ERP Consulting Archives

Unlocking the SYSPRO System Audit Query

by EstesCloud | Oct 4, 2023 | Distribution, ERP, ERP Consulting, ERP Implementation, Manufacturing Innovation, Security, SYSPRO

System Audit Query – A SYSPRO ERP Administrator’s Go-To Report for SYSPRO Security Events

Being an administrator of an ERP system is no easy task. Thankfully, SYSPRO ships with several convenient programs that allow an administrator to actively monitor important events that are taking place within the system. One especially useful tool that stands out is the System Audit Query program (IMPJNS).

SYSPRO System Audit

What You’ll Find in the SYSPRO System Audit Query Program

SYSPRO creates security logs automatically as events take place throughout the ERP. These logs are created to assist system administrators to better manage and review security related incidents in SYSPRO. The System Audit Query program is the place where these logs can be retrieved and analyzed. The program allows you to filter a time period for various security and system health-related events such as:

Access having been denied to a company or a program
Any security changes made to Groups, Roles, or specific operators
Logins attempted and any related error messages
Multi-Factor authentication changes or errors
System setup changes and activity related to licensing

Along with information about these events, the report can tell you which operator triggered the event, any notes associated with the event, as well as the name of the computer where the activity took place.

One particularly important event that the System Audit Query program can identify for you is client-server disconnects. These are common problems reported by SYSPRO users and they can be highly complicated to investigate. SYSPRO generally has limited information about these events so the System Audit Query log is one of the few places where you can obtain valuable information about when/where they occur.

Along with the use of System Audit Query, you can investigate specific events even further by using the Job Logging Query program (IMPLOG). This program allows you to review and monitor general operator activity throughout SYSPRO.

For instance, if the System Audit Query reports technical issues relating to a specific operator, you can use the Job Logging Query program to analyze whether a specific program or user behavior is the cause of the problem. Be warned that the Job Logging Query program can take a long time to process if you choose to generate the report without filters. In a busy SYSPRO environment with a high number of daily users, the activity logs for operators will be dense and can take time to compile.

SYSPRO ERP Job Logging Query

A Day in the Life of a SYSPRO Admin

From the perspective of a SYSPRO administrator, actively monitoring the System Audit Query program is essential for ensuring the integrity of both the overall security and general stability of your ERP environment. The role of an ERP system administrator is undoubtedly challenging, requiring constant vigilance to ensure the smooth operation of crucial business processes.

Fortunately, SYSPRO equips administrators with a range of invaluable tools to actively monitor and maintain the system’s integrity. Among these, the System Audit Query program (IMPJNS) shines as a beacon of efficiency and reliability. With SYSPRO and its robust capabilities, administrators can confidently navigate the complex landscape of ERP management, ensuring their organizations operate seamlessly and securely.

Unlock the Full Potential of SYSPRO ERP Security with EstesGroup! Discover How Our Expert Consulting and Cutting-Edge Cloud Technology Services Can Help Your Business!

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Global Cybersecurity Strengthens Digital Defense

by EstesCloud | Oct 2, 2023 | Cloud, Disaster Recovery, ERP Consulting, Managed IT Services, Network Security, Security

EstesGroup Announces Commitment to Growing Global Cybersecurity Success during Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023

Now in its 20th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 is highlighting the growing importance of cybersecurity in our daily lives and encouraging individuals and businesses to take important cybersecurity steps to stay safe online.

EstesGroup is committed to cybersecurity education and training.

What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?

By participating in the 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month, our IT consultants are helping increase awareness surrounding the need for increased national and global cybersecurity. Disaster recovery and backup solutions are no longer enough for businesses, especially for manufacturers and distributors. Founded in 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held each October, is the world’s foremost initiative aimed at promoting cybersecurity awareness and best practices. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, nonprofit organizations, tribal communities, and individuals committed to educating others on online safety.

From mobile to connected home devices, technology is deeply intertwined with our lives. And while the evolution of technology accelerates, cybercriminals are working just as hard to find ways to compromise technology and disrupt personal and business life. For 20 Octobers and counting, Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to highlight some of the emerging challenges that exist in the world of cybersecurity today and provide straightforward actionable guidance that anyone can follow to create a safe and secure digital world for themselves and their loved ones.

