are welcome to contact us to get the subscription renewal date changed. Depending on the dates, you might need to pay a pro-rated invoice to align the dates.
If you have other Winthrop Development Consultants products, changing the date will also need a pro-rated invoice to align their subscription renewal dates.
What is the timeline of changes?
The changes are rolling into our standard monthly processes and being implemented as of August 2026:
Start of August 2026: Monthly Renewal Notice Emails will now include the previously free of charge Visual Studio Integration Toolkit modules. Renewal Notice emails are sent each month commencing five months before the subscription renewal date.
Start of September 2026: The first set of invoices for 31-Dec-2026 renewals will be sent via PayPal and the invoice details added to the Renewal Notice Emails. Invoices are sent via PayPal four months before the subscription renewal date with a due date one month before subscription renewal date.
Start of October 2026: The next set of invoices for 31-Jan-2027 renewals will be sent via PayPal, and so on for the following months….
Start of December 2026: New subscriptions for Visual Studio Integration Toolkit will get to the end of the current month at no cost and will need a paid subscription from 01-Jan-2027.
Start of January 2027: All new and existing subscriptions for Visual Studio Integration Toolkit will be chargeable.
Why are invoices due one month before the renewal date?
We send invoices four months ahead of the renewal date with a due date one month ahead of the renewal date. This is in an attempt to ensure that the subscription is renewed before any expiry warnings are displayed and well before the subscription expires. Even if there are delays in payment and processing of the payment, there is a one-month buffer before the subscription expires. The timing with the month buffer has ensured no disruption of service even when issues with payments have occurred.
Why does the Renewal Notice email say UPDATE REQUIRED?
As part of the process of changing the subscription model, it is a requirement that all Microsoft Dynamics GP sites running version 18.2 or later need to be running Visual Studio Integration Toolkit Build 21.1 or later. Sites running on any earlier versions of GP must also have the last build of VSIT for that version of GP installed. If your subscription records show you have an earlier build installed, the Renewal Notice will highlight that an update of your system is required.
Details of the current builds for version of Microsoft Dynamics GP can be found on the VSIT Portal: https://winthropdc.com/VSIT
Why am I being sent Update Notice emails?
We have been sending Update Notices regularly for over 12 months to sites that need to update their installed software. The Update Notice emails are sent to the customer and copied to the partner if one is associated with the customer’s account.
Why didn’t I get an Update Notice email when I do need to update?
If your software needs updating but you have NOT received an email, it is very likely that your registration contact details are incorrect with an invalid email address. Please update the registration details on your system, which will also change our registration server.
What happens if I don’t perform the update?
If you don’t update to a supported build, the discontinued builds will be unable to retrieve new subscription keys. This includes both free of charge keys (starting in 2026) and paid keys (starting in 2027 or later). Without new keys the subscription will expire, and the software will cease to function after a 30-day grace period. After the grace period, added Menus and Areas Pages will no longer display, Custom forms will not open and Helper functions will stop working.
Note: Some older builds will fail to retrieve new keys and not restore the previous keys. This will cause an immediate failure of the subscription without warning. This can occur in the month before the expiry date or whenever the software decides to check the subscription is still valid.
What happens if I don’t pay the subscription fee?
If you are running a supported build for your version of GP and do not pay the subscription fee, the current subscription keys will expire, and the software will cease to function after a 30-day grace period. After the grace period, added Menus and Areas Pages will no longer display, Custom forms will not open and Helper functions will stop working.
Why would I even have this product installed?
Visual Studio Integration Toolkit would have been installed if it was needed by an ISV (Independent Software Vendor) product, by a customization or to be used with GP Power Tools (for menus and custom forms). It is possible that it was left behind after the product(s) using it have been uninstalled.
How do I know if I have the software installed?
There are many ways to check if Visual Studio Integration Toolkit is installed.
From the Control Panel:
- Look for Visual Studio Integration Toolkit XX.XX. However, this is not confirmation that GP is loading VSIT.
From outside Microsoft Dynamics GP:
- Look at the launch file (usually DYNAMICS.SET) for the product ID and Name lines:
5986
Visual Studio Integration Tool
You can check if the following three files are installed, but it must appear in the launch file to confirm it is being loaded when Dynamics GP starts.
- Check if the Dictionary and assembly files are installed: VSTMENUS.DIC and Application.MenusForVisualStudioTools.dll
- Check if the Addin file is installed in the Addins folder: WinthropDC.VisualStudioIntegrationToolkit.dll
From inside Microsoft Dynamics GP:
You can use any of the following methods, Visual Studio Integration Toolkit will not show if not installed:
- Check the Administration Area page >> Cards >> System for About Visual Studio Integration Toolkit.
- Check the menus Cards >> System for About Visual Studio Integration Toolkit.
- Check Help >> About Microsoft Dynamics GP, then Additional menu >> About Visual Studio Integration.
- Check the menus Microsoft Dynamics GP >> Tools >> Customize >> Customization Status for Visual Studio Integration Tool.
How do I know if I am actually using the software?
In the later builds of Visual Studio Integration Toolkit, from the About Visual Studio Integration Toolkit window (see point above to find), click the lower case “i” in the bottom right to open the Visual Studio Integration Toolkit Modules window. It will show which modules are registered and how many Menus, Area Pages or Custom Forms are in use. If all the items are showing zero (0) used, then it is likely you are not using the product.
However, it is possible that additional custom code is calling the Helper functions in the product, and this can only be confirmed by removing the product and having no errors occur from any custom code.
How do I uninstall VSIT if I am not using the software?
To uninstall properly, complete the following steps:
- On all but one machine, from inside Microsoft Dynamics GP: click Uninstall from the About Visual Studio Integration Toolkit. Follow the prompts and when asked, say No to removing the server components. Then close GP and uninstall from the Control Panel.
- On the final machine, from inside Microsoft Dynamics GP: click Uninstall from the About Visual Studio Integration Toolkit. Follow the prompts and when asked, say Yes to removing the server components. Then close GP and uninstall from the Control Panel.
If VSIT has already been uninstalled by manually editing the launch file, you can still uninstall from the Control Panel. This will have left the server components installed, but they will not cause any issues if left behind.
You can only use the Control Panel once the product has been removed from the launch file. If VSIT is still listed in the launch file, the Control Panel uninstall will display a dialog and stop.
Why didn’t I receive any emails about these changes?
When Visual Studio Integration Toolkit was first installed on your system, as part of the registration process, customer contact details would have been entered. If the email address provided in these contact details is not a currently valid email, then we have no method to contact you.
Why didn’t my partner receive any emails about these changes?
Even though Visual Studio Integration Toolkit required registration, there were previously no subscription fees involved, so many sites were never associated with a partner. If you want to go through the partner, please contact us and your partner.
Why am I getting emails when I am not using the software?
We cannot tell whether you are still using Visual Studio Integration Toolkit in your Microsoft Dynamics GP system. It is possible that it was installed as it was needed by another product and never removed, or it has been removed but no one informed us.
We have already removed subscriptions from sites that have not had a current subscription in the last year but, unless you let us know that you are no longer using the software, you are likely to receive emails.
Why am I getting emails when I am no longer using Dynamics GP?
We cannot tell whether you are still using Microsoft Dynamics GP, so if you are getting communications from us that are no longer relevant to you, please let us know so we can update our records.
My partner handles everything, why am I getting emails?
Even though Visual Studio Integration Toolkit required registration, there were previously no subscription fees involved, so many sites were never associated with a partner. Now that means that we only have the customer’s contact details and so will contact customers directly.
If you want to work through your partner, please email both your partner and us so we can change our records and adjust invoicing (if necessary).
I am a Partner and am now getting emails for a customer and product I have not sold?
Visual Studio Integration Toolkit was previously provided at no charge. If a customer is using the product and is already associated with a partner, all communication regarding the renewal of the subscription will be sent to the partner.
If you decide you would prefer Winthrop Development Consultants to work directly with the customer, we can do that, but it will be for all Winthrop products the customer has subscriptions for.
I am a Partner and am getting emails for a site that is not my customer?
It is possible that the customer has changed partner and we were not informed. Please let us know and we will change the customer to a direct customer. The customer can request us to use a different partner if they desire.
I am a Partner and my customer is getting emails but I am not?
Even though Visual Studio Integration Toolkit required registration, there were previously no subscription fees involved, so many sites were never associated with a partner. If you want the site associated to you as partner, please contact us.
How do I know this is not a scam?
This is not a scam. It is a change that means we will be able to continue supporting the product into the future. The changes are well documented and falls in line with our standard processes for software subscriptions. If you ignore the emails and invoices, the subscriptions will expire and the software will cease to function. Come and talk to us face to face at Community Summit in Nashville, we will be at Expo Booth 321.
If your questions were not answered, feel free to contact us and we will update this “living” FAQ article.
David
This article was originally posted on https://www.winthropdc.com/blog.