FRxBuzz

(On 4/28/10 I updated screenshots and changed a bit of terminology in this post—Jan)

Today’s post is a high level comparison (a Shootout as we like to say in Texas) between the long-in-the-tooth but lovable (sometimes) FRx and its replacement product Management Reporter. I think you’ll see a lot of similarities and I hope this makes the thought of a migration a little easier.

One other item—this is a high level comparison of the user interface. Behind the scenes, things have changed drastically!

Oh yeah, as you probably are already well aware, Management Reporter is/will be available only for Dynamics GP, SL, AX and NAV. If you are running Sage or Epicor or one of the zillions of other ERPs that FRx integrates with, you can skip this post.

By the way, I’m using Management Reporter v2 beta for these screenshots.

One more thing before getting started—today’s screenshots are exceptionally wide, so I’d recommend maximizing the browser.

Terminology

First we’ll start with some terminology changes between the two products.

• Specification Set is called Building Block Group in Management Reporter
• Row Format is called a Row Definition
• Column Layout is called a Column Definition
• Reporting Tree is called a Reporting Tree Definition (which everyone shortens to simply Tree)
• Drill Down Viewer is called the Report Viewer

Row Format/Row Definition Comparison

Here are the FRx row format headings:

And the headings for the row definition in Management Reporter:

There are so many similarities and a couple of new items. One is Management Reporter’s column E, Format Override used for formatting a single row, often with percentages. (I am so very happy about this one.) Another is column I, Row Modifier used to specify a particular book code or period. In FRx it’s accessed from a few dropdown boxes in the Link to General Ledger. And speaking of FRx’s Link to General Ledger, in Management Reporter it’s called Link to Financial Dimensions.

Column Layout/Column Definition Comparison

An FRx Column Layout with a YTD column:

And a YTD Column Definition in Management Reporter:

As in the Row Definition, there are so many similarities. The terminology in the Column Detail section has changed a bit in Management Reporter, but it’s still allowing you to specify the same things that you’re accustomed to in FRx. Compare the Column Detail cell labels down the lefthand side and you’ll see lots of familiar things.

One change within the values available in dropdown boxes is that FRx’s column type of GL has changed to FD (for Financial Data) in Management Reporter. Another change is that FRx’s CUR (in the Cur Period/YTD cell) has changed to Periodic in Management Reporter. But all in all…this feels the same as FRx.

Reporting Tree Comparison

FRx’s headings in the reporting tree:

And Management Reporter’s headings in the reporting tree:

There are terminology changes, but the FRx look and feel is still there.

Report Definition Comparison

There have been so many changes in what FRx calls the Report Catalog screens that it’s impossible to show before and after shots. Instead, here are screenshots of the 4 tabs for the new Management Reporter Report Definition. First, the Report tab:

I’m so happy the Report Date isn’t in a dropdown box I could cry.

The Output and Distribution tab:

The default output type is Management Reporter. This means that the report opens in the Report Viewer. Just as in the Drill Down Viewer, you have print and Excel export options available in the Report Viewer.

The Headers and Footers tab:

Notice the Images button!

Finally, the Settings tab:

I love the control that the Processing order gives when it comes to rounding.

Conclusion

Management Reporter uses so many of the same concepts that FRx does that you should easily be able to leverage your FRx knowledge when migrating to MR.

Speaking of migrating, that will be a perfect time to clean up an FRx spec set and get it in top shape before moving it over. (And if you decide you need a little outside assistance, I do so love cleanup work—making existing reports more efficient and ensuring accuracy at the same time—as well as migrations.) Cheers…Jan