The Period Validation Module for Microsoft Dynamics SL offers a robust way of controlling user entries into fiscal period fields. This may seem a fairly innocuous situation to many accounting users. But sending your accounting data into the twilight zone to end up in the ancient past or the far future can lead to imbalances between all of the balancing forces in your database. Debits and credits, assets and liabilities, beginning and ending balances are all out of whack. And if you send a sleeper into the far future, you may not realize you have a problem for months or years until the hidden bomb goes off. Then you have to get the consultants in, and they laugh at the thought of posting a batch to 2097. They give you a nice bill to rub it in. Get this module and prevent your data from pulling a Rip Van Winkle!

Setting up basic limits is a simple yet effective way to keep users from erroneously or maliciously entering periods too far out of reality. It also provides a programmatic way to enforce some basic business process controls. These limits can be set separately for each of the period controlling modules and all of their sub-modules in the Dynamics SL system (see the sidebar for a list). The past and future limitations are also set independently of each other for maximum control. Finally, set up exceptions for different user roles to allow managers broader latitude in period overrides.

Once controls are in place to prevent misplaced periods, users merely see messages that indicate they have entered an incorrect value. The message provides an explanation of what acceptable values are allowed. Users can then enter a good period value and continue with their work. Using an existing screen as an example, custom tables and screens that rely on periods can be validated by adding screen customizations.

The current period is always considered valid for the purpose of entry. Aside from that, periods will be validated using three settings available to define period limitations:

• Rolling Window

• Hard Limit

• No Limit

For more detailed information on these settings, please visit our website or give us a call at 661.716.1911.

 Download a product brochure for these enhancements here.