RapidStart Services: Configuration Worksheet

kitik

Hi all,

I've been playing with the RapidStart Services that came with NAV 2013. But I run aground and I do not know how to continue...

What I've done:

1. On the Configuration Worksheet I added a line of type Table for table 18 customer.
2. I created a package with table 18, and applied the package to the line created on the Worksheet
3. I've selected just a few fields for the table, and added a filter
4. I've Exported the template to Excel. I opened it in Excel and I have created a few demo customers

So far it's pretty much what we did on the old Migration Tool, although step 2 does not sound logical to me because I had to repeat the job done in step 1!

Now it's time to import my demo customers into a new company I've created. And the problems start...

5. I open the Worksheet. I'm on a new company, so no lines there. I click the Import from Template option. I get an error.
Line Type must be equal to 'Table' in Config. Line: Line No.=0. Current value is 'Area'.
6.I manually create the line for table 18, like in step 1. Why doesn't the system read the structure from the file, like the Migration Tool did?
7.I Import the template. No error, in fact no message at all. But... where is my data?
8.I go back to the original company and exported the .rapidstart file from the pacakge created on step 2.
9.I open the new company again an import the package.
10.On the package page, I use the Import From Excel option to import my demo customers. On the field "No. of records" I can see that 8 records where imported. Right. But I can't see the data.
11.I use the Apply package option. Et voilà. 8 new customers are created.

So my guess is that I can only import data from the package page, not from the worksheet page. What's the worksheet used for, then?

But this does not make sense at all. In this MSDN article (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh997421%28v=nav.70%29.aspx) it says that The configuration worksheet is the central location in which you can plan, track, and perform your configuration work..
How can I import data from the worksheet?

Can someone help me? Do you know the - logical - steps I have to take to import data using the worksheet?

Thanks in advance

kitik

Hi,

Has anyone been able to import data using the configuration worksheet?

Salut!

_mon_

I have been using the new import-export utility in 2013.
But i manually created the package and the rows (like in previous versions) in the company where i imported the data.

MarkHamblin

Can also try this: http://mibuso.com/dlinfo.asp?FileID=1474
Not a replacement for RapidStart's data migration tools, but waaay simpler and faster for data one table at a time.

kuju

Hey,

Have you been looking into the training videos available on Partnersource?
There are a lot of good documents, white papers, guidelines, videos available on 20+ subjects for nav 2013
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/marketing/campaigns/prospect/MSDNAV2013ReadinessLibrary.htm

There is also a specific focus area on rapidstart with short - to the point video's which will help you.

kitik

Hi,

Yes, I've read all available documentation and I've seen the videos.
After some more tries, I've changed the sequence of steps.

What I've done:
1. On the Configuration Worksheet I added a line of type Table for table 18 customer.
2. I created a package (only code and description), and applied the package to the line created on the Worksheet
3. I've selected just a few fields for the table, and added a filter
4. I have exported the .rapidstart file from the pacakge created on step 2
5. I open the new company an import the package.
[...]

On the video, after step 5, new lines are created on the worksheet. When I do it, no lines appear on the worksheet. And I have tried several times!

But videos are based on NAV 2013 beta version, and I amb using NAV 2013 RTM.
Can it be a RTM bug?

Salut!

dmc-dk

Hi kitik,

I suspect you're trying to import the package (.rapidstart) file by clicking on Import from Template action on the Configuration Worksheet. This action is only used to import data from Excel templates/files (which you first export by clicking on Export to Template).
To import the .rapidstart package you ned to open the Configuration Packages page and click Import Package action. Your data will be imported into an intermediate table (where you can edit it if you like) so you should click on Apply Package action to apply the data into actual NAV tables.

Worksheet is just a list of "shortcuts" to the tables in the package, which you can arrange in any order and group for your convenience (in the package all tables are sorted by ID and you have to scroll the list up and down to find the necessary table). But if you just need to export data into Excel or .rapidstart package - you dont have to use the Worksheet. Just create a new package (or use existing), add the tables you need and export them to Excel using the actions on the Package subform toolbox:
Excel - Export to Excel
Excel - Import from Excel

Hope this helps.

kitik

Hi dmc-dk,

Thanks for your answer. But I imported the .rapidstart file from the Configuration Package page (not the Worksheet page).
I know I can also use the Configuration Package to import and apply data. And tried with few demo data and it worked ok.

The idea under the RapidStart Services, specially under the Worksheet feature, is to prepare a migration structure according to the company's needs, and then let the (key) users on the company export and import Excels and perform their own migration tasks.

But if I want the users to perform certain migration tasks, I cannot give them a bunch of tables sorted by ID with no meaning to them.
Instead I have group and order them and present it to the users in a "friendly" way. This is just what the Worksheet page is meant for!

I have been able to use to Worksheet page to import data, but I had to manually create the whole structure on each new company: insert tables, select fields and their order, group and arrange tables.

But I have seen some videos where they say that after importing the package (from the package page or from the wizard), the migration structure is automatically created on the worksheet page.
Watch the video (minute 2 to minute 3): http://mediadl.microsoft.com/mediadl/www/d/dynamics/partners/323471-3.mp4
I follow the same steps but no structure is created on the worksheet page.

Of course I can manually create the whole structure again and keep working...
But this is not the point. If it should automatically be created, I want to know if there is a bug or if I'm doing something wrong.


NOTE: Videos use the beta version, while I amb using the RTM version. The changes between the two versions are:
- On the beta version packages where saved using a XML file.
- On the RTM version packages are saved using a .rapidstart file.

Salut!

dmc-dk

So please confirm that you're doing these steps (I'll take 2 tables as an example):

1. Open the demo company and navigate to Configuration Worksheet
2. Delete all existing lines if any
3. Add Area My Custom Tables
4. Add Table 18 Customer
5. Add Table 3 Payment Terms
6. Select all 3 lines and click Actions - Assign Package
7. On the Config. Packages page which is opened click New
8. Define Code and Description
9. Make sure Exclude Config. Tables checkmark on the header is set to No (default)
10. Click OK to close the page
11. Select the newly created package on the Config. Packages page and click OK once again.
12. Check that package code is assigned to all 3 lines on the Config. Worksheet.
13. Click Home - Package Card
14. Click Home - Export Package - save .rapidstart file.
15. Create a new company
16. Navigate to Config. Packages and click Home - Import Package
17. Click on Worksheet link on the Navigation pane

Do you see your 3 worksheet lines there?

What is the language of your application?

/DMC