Starting this year, the new theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Secure Our World, with the main messaging revolving around four key cybersecurity best practices:

Understanding the benefits of using a password manager and dispelling existing myths around password manager security and ease of use
Turning on multi-factor authentication on personal devices and business networks
Recognizing and reporting phishing – still one of the primary threat actions used by cybercriminals today
Installing updates on a regular basis and turning on automated updates

Global Cybersecurity Partnerships

Cybersecurity Awareness Month continues to build momentum and impact with the goal of providing everyone with the information they need to stay safer and more secure online. EstesGroup is proud to support this far-reaching online safety awareness and education initiative which is co-managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

About EstesGroup

EstesGroup offers cutting-edge technology, global cybersecurity solutions, and private and hybrid cloud services and solutions tailored to empower businesses in today’s digital landscape. Our comprehensive suite of services encompasses cloud infrastructure, software solutions, and managed services designed to streamline operations, enhance agility, and maximize efficiency. Whether you’re seeking to migrate to the cloud, optimize existing systems, or harness the potential of emerging technologies, EstesGroup’s expertise and innovative solutions ensure a seamless transition and sustained growth. With a steadfast commitment to data security and compliance, our technology solutions provide peace of mind, safeguarding your valuable assets and helping you navigate the complexities of ever-evolving regulatory environments. Partner with EstesGroup to unlock the full potential of technology, accelerate business growth, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive global market.

About Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is designed to engage and educate public- and private-sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity to increase the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since the Presidential proclamation establishing Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004, the initiative has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state, and local governments and leaders from industry and academia. This united effort is necessary to maintain a cyberspace that is safer and more resilient and remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come.

SYSPRO UI & Layout Problem Solving

by EstesCloud | Sep 26, 2023 | Cloud, Distribution, ERP, ERP Consulting, ERP Implementation, Manufacturing Innovation, SYSPRO

Troubleshooting user interfaces and personal layout issues in SYSPRO

Throughout the various releases and versions of SYSPRO, user interfaces and layout issues are common. Despite several significant changes to the methods of how SYSPRO stores and saves user settings, these issues are still frequently occurring even in the latest SYSPRO releases. User changes not being saved, pane locations not sticking to where they were configured, and SYSPRO windows appearing off screen are a few of these types of problems. To effectively combat these issues from a SYSPRO administrator perspective, it is important to understand how SYSPRO handles files relating to user settings and program layouts. All these issues begin and end within a folder called “Settings”.

SYSPRO stores personal operator settings in text files within a folder found both locally on the client machine and on the SYSPRO application server. The folder is called “Settings” and can be found in the following locations:

Client machine – “C:\SYSPROClient\Base\Settings”
Application Server – “C:\SYSPRO\Base\Settings”

When a user closes out of SYSPRO on their client machine, any changes made to their layouts or personal settings will be saved to this directory. The client machine syncs the files to the application server and overwrites any non-identical files for that user. The settings are stored on the application server to serve as a backup in case the user gets a new computer or signs in from another machine.

When the user signs in to SYSPRO again, the client machine compares the local setting files to the ones on the application server and restores any missing files or updates existing ones based on the modified date of the files.

As this back-and-forth process takes place, it is possible that settings files become corrupt due to various reasons such as a disconnect between the client and the app server. Thankfully, it is almost always the local files on the client machine that are corrupt and not the ones on the application server. What this means is that it is possible to clear and “refresh” a user’s settings by renaming the client-machine’s “Settings” folder (ex, “Settings_old”). By doing so, SYSPRO notices that the folder is no longer there and recreates a new “Settings” folder based on the files stored on the application server. This is an effective solution to a variety of issues that an operator may experience in a SYSPRO client environment.

Instead of renaming the entire “Settings” folder, it is a good practice to target specific settings files first. For instance, if it relates to an issue within Sales Order Entry (IMP040), you can search the “Settings” folder for IMP040 specific files and try removing those first. When the user signs-in to SYSPRO, the app server files will be restored to the client as they are detected as missing. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, you can then attempt the full renaming of the “Settings” folder.

If you choose to target any specific files, be sure to back them up and restore them to the folder if removing them did not resolve the issue.

Troubleshooting application server file corruption

If corruption is suspected with the application server files, then there is little that can be done in terms of restoring or recovering the user’s settings. As explained above, the app server replaces the files on the client machine in the event of any discrepancies between the user’s settings files. If they are corrupt on the app server, they will transfer and overwrite the local files and remain corrupt. In this case, we recommend seeking support from SYSPRO’s support team itself as modifying the “Settings” folder on the application server can result in potential loss of layouts and user settings for all operators in your SYSPRO environment.

Also, note that SYSPRO is and have actively been updating the amount of information stored on the application server and in the SQL database with each new SYSPRO release. Prior to SYSPRO 8 2021 R1, many types of settings are only stored locally and cannot be restored by the app server. You can try this suggested fix if you are dealing with an older SYSPRO release, however, there is no guarantee that the app server has a copy to restore so the user’s layout may reset to default.

If this fix does not resolve the user’s problem, you can try to either “Repair” or uninstall and reinstall the SYSPRO client on the user’s machine itself. This may help resolve corruption within direct program files unrelated to personal user files. If you renamed the “Settings” folder and it did not resolve the problem, be sure to restore the prior settings folder by renaming the original folder back to “Settings”.

Looking for more help with SYSPRO UI & other ERP system or IT issues? Schedule a free one-on-one consulting session with a SYSPRO ERP or IT consultant today!

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SYSPRO Data Integrity: A Guide to Balance Functions

by EstesCloud | Sep 19, 2023 | Business Consulting, Distribution, ERP, ERP Consulting, ERP Implementation, Hosting, Managed IT Services, Software, SYSPRO

How to Ensure Data Integrity Within SYSPRO – Balance Functions Explained

Ensuring data integrity is a top priority for any software product, especially for an ERP such as SYSPRO. As users go about performing their daily activities, various problems can arise, even with the most mature ERP systems. The most common issues seen within SYSPRO that can lead to data instability are users being disconnected, programs freezing up, or business objects unexpectedly stopping in the middle of processing. With tens (or potentially hundreds) of daily active users, it is imperative for your business that the data within SYSPRO stays consistent. So how does SYSPRO combat data integrity problems and maintain the overall stability of its data? The answer is SYSPRO balance functions!

A balance function in SYSPRO is a detailed process used to correct and adjust database information if discrepancies are detected. They are built in to SYSPRO’s Period-End programs and are supposed to be run prior to posting GL entries or performing Month-End/Year-End tasks. SYSPRO’s balance functions can help “balance” a module by comparing user transaction data to its own control totals and correcting any noticed discrepancies. Some examples of these discrepancies that it can correct include:

GL journal entries that have not been properly completed or are still marked with “in-process” flags if they were abandoned. Users unexpectedly disconnecting from the system can be a cause of this.
Failed inventory transactions. Minor hiccups from bugs or networking issues during inventory transactions can result in inaccurate inventory counts. For example, a stock code may display as having available quantity on-hand but an attempt to issue or release the quantity results in errors.
Specific key documents being locked down by users for maintenance that fail to be released once complete. Again, a potential result of unexpected user disconnects or program errors. These are commonly encountered within sales/purchase order entry and customer/supplier setups programs.

Scheduling SYSPRO Data Integrity Tasks

While most SYSPRO environments generally only run these balance functions during their period-end tasks, it is strongly recommended to schedule balance functions to run regularly. Sites with heavy user activity (including custom business object activity) may want to run balance functions overnight several days throughout the week. The result of this will be an improved and overall smoother SYSPRO experience for all users.

Balance functions are not found separately within their own respective program. Instead, they are usually part of and located within period-end programs. The naming convention of some of these programs may not be clear and it is not easy to identify all of them. As such, here is a full list of the programs within SYSPRO that contain or can perform the functionality of a “balance function”:

AP Period End
AR Period End
AR Bank Deposit Slip
Cash Book Period End
Assets Period End
Inventory Period End
Sales Order Purge
Purchase Order Purge
GRN Purge
Sales Analysis Update

It is imperative to understand that some of these programs contain critical data-altering functionality within SYSPRO relating to period-end module closures or purging of data. You should tread with caution when accessing these programs and ensure you only have “Balance” selected. NOT any unwanted options pertaining to period-end and/or data purge functionality!

Some of the above-listed programs may have an option called “Reset lowest unprocessed journal”. As it is not always checked by default, it is recommended to enable this option prior to executing a balance function. It performs an additional data-stability feature intended to fix GL journal issues.

SYSPRO Data Integrity Balance Functions AR Period Example

SYSPRO environments that are not familiar with the power of balance functions can (and will) encounter unwanted issues and potentially unstable data problems. Knowing how to utilize, execute, and schedule balance functions is key to ensuring your SYSPRO environment’s data remains both stable and trouble-free.

Ready to discover how an EstesGroup ERP consultant tackles data integrity challenges & ensures your company’s success? Chat with us now & sign up for a free demo to see what your business would look like in EstesCloud!

