How to move Microsoft Management Reporter 2012 to a new server

The process for moving the Management Reporter 2012 database is as follows:
Note If you are using a Management Reporter 2012 provider that uses the Dynamic Datamart (DDM) database, do not move the DDM database. Instead, a new database will be created by using the process here.

1. Start the Management Reporter 2012 Configuration Console.
2. Click Management Reporter Services.
3. Record the name of the database listed under the Database connection heading. The database name will be listed after the SQL server name. For example: SQLServer (Database)
4. Record the name of the Service Account that is used.
5. Login to SQL Server Management Studio.
6. Backup the Management Reporter 2012 database recorded earlier in this topic.
7. Start the Management Reporter 2012 Report Designer.
8. Export each building block group. The reports can be re-imported if a failure were to occur. You can do this by following these steps:
a. Under the Company menu, click Building Block Groups.
b. Select the building block group to export.
c. Click Export.
d. Select all building blocks to be exported on the Report Definitions, Row Definitions, Column Definitions, Reporting Tree Definitions tabs. Also, select all Dimension Value Sets.
e. Click Export.
f. Choose a location to save the .tdbx export file.
Note The default path on a Windows Server 2008 server is C:\Users\\Documents\Management Reporter\Building Block Groups
g. Click Close on the Building Block Groups window.
9. Exit Management Reporter 2012 Report Designer.
10. Start the Management Reporter 2012 Configuration Console.
11. In the navigation bar, click the name of the SQL server.
12. Click Remove to remove the ERP integration.
13. Click Yes to the prompt “Are you sure you want to remove the ERP Integration?”
14. In the navigation bar, click Management Reporter Services.
15. Click Remove Process Service.
16. Click Yes to the prompt “Are you sure you want to remove ‘Management Reporter 2012 Process Service’?”
17. Click Remove Application Service.
18. Click Yes to the prompt “Are you sure you want to remove ‘Management Reporter 2012 Application Service’?”
19. Login to SQL Server Management Studio on the new SQL server.
20. Restore the Management Reporter 2012 database, that was created in step 6, on the new SQL server.
21. Verify that the Management Reporter 2012 service account has the correct permissions on the SQL server and to the new database. Refer to the Management Reporter installation guides at the following link:
Microsoft Management Reporter: Installation, Migration, and Configuration Guides
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=5916
22. Using the instructions here, run the following script against the Management Reporter 2012 database on the new SQL server:

--////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
--
-- Script Instructions:
--
-- 1. Update the line in the following code, starting with 'CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD', to contain the
-- Master key you wish to use. The master key must meet the Windows password policy
-- requirements of the computer that is running the instance of SQL Server.
--
-- 2. Run this script against the Management Reporter 2012 database. This script
-- will output a message if it does not detect the Management Reporter 2012 database.
--
--////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

IF EXISTS (SELECT Name FROM sys.tables WHERE Name = 'ControlReportSchedule')
BEGIN
IF EXISTS (SELECT TOP(1) name FROM sys.symmetric_keys WHERE name = 'GeneralUserSymmetricKey')
DROP SYMMETRIC KEY GeneralUserSymmetricKey

IF EXISTS (SELECT TOP(1) name FROM sys.certificates WHERE name = 'GeneralUserCertificate')
DROP CERTIFICATE GeneralUserCertificate

IF EXISTS (SELECT TOP(1) name FROM sys.symmetric_keys WHERE name = 'ConnectorServiceSymmetricKey')
DROP SYMMETRIC KEY ConnectorServiceSymmetricKey

IF EXISTS (SELECT TOP(1) name FROM sys.certificates WHERE name = 'ConnectorServiceCertificate')
DROP CERTIFICATE ConnectorServiceCertificate

IF EXISTS (SELECT TOP(1) name FROM sys.symmetric_keys WHERE name = '##MS_DatabaseMasterKey##')
DROP MASTER KEY

CREATE MASTER KEY ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'Access!23'
-- NOTE Where Access!23 is your actual password

CREATE CERTIFICATE [ConnectorServiceCertificate]
AUTHORIZATION [dbo]
WITH SUBJECT = N'Certificate for symmetric key encryption - for use by the connector service.'

CREATE CERTIFICATE [GeneralUserCertificate]
AUTHORIZATION [dbo]
WITH SUBJECT = N'Certificate for access symmetric keys - for use by users assigned to the GeneralUser Role.'

CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY [ConnectorServiceSymmetricKey]
AUTHORIZATION [dbo]
WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256
ENCRYPTION BY CERTIFICATE [ConnectorServiceCertificate]

CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY [GeneralUserSymmetricKey]
AUTHORIZATION [dbo]
WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256
ENCRYPTION BY CERTIFICATE [GeneralUserCertificate]

IF NOT EXISTS (SELECT TOP(1) name FROM sys.database_principals WHERE name='GeneralUser')
BEGIN
CREATE ROLE [GeneralUser]
AUTHORIZATION [dbo]
END

GRANT CONTROL ON CERTIFICATE::[GeneralUserCertificate] TO [GeneralUser]
GRANT VIEW DEFINITION on SYMMETRIC KEY::[GeneralUserSymmetricKey] TO [GeneralUser]
GRANT CONTROL ON CERTIFICATE::[ConnectorServiceCertificate] TO [GeneralUser]
GRANT VIEW DEFINITION on SYMMETRIC KEY::[ConnectorServiceSymmetricKey] TO [GeneralUser]

END
ELSE
BEGIN
PRINT 'WARNING: Incorrect database selected.'
Print 'Execute script against the Management Reporter 2012 database.'
PRINT 'This can be found in the Management Reporter 2012 Configuration Console.'
END

23. Start the Management Reporter 2012 Configuration Console.
24. Under the File menu, click Configure.
25. Put a check next to Management Reporter Application Service and Management Reporter Process Service.
26. Click Next.
27. Correct any issues noted on the Prerequisite Validation screen, and then click Next.
28. In the Service Account section, enter the name of the service account recorded earlier. Also enