Book Review - Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Development Cookbook

Dear Friends,

Hope you are having a good time.

Thanks to Velinda from Packt Publishing for providing me with yet another copy of cookbook for review.

Introduction

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Development Cookbook is a handy and a must have book for any developer who is working on AX 2012 R3. It provides with practical scenarios which a developer comes across in his/her day to day work.

About the Author

Mindaugas Pociusis currently a freelance Dynamics AX technical and functional consultant and trainer at DynamicsLab Limited (www.dynamicslab.com). 

He is a Certified Microsoft Trainer for Dynamics AX and has delivered numerous Dynamics AX trainings.Mindaugas has participated in over 20 Dynamics AX implementations. He has held a wide range of development, consulting, and lead roles while always maintaining the significant role of a business application developer.

In December 2009, he released his first book, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Development Cookbook, and then in May 2012, its second edition, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Development Cookbook, both of which are published by Packt Publishing.

In order to obtain a copy of the book, please visit this link

Book Chapters

This book covers the following chapters

Chapter 1 - Processing Data

This chapter covers various scenarios like creating number sequence, merging records, renaming primary key, Executing Direct SQL Statement, Import/Export data from XML file, Building query objects.

Chapter 2 - Working with Forms

This chapter covers topics like using a tree control, Building a checklist form, Creating dialogs using the Runbase framework, Building a dynamic form through code etc

Chapter 3 - Working with Data in Forms

This chapter explains how to create custom filter control, preload images, create a wizard, processing multiple records, Adding image to records.

Chapter 4 - Building Lookups

This chapter is all about lookups - creating a lookup dynamically, using a form to build a lookup, Building a tree lookup and so on.

Chapter 5 - Processing Business Tasks

This chapter walks through various application scenarios like using segmented journal entry control, creating a general journal, posting a general journal, Processing Project Journal, Creating and Posting a Ledger Voucher, Creating and Posting Purchase Order, Creating and Posting Sales Order.

Chapter 6 - Integration with Microsoft Office

This chapter briefs on the various integration scenarios with Microsoft Office Products

Chapter 7 - Using Services

This chapter is all about creating and extending services (AIF and custom services) in Dynamics AX

Chapter 8 - Improving Development Efficiency

This chapter is about building extensions for Code Editor and Personalization forms

Chapter 9 - Improving Dynamics AX Performance

This chapter demonstrates the tools used to troubleshoot AX Performance like Dynamics AX Trace Parser, Calculating code execution time, Using SQL Server Database Engine Tuning Advisor.

Overall, a good book with plenty of code snippets which can be used on a daily basis.

Inside Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Book Released

Dear Friends,

Thought to share with you this below link. Dynamics AX 2012 R3 book is now available...

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2014/08/12/new-book-inside-microsoft-dynamics-ax-2012-r3.aspx

Review - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Services Book

Dear Friends,

Greetings!

A few weeks back, I had a brief overview posted about Dynamics AX 2012 Services book.

I took some time to go through the book and I would give it a rating of 4.5/5 as the chapters are structured in a logical way and the language is quite clear and lucid to understand, along with screenshots and code snippets wherever necessary. This book will definitely help any developer on understanding and using AIF Services Framework in Dynamics AX 2012

The book talks about the following key areas:

• Services and SOA Architecture Overview and Concepts
• Whats New (AOS WCF Service Host, WCF Adapters)
• Type of Services (Document Services, Custom Services, System Services, Query Service, Metadata service, User session Service)
• AxBc Classes
• WCF Concepts, ABC's of WCF
• Service Deployment
• Types of Bindings
• Document Services (Step by Step)
• Create Custom Services
• SysOperation Framework, SysOperation vs RunBase Batch
• Multithreading
• WebServices (using VS and X++ Dev tools), Consuming the webservice
• System Services

• 
  

Book Review - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Security How-To

Last month, I posted an introductory review on Dynamics AX 2012 Security How - To

I went through this book and here's my detailed review:

As the name suggests, this is a practical hand book (running into 77 pages) and which covers on how-to (manage security in Dynamics AX 2012).

a. This book starts by covering the basic concepts about Security Architecture in AX 2012, Application Security Fundamentals, Server Security, Role based security, Custom Authentication and Pluggable Authentication

b. Next, it covers step by step instructions on How to Create a new user, Import users from Active Directory, Setting up user options and user relations

c. It also covers Adding new security roles, assigning users to different roles, adding privileges to an existing role

d. Developing Extensible Data Security policy, Configuring Permissions in AOT

Conclusion

Overall, I would rate this book (3/5) as it's just a basic book showing how to manage security in Dynamics AX 2012. It would have been refreshing if the book covered how-to's looking at a broader perspective like Securing SQL Server Database (for Dynamics AX), SSRS Security and AIF Security. Also, it would have been handy if it highlighted some real time errors/problems faced while implementing security and troubleshooting tips.

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Security Book - A sneak preview

Thanks to Velinda Kamath (from Packt Publishers) for providing me with yet another opportunity to do a review of yet another Dynamics Book - this time it is Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Security How-to book.

This is in an introductory post for the same. I will be reviewing it in a more detailed manner in the coming days.

Here's the Link to the Book http://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-dynamics-ax-2012-security/book
Below is the cover page for the book

About the Author:

Ahmed Mohamed Rafik Moustafa is an Egyptian professional ERP consultant/trainer for Microsoft Dynamics ERP products, specializing in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009/2012, Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains GP 9.0/10.0, and Microsoft RMS. He also has experience in technical skills such as SQL, SQL Server, SQL Reporting Services, and Crystal Report. He has led various implementations in diverse ERP Modules over the Middle East in different Arab countries to meet and exceed challenging business needs such as Financial Management, Inventory Management, Purchase Management, Sales Management, Project Accounting, Human Resource, and Customer Relationship Management.

Book Contents:

Here are some of the topics covered in the book:

•     Security architecture in Dynamics products
•     Application security fundamentals
•     AX 2012 security framework
•     Setting up User
•     Security Roles
•     Organization Model

My Initial Thoughts:

This is a ground level basic book which shows on how to set up security in Dynamics AX 2012. It's more hands on. I will soon come up with a detailed review of the book. Till then Ciao...

Review - Dynamics AX 2012 Development Cookbook

I didn't get much of  a chance to do a deep dive into Dynamics AX 2012 Development Cookbook http://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-dynamics-ax-2012-development-cookbook/book

In my opinion the book comes handy for a developer to directly jump to the topic which they are interested in rather than scanning chapter by chapter.

However I think some more areas the book could have covered is:

a. Enterprise Portal
b. AX Administration (Models administration etc)
c. Security
d. Reporting and Analytics

Maybe I'm asking bit more from a development cookbook, Just my 2 cents - with AX 2012, there's a lot of integration happening with other Microsoft technology stack like VS.Net, SQL, SSRS, SSAS, etc so maybe the future versions of the book should cover more on these areas as well.

However, I would recommend this book for a developer as it's quite useful when it comes to day-to-day development tasks. Again Good work by the author and keep it up!

Dynamics AX 2012 Development Cookbook - Brief Overview

Thanks to Velinda from Packt Publishing on being kind enough to send me the electronic version of the book - Dynamics AX 2012 Development Cookbook for review. Thought to do a quick introductory post here about the book.

Overview:


The target audience for this book is AX Developers and it covers real word development scenarios/problems faced by developers in their day to day work. It has around 80 practical development tips.


Few words About the Author:


Thanks to Mindaugas Pocius for writing this wonderful book. He is currently a freelance Dynamics AX technical and functional consultant and trainer at DynamicsLab Limited (http://www.dynamicslab.com).


For more details about the overview, author and book contents, please navigate to
http://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-dynamics-ax-2012-development-cookbook/book


Last year, I had done a similar review on Dynamics AX 2009 Programming book which you can find here , I will be doing a more detailed review on this book soon so watch out this space! Till then, Happy Dax'ing..