20090212 Dynamics Ax Workflow

Dynamics AX - Workflow

Czeslawa Langowska

[email protected]

Support Specialist

mailto:[email protected]

Agenda

• Dynamics AX workflow functional– How does it look like?

– Which workflows are standard?

– How do you configure those?

• Workflow from a technical point of view– How do develop a workflow in Ax2009

– How is Workflow orchestrated in AX 2009 – with windows workflow foundation

• Tips and tricks around Dynamics AX and integrated technologies

• Q&A

AX2009 WORKFLOW

FUNCTIONAL

ANOUK THOMAS

DEMO – EXPENSE

MANAGEMENT

Purchase Requisition

Out-of-the-Box Workflow Templates

• General Ledger– General journal, ledger allocations, fixed assets, fixed assets budget

• Accounts Receivables– Payment journal, draw bill of exchange journal, protest bill of exchange journal, redraw bill of

exchange journal, remittance journal, settle bill of exchange journal

• Accounts Payables– Invoice register, invoice approval journal, invoice journal, payment journal, draw promissory note

journal, redraw promissory note journal, remittance journal, settle promissory note journal

• Trade and Source– Purchase requisition approval

• Project Accounting– Project purchase requisition approval

• Expense Management– Cash advance request template, expense template, non-project line item workflow template,

project expense line workflow template

Workflow Overview

Workflow Template

Workflow

Configuration Runtime

Workflow Instance

Workflow Task

Workflow Approval

Workflow Task

Workflow Step

Workflow Step

Workflow Step

WorkflowCompleted

Isaac

Ken

Design

Workflow Started

Michael

WORKFLOW CONFIGURATION

Summary

• Fully “embedded” in the system

• Out-of-the-box templates

• Easy to configure, to customize

• Delegate options

• Safe limits

– 1 person approves

– Multiple people approve

– Majority or percentage of people approve

– 1st line manager

• Approval based on role, hierarchy or user

• Escalation

• Multiple languages

• Version management

AX2009 WORKFLOW

TECHNICAL

CZESLAWA LANGOWSKA

DAX 2009 Workflow architecture

Workflow topology

• Workflow infrastructure consists of:

– Workflow runtime for Internet Information Services (IIS)

– Workflow runtime for Application Object Server (AOS)

• Workflow can be installed on the same IIS server (farm) along with Enterprise Portal, Application Integration Framework (AIF) Web services and SQL Reporting Services (although it is recommended to use dedicated IIS)

• While planning your system topology, you need to estimate the added load that workflow activities will generate on the workflow server and the database

• If you have two users submitting document to Workflow, two instances are started

How workflow is executed

Installation of DAX 2009 Workflow• Before installing Workflow set up the Workflow system account

and Workflow execution account in Administration -> Setup -> Security -> System Service Accounts

Configure Workflow accounts

• Workflow system account – Provides table access to the Workflow infrastructure. The Workflow Web server (IIS) uses this account to communicate with DAX (AOS).

• Workflow execution account – This account is used for running application business logic and accessing DAX data

– The domain account must selected for Workflow system accont \ workflow execution account:

• Be a dedicated account

• Have a password that does not expire

• Have minimal access to network resources

Running axSetup.exe

• axSetup will install:

– Internet Information Services (IIS) when is not installed

– ASP.NET 2.0

– Microsoft Dynamics AX .NET Business Connector

– .NET 3.5 Framework which contains Windows Workflow Foundation

What does axSetup do?• You have to create Web site before you run axSetup

otherwise Workflow will be installed on Default Web Site

• Create a virtual directoryMicrosoftDynamicsAXWorkflow50 for Workflowlocated under selected Web site in IIS. The content of the virtual directory will be located at \Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics AX\50\Workflow

• Create an application poolMicrosoftDynamicsAXWorkflow50 for the virtualdirectory. This application pool will run as .NET Business Connector proxy account

• After installation coplete add Workflow Web site to trusted sites on AOS server to enable AOS server to communicate with Workflow Web Services

Workfolow Infrastucture Configuration wizard

• Wizard is available in Administration -> Setup -> Workflow infrastructure wizard

• Configure Workflow processing batch job (WorkflowMessage processing – classSysWorkflowMessageQueueManager)

• Configure the Workflow due date batch job (WorkflowDue date expiration – classWorkflowWorkItemDueDateJob)

Problem with Workflow (1/2)

• On Windows 2008 when you run Workflow infrastructure wizard during validation you get error „The request failed with HTTP status 401: Unauthorized and in event viewer following error is logged:

Log Name: Application

Source: ASP.NET 2.0.50727.0

Event ID: 1314

Level: Information

Event message: File authorization failed for the request.

Application information:

Application domain: /LM/W3SVC/1/ROOT/MicrosoftDynamicsAXWorkflow50-4-128727879546410661

Trust level: Full

Application Virtual Path: /MicrosoftDynamicsAXWorkflow50

Application Path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics AX\50\Workflow\

Request information:

Request URL: http://be-czlangow05/MicrosoftDynamicsAXWorkflow50/AxWorkflowInstance.asmx

Request path: /MicrosoftDynamicsAXWorkflow50/AxWorkflowInstance.asmx

User: EUROPE\BE-CZLANGOW03$

Is authenticated: True

Problem with Workflow (2/2)

• AOS account does not have permission for path „\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics AX\50\Workflow\ „

• To solved this problem is enough to give AOS account (in my case EUROPE\BE-CZLANGOW03) read permissions for that folder:

How to mantain Workflow

• Basic -> Inquiries -> Workflow history we can check every workflow special the one which were Stopped(Error) and verify what was the reason

• In event viewer there is new node added called Microsoft Dynamics AX Workflow (in Windows 2008 you can find it under Application and Services Logs:

How to mantain Workflow

• You can use Tutorial_WorkflowProcessor form in AOT \ Forms node to simulate batch processing for workflow (as well as for testing purposes)

Several instances of Workflow on one IIS server

• Common question from partner

• It is not possible with Dynamics AX 2009 RTM and with SP1, although we are aware of this problem

• Sustain engineering delivered the hotfixKB960801.

• Hotfix should be install and in web.config of Workflow you will be able to set up Configuration which BC.NET should use to connect AOS

<appSettings>

<add key="BUSINESS_CONNECTOR_CONFIGURATION" value="TestBC"/>

</appSettings

OR

<add key="BUSINESS_CONNECTOR_CONFIGURATION" value="c:/yourconfigfile.axc" />

Troubleshooting workflow• Is there a number sequence for configuration IDs?

Basic -> Setup -> Settings for workflow

• If you use the WorkflowWorkCalendarDueDateProvider, are there valid working times in the system to assign a work item to?

Basic -> Common forms -> Calendar

• Is workflow installed? By default, workflow may not be installed.

• Is Microsoft Share Point installed? By default, Share Point and other Web programs may use the IIS Default Web Site. Create a new web site URL for workflow on a different port using IIS Manager.

Troubleshooting workflow

• Do you have rights to run workflow? A valid security account must be set up.

Administration -> Setup -> User groups click on Premissions Viewing: Workflow

• Do you have a valid workflow URL for the Internet Information Service (IIS)? To validate your workflow URL for IIS, on the Setup pane in the Basic -> Setup -> Setting for workflow click the Administration tab, and then click Validate.

• Are workflow system accounts set up for workflow? Administration -> Setup -> Security -> System service accounts, set an Alias and Network domain for the Workflow System Account and the Workflow Execution Account.

Troubleshooting workflow• Look into Basic -> Inquiries -> Workflow history is

there any error mentioned?

• Look into Microsoft Dynamics AX Workflow event log – is there any errors mentioned?

• Look into Application event log – is there any errors mentioned from BC.NET ? Is BC.NET started correctly? If it is you will get Information:

Microsoft Dynamics AX Business Connector Session 10.

Dynamics .NET Business Connector has been started.

System Information:

PID: 5092

Component: C:\Windows\assembly\GAC_64\Microsoft.Dynamics.BusinessConnectorNet\5.0.0.0__31bf3856ad364e35\Microsoft.Dynamics.BusinessConnectorNet.dll

Registration: .Net

Build number: 593

Configuration: BCDebug

System directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Dynamics AX\50\Client\

Application: -

Database: -

AOS: BE-CZLANGOW03

X++ debugging: Enabled

BC.NET does not start

• When you run Workflow BC.NET does not start and error is logged:

Session log on for Microsoft Dynamics failed.

Dynamics Adapter LogonAs failed.

Microsoft.Dynamics.Framework.BusinessConnector.Session

.Exceptions.FatalSessionException

…

Microsoft.Dynamics.BusinessConnectorNet.NoIISRightsExc

eption

• The “Enterprise Portal Framework” license is required because the DAX workflow runtime ultimately uses the .NET Business Connector

Refereneces

• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 White Paper: Integration of Workflow Capabilities into Journalshttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=92DB8FD7-50D7-495E-BAB8-B97144D762B2&displaylang=en - The journals capable of being integrated with workflow approvals must originate in theLedgerJournalTable and be accessible by the LedgerJournalTableForm. Currently only thosejournals defined in General ledger > Setup > Journals may be integrated with workflow. This white paper identifies the areas where code needs to be added or modified to enable workflowapprovals integration for a specific journal type.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=92DB8FD7-50D7-495E-BAB8-B97144D762B2&displaylang=en










Refereneces

• Using Microsoft Dynamics Ax 2009 Workflow controls in EP(http://blogs.msdn.com/solutions/archive/2008/07/30/using-microsoft-dynamics-ax-2009-workflow-controls-in-ep.aspx )

• Developing a Workflow (How Do I in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 SDK)(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc967389.aspx )

http://blogs.msdn.com/solutions/archive/2008/07/30/using-microsoft-dynamics-ax-2009-workflow-controls-in-ep.aspx


















http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc967389.aspx



AX2009 TIPS & TRICKS

INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES

CZESLAWA LANGOWSKA

Dynamics AX 2009 – Integrated technologies

MS SQL 2008 and DAX 2009 Reporting extensions

• DAX 2009 RTM version – need hotfix KB957312 which can be downloaded: https://mbs.microsoft.com/knowledgebase/KBDisplay.aspx?scid=kb$EN-US$957312&wa=wsignin1.0– please note that axSetup should be patched and file

Microsoft.Dynamics.Setup.ReportingServices.dll should be copied

– Kernel and application hotfix should be also installed

• DAX 2009 SP1 contains hotfix – but also needs to patch file Microsoft.Dynamics.Setup.ReportingServices.dll for axSetup from RTM version – please read Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 SP1 Install Guide.pdf (https://mbs.microsoft.com/downloads/customer/AX/2009sp1/Microsoft_Dynamics_AX_2009_SP1_Install_Guide.pdf)– Then you can install Reporting extensions from RTM axSetup

– After you will be able to apply SP1 on Reporting extension component

https://mbs.microsoft.com/knowledgebase/KBDisplay.aspx?scid=kb$EN-US$957312&wa=wsignin1.0




https://mbs.microsoft.com/downloads/customer/AX/2009sp1/Microsoft_Dynamics_AX_2009_SP1_Install_Guide.pdf


Double hop issue• Error:

– An Error has occurred while establishing as connection to the Analysis Server or

– Reports don‟t display in the EP website from a Client Browser not local to the IIS server Cannot read information from SQL Server Reporting Services. Validate that the Report Manager URL is correct

• When:

We have 3 physical machines:– SQL Server with Reporting Services + OLAP service

– AOS server

– MOSS 2007 Server

• Solution:– Setup Service Principle names (SPN) on each server to allow the passing of

Kerberos certificate

• References:– MSDN blog: Enterprise Portal Kerberos Delegation for connecting to

Reporting/Analysis Services on a different box

– TechNet blog: Understanding Kerberos Double Hop

– TechNet webcast: How to understand, implement, and troubleshoot Kerberosdouble-hop authentication

– KB 917109: How to configure SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services to useKerberos authentication

http://blogs.msdn.com/solutions/archive/2008/02/28/enterprise-portal-kerberos-delegation-for-connecting-to-reporting-analysis-services-on-a-different-box.aspx




















http://blogs.technet.com/askds/archive/2008/06/13/understanding-kerberos-double-hop.aspx





http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887682































Why double hop issue?

UserServer 1 Server 2

• The problem starts when Server 1 is acting on behalf of the

authenticated user. As long as Server 1 would access Server 2

with his own Computer / Service Account we would not have

any issue. But sometimes the data returned by a Server needs

to be "Security Trimmed" (not every user is allowed to see

everything) and this is the case in our scenario. So Server1

needs to authenticate to Server2 again as the User.



• Basic authentication – sends use credential (User name,

Domain name and password) as clear text so it can be easly

passed to Server2 – not recomended and Enterprise Portal does

not support this

• NTLM – Windows Integrated – does not send credential as clear

text instead client is sending unique hash with user credential. To

verify hash the Domain Controller is involved too, comparing own

build hash with hash sent by client. It works fine for Server1, but

then Server1 has to build new hash to get authenticated to

Server2, but Server1 does not know password so it not

authenticated to Server2 - double hop issue



• Kerberos – introduced with Windows 2000 and requiries

Active Directory. Kerberos authentication sends „tickets”

which is issued by Active Directory Domain Controller.

So the client (user) is sending Server1 Kerberos ticket.

Server1 can reuse the ticket received and pass it to

Server2. This concept is called „delegation”

If you want to know more, the following blog is a good starting point:









Set up Kerberos for DAX environment

• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 White Paper: Configuring Kerberos Authentication with Role Centers: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=be720eb3-649a-49ff-b019-a1e4e7af6b47&DisplayLang=en

• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 White Paper: Configuring Enterprise Portal and Role Centers with SQL Reporting

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3D2463FC-EA13-40EF-A375-2DA2F379652C&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=be720eb3-649a-49ff-b019-a1e4e7af6b47&DisplayLang=en




















OLAP default cubes are not processing

• OLAP Cubes are built assuming a full Demo license key, once different license is applied cubes cannot be proccessed

• Repairing Default OLAP Cubes White Paper for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28CDB057-416A-497E-A7E0-8D52C4EB1BFB&displaylang=en )

• Reducing cubes is a semi-automated process (AX functionality does only partof the work)

• There is a white paper that should be followed by a customer or a partnerwhen reducing pre-built cubes at a customer site.

• This is a developer scenario: white paper assumes following skills

– Understand OLAP concepts

– Familiarity with SQL server BI development studio (SQL 2005 or SQL2008)

• Time needed: 2~4 Hrs

– Dependent on skill level of the developer/partner

– Depends on the amount of Licenses reduced from the full configuration

• After reducing pre-built cubes, analytics content needs to be reduced(OLAP Reports exposed via role centers or menu items, KPIs )– Time needed: 1~3 Hrs

– Depends on the amount of Licenses reduced from the full configuration

– Depends on the number of Role Center pages used

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=28CDB057-416A-497E-A7E0-8D52C4EB1BFB&displaylang=en














Role center

• How can I get information what reports and what KPIs are used on the Role Center?

