Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1– Available for Download

Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 is now available for download from Microsoft Customer Source or Partner Source.  The latest version includes many product fixes as well as support for additional versions of integrated Microsoft products. Listed below are some of the key new features, links to important documents and some side notes to keep in mind during the upgrade process. Most notable is the adoption of frequent releases starting with the release of CU1 (You must install 2018 CU1 to take advantage of this feature going forward).

Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 System Requirements (be sure to check Customer Source for the most up to date system requirements guide)

Frequent Releases

Roughly every four to six months an update will be released to add new features. These new frequent releases are built so existing users can upgrade to the latest update by installing over their current installation and do not require a full uninstall and reinstall.

Release Highlights

TLS 1.2 supported
Transport Layer Security (TLS), previously known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), is a protocol that provides communication security over a network.

• TLS 1.2 provides the level of security required by many companies
• Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 now supports TLS version 1.2

Microsoft SQL DB Encryption using TDE
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) performs real-time encryption and decryption of data and log files.

• TDE is used by Microsoft SQL Server to encrypts database files
• Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 supports Microsoft SQL DB Encryption using TDE

Microsoft SQL 2017

• Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 has completed testing against Microsoft SQL 2017
• Note: The Microsoft Dynamics SL Database update process for Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 or Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 set the compatibility mode to Microsoft SQL 2014
• If needed, the database can be updated to Microsoft SQL 2016 or Microsoft SQL 2017 compatibility mode.

Important Platform Note
Due to the platform updates added to this release, upgrading Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 to Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 will first require the uninstall of Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 and the workstation client prior to installing Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1.

Year End updates for 2018
Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 includes year end updates available as of the beginning of November 2018. No need to install additional updates unless changes are made and posted to the Microsoft site.

Vendor Inactive status
There is now an inactive status that can be set for vendors in the Vendor Maintenance (03.270.00) screen. When a vendor is inactive, the software does not permit the selection of the vendor in new transaction documents (voucher and adjustment entry, payment, requisitions, purchase order, inventory, etc.). Likewise, maintenance screens (for example: inventory items preferred vendor field) will not be allowed to select inactive vendors. Vendors will remain unavailable until the vendor’s status is changed back to Active or One Time.

Voucher and Adjustment Entry Approval enhancements
The Voucher and Adjustment Entry screen approval process, released with Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018, supports segregating data duties for data entry and data review. This allows one user to enter the data and a different user to review, edit and approve the data entry. Customer feedback enhancements have been added to assist with the entry and approval process.

Journal Transaction – Correct Journal Transactions
The Journal Transaction (01.010.00) screen includes a feature for reversing, reversing and correcting and copying entries accessed through the Correct Journal Transaction (01.012.00) screen. The reversal process now sets the project related unit values (positive and negative entries) correctly which updates the Project modules correctly.

Flexible Billings Invoice Printing
Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 added support storing Preliminary and Final invoices to DocShare (SharePoint) sites or network locations. This provides users a way to share copies of the invoices with colleagues for review. The location of each printed invoice is now being stored and will assist with future features to allow viewing of invoice documents.

Expense Attachment enabling for review
The Project Expense entry screens now allows the adding and viewing of attachments (generally ecopies of expense receipts), no matter the status of the expense report. This allows the attachment of missing receipts to processed expense reports.

Time & Expense Setup Tab rename
The Time & Expense setup screen tab now displays Web Apps Time for settings instead of the previously named PFT (Project Flex Time) setup tab. Power Apps & Flow Microsoft Power Apps & Flow are Microsoft technologies that can provide the customer with functionality that can interact or report on their Microsoft Dynamics SL and other data.

Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 included a Power App and Flow example that shows the value add of these Microsoft technologies to Microsoft Dynamics SL users. The Microsoft Dynamics SL 2018 CU1 continues this by updating the existing Power App and adding nine new flow email notifications.