How to Use SYSPRO Form Actions

by EstesCloud | Sep 16, 2023 | Distribution, ERP, ERP Consulting, ERP Implementation, ERP Selection, Hosting, Managed IT Services, SYSPRO

SYSPRO Customization Station

When it comes to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), SYSPRO is the ultimate software choice for manufacturing and distribution companies in search of flexibility and customization. EstesGroup has an expert understanding of the SYSPRO User Interface, and our team of IT professionals is ready to help your company understand your applications and your functionality. Form actions are an important aspect of the SYSPRO User Interface that are very beneficial to your users. By understanding SYSPRO form actions, specifically how to add, remove, and customize them, users will be able to realize the full benefits of your ERP application.

What is a SYSPRO Form Action?

The SYSPRO User Interface includes implemental form actions that facilitate easier display and data entry in SYSPRO applications for its users. Form actions are “user-definable hyperlinks”, and users can find these form actions in the Action Panel at the bottom of the form.

In terms of functionality, users can configure form actions to identify a SYSPRO program and advance its parameters. Form actions are also important in initiating and advancing VBScript events.

The SYSPRO User Interface has great flexibility in allowing many form actions for each form as well as customized combinations of types. Users can display or hide form actions on a form, and hiding a form action does not negate the form action’s VBScript functionality.

Form Action Benefits for Users

SYSPRO’s User Interface is truly flexible and customizable, especially when your ERP system is deployed in EstesGroup’s Estes Cloud Hosting (ECHO) environment, positioned in our top-tier, highly secure data center. Form actions benefit SYSPRO users in many important ways including:

Adding program shortcuts
Removing program fields
Customizing program fields
Easy display and data entry
Quicker data entry
Data entry verification

How SYSPRO Users Can Utilize Form Actions

How to Add

Once users begin to interact with SYSPRO, understanding how to add a program shortcut will help streamline the experience and save time. In order to add a program shortcut on the same screen, users should follow these basic steps:

Locate the SYSPRO screen where a shortcut is needed (e.g. stock codes).
Select the desired field property you would like to add a shortcut to, and click on “insert form action”.
Add the appropriate cross-reference.
Once the screen is closed, the shortcut is saved.
Open the field property and verify that the shortcut has been successfully added to the SYSPRO screen.

How to Remove

SYSPRO facilitates the easy removal of form actions if users would like to change or remove an improper shortcut. In order to remove a form action in a SYSPRO screen, users should follow these basic steps:

First, locate the SYSPRO screen where a form action removal is needed (e.g. stock codes).
Next, locate the form action on the SYSPRO screen.
Select “add cross-reference”.
A display box will appear. Select “yes” to confirm removal of the form action.
Once the screen is closed, the form action removal is saved.
Finally, visit the SYSPRO screen to verify that the cross-reference shortcut is no longer available.

Simplifying Your Business With ERP Customization

SYSPRO makes data entry, verification, and manipulation of form actions easy. Users will enjoy the benefits that the ERP system provides with its streamlined and time-saving processes regarding form actions, specifically adding and removing shortcuts.

Beyond this basic understanding of the SYSPRO User Interface and form actions, EstesGroup is available to help users understand these processes in even greater detail. EstesGroup’s ERP and IT professionals are available at any time of the day to assist users with their ERP software needs and questions.

TALK TO A SYSPRO ERP EXPERT NOW

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EstesGroup Fall ’23 Prophet 21 Summit

by Brad Feakes | Sep 11, 2023 | Cloud, ERP, ERP Consulting, Hosting, Managed IT Services, Prophet 21

Prophet 21 Summit Virtual EstesGroup Distribution P21

Mastering Prophet 21 in 2023

This past February, EstesGroup’s own Brent Merritt presented to the Carolinas’ Prophet 21 World Wide User Group chapter on the subject of P21 architecture best practices. Then we went out to a very fine Cajun restaurant with a live band and spicy food. The band was so fun and the food so good that we ended up ordering far too many desserts, in an attempt to extend the evening. I wasn’t hungry for days. Moreover, Brent’s presentation was so well received that we thought it would be a nice idea to give that presentation to a broader audience.

Are you looking to confirm whether your P21 hardware configuration is appropriate? Or are you about to refresh your on-premise P21 environment? Or are you considering scaling up or scaling out your existing P21 ecosystem, to accommodate organizational growth? And what impact will this have on the P21 database or application layers? On September 21st, 2023, Brent Merritt will provide answers to these common P21 questions and more. The EstesGroup team will also present on SQL Server Query Optimization and Web UI Migration Best Practices. Guests from our Partner Network will include DCKAP, Web Connect, and Conveyance.

P21 Summit Agenda

All Prophet 21 Sessions are Noted in Central Time

11 AM: P21 Architecture Best Practices – Brent Merritt, EstesGroup
Noon: Integrated Distribution Commerce for P21 Users – DCKAP
1 PM: From Inbox to Order: Streamlining the P21 Sales Process – Web Connect
2 PM: Introduction to P21 APIs – Conveyance
3 PM: SQL Server Query Optimization – Brad Vandenbogaerde, EstesGroup
4 PM: Web UI Migration Best Practices – EstesGroup IT Team

DCKAP

EstesGroup has long been partners and friends with the DCKAP team. P21 ecommerce is an important topic for many Prophet 21 distributors, so we’ve had a lot to talk about. In 2022, I attended DCKAP’s Round-Up event in Austin, TX, to discuss hybrid cloud strategies.

At last year’s Estes’ Integrate 2022 event, DCKAP’s Aaron Pallares presented a Distributor’s Guide To Breaking Operational Silos. Estes is excited to have DCKAP on board once again to discuss the intersection of Prophet 21 distribution and ecommerce.

Web Connect for Prophet 21

One fortuitous outcome of this year’s P21WWUG CONNECT 2023 event was the opportunity Estes had to start a new friendship with the team at Web Connect. The Web Connect team delivers a suite of P21-integrated utilities that extend and expand on Prophet 21’s native functionality. Whether it’s automating the P21 quoting and ordering processes, providing customers with access to P21 information, or helping P21 sales users access and communicate their P21 sales data in new and exciting ways, Web Connect continues to help P21 users optimize their sales processes. EstesGroup is looking forward to the Web Connect team’s insights on how technology can bolster a company’s Prophet 21 sales processes.

Conveyance Solutions

EstesGroup has been working hand-in-hand with our consulting partners from Conveyance Solutions, often working together both on P21 implementations and P21 optimizations. The Conveyance team brings a wealth of knowledge to the table when it comes to implementing Prophet 21. One such subject is the matter of the P21 API. Prophet 21’s API is a nebulous subject for many of us, as it differs significantly from the earlier P21 integration solutions that predated the P21 Middleware Server.

But just what is the P21 API? What are APIs in general? How is it related to Epicor’s Prophet 21 web version? And how can the Prophet 21 API be put to use to automate processes and integrate the P21 application with third-party solutions? The Conveyance team will be tackling this topic at our Fall ’23 Prophet 21 Summit.

Prophet 21 World Wide User Group – Lake Erie Insights

Earlier this summer, Estes own Brad Vandenbogaerde headed down to Cleveland to hang out with the P21WWUG Lake Erie chapter and to give a workshop on some Prophet 21 SQL query optimization techniques. Unfortunately, some technical challenges prevented him from accessing the necessary server domains, resulting in a more broadly-spanning conversation on P21 SQL Server tips and techniques. On September 21st, Brad will revisit his original presentation on Prophet 21 SQL queries.

P21WWUG CONNECT 2023 Insights

One of the most surprising discoveries from this year’s P21WWUG CONNECT 2023 event was the realization that a huge volume of the user community is still utilizing the legacy P21 desktop application. The migration to the P21 web client has been much slower than anticipated. While many customers are experimenting with the P21 Middleware Server layer, much of what is being conducted against the last P21 2021 version that supports both the P21 Middleware Server and the P21 Desktop client. This creates a problem because that version is a suboptimal way to transition into the Web UI version due to performance issues. Worse still, this version is losing support in the near future. The Estes’ team will spend the final session at the Fall ’23 Prophet 21 Summit addressing this subject, based on the work we’ve performed in helping customers make this important move. What is the best way to approach a P21 web migration from a planning perspective? And what are the most common hangups when migrating to the web version, and how are they most easily resolved? We’ll cover answers to both questions during this session.

The Fall ’23 Prophet 21 Summit Brings Your P21 Problems to an End

The EstesGroup team will be concluding the final session early to allow us to hold a roundtable discussion and to allow our attendees to bring up any and all of their P21 questions. Our P21 consulting staff will provide real-time answers. Epicor Prophet 21 events are a great opportunity for our team to better understand the needs of our user community and to provide some P21 help to our customers and friends. We look forward to seeing you there!