• https://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/ax/using/ax_rolecenterreference.mspx you will find every Role Center detailed described (..\Documents\Pizza sessions\FIM_Accounting_Mgr.doc)

• In document you can find

– The list of used WebParts

– The list of Reports from SQL Reporting Services (type: chart, report; if it is depended on queue, select criteria)

– List of KPIs – and how they are counted

https://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/ax/using/ax_rolecenterreference.mspx

https://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/ax/using/ax_rolecenterreference.mspx

..\Documents\Pizza sessions\FIM_Accounting_Mgr.doc








Problem with deploying DAX 2009 reports

• During report deployment you get error:– Microsoft Dynamics AX Reporting Project Deployment: The

following components have not been installed or are not configured correctly: AL.exe Microsoft Domain-Specific Language Tools

• Rootcause:– Required components are not installed

• Solution:– Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Shell (isolated mode)

Redistributable PackageNOTE: Install regardless of operating systemStep 1 – Save the download locallyStep 2 – Extract the packageStep 3 – run the vs_appenvredist.msi

– Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5NOTE: Install regardless of operating system

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ACA38719-F449-4937-9BAC-45A9F8A73822







http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=F26B1AA4-741A-433A-9BE5-FA919850BDBF







Dynamics AX SSRS reports not working

• Enterprise Portal (EP) web site runs but not the reports in the EP web parts:

– Dynamics Adapter LogonAs failed or

– Microsoft.Dynamics.BusinessConnectorNet.LogonFailedException

• Rootcouse

– Execution account for SQL Reporting Services is setup

• Solution:

– Leave execution account blank on SSRS 2005 or set it to BC proxy account on SSRS 2008

Dynamics AX SSRS stopped working

• When you try to run AX report you get error:

– An attempt has been made to use a data extension 'AXDATAMETHOD' that is not registered for this report server. (rsDataExtensionNotFound) or data extension 'AXQUERY' and 'AXADOMD'

• Rootcause:

– SSRS updates or Service Packs remove entries from rsreportserver.config file

• Solution

– Reinstall reporting extensions

– Backup copy of \Program Files\ Microsoft SQL Server \MSSQL.<Instance>\Reporting Services\ReportServerand restore it after SQL update

Dynamics AX SSRS reports not working• On the report you get error:

– Query execution failed for data set „Year‟.

Query (9, 4) The dimension „[Ledger period trans date]‟ was not found in the cube …

• Rootcause:– Cubes were not proccessed

– No data in table LedgerPeriodTimeDimension

• Solution:– Check if there is data in table LedgerPeriodTimeDimension if

not run job:static voind PopulateData(Args _args)

{

;

LedgerPeriodTimeDimension::populate();

}

– Proccess cubes

Dynamics AX SSRS reports not working

• You get error:

– Query execution failed for data set …

The dimension „[Master Company Reporting Currency]‟ was not found in …

• Rootcause:

– Exchange rate from Analysis services was not set up

• Solution:

– Go to Administration -> Setup -> Business analysis -> OLAP -> Setup Exchange Rate and setup exchange rate

– Proccess cubes

DAX 2009 Enteprise Portal and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1

• On your DAX 2009 Enterprise Portal you get error:– A ProgressTemplate must be specified on UpdateProgress

control with ID 'AxProgressControl'

• Rootcause:– .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is intalled on EP machine

• Solution:– Uninstall .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 and install .NET

Framework 3.5

– For RTM apply hotfixhttps://mbs.microsoft.com/knowledgebase/KBDisplay.aspx?scid=kb$EN-US$957312&wa=wsignin1.0

– Apply SP1 for DAX 2009 – NOTE there is special step needed to install SP1 on DAX 2009 please follow Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 SP1 Install Guide.pdf(https://mbs.microsoft.com/downloads/customer/AX/2009sp1/Microsoft_Dynamics_AX_2009_SP1_Install_Guide.pdf )







KPI does not work

• You get error on you KPI:

– An exception has occurred in data source 'TimeStep'. Details: System.ArgumentException: Field days does not exist.

• Rootcause:

– Date is sent in other format than „en-us‟ so analysis services cannot parse it.

• Solution:

– Change settings on client IE in Tools -> Internet options -> Languages into EN-US

20090212 Dynamics Ax Workflow

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