Microsoft Dynamics NAV Master Data gathering during Implementation

Microsoft Dynamics NAV Master Data gathering during Implementation

Implementation is a very broad term while implementing NAV/any other ERP system. There are different methodologies for the Microsoft Dynamics implementation like SureStep Methodology, Rapid Implementation Methodology.

There are many stages of Implementation project along with its challenges but, for this article, I am going to focus on one of the implementation project challenges called Master Data Gathering. Master data like Customer Master, Item Master, Chart of accounts and many more masters as per the scope of the NAV implementation. Generally, what I have observed during my earlier implementation of NAV classic versions like NAV 5.0, NAV 2009, is that there was no such in-built configuration package tool as we do have after Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 release. A configuration package is a thoughtfully developed tool within Microsoft Dynamics NAV which gives seamless control over the progress of Master data gathering phase through Config. Worksheet. Also, it provides information about the related tables of a particular main master data table of NAV. All these controls are available in NAV on few button clicks.

Now my concern is what about Microsoft Dynamics NAV older/classic versions? Though we do have Data Migration tool for that, but still how to manage the related table, mandatory field related information of table especially when someone is new to the Microsoft Dynamics NAV technology.

To address configuration package feature in Microsoft Dynamics NAV older/classic versions I have created XML mapping enabled spreadsheet which gives you the similar flexibility in Microsoft Dynamics NAV older/classic versions. This spreadsheet is easily imported through Data Migration tool and also gives you information about mandatory fields, related table and much more information with sample data for better understanding to business users.

Salient feature of the spreadsheet:

• By default some standard Microsoft Dynamics NAV template with data like Country code, Indian State code & Postal code.
• XML mapping enable spreadsheet
• Data validation for each master template field accordingly NAV table Data Type
• Mandatory field information
• Business department wise template grouping
• Reference data for each master data template.

Purpose of this article is to just notify the Microsoft Dynamics NAV consultants that by creating such spreadsheet we can gear up Microsoft Dynamics NAV implementation, it will reduce time & cost of the implementation partner and mainly it will increase the business users/client trust on consultant and implementation partner company.

Thanks!
Jaymesh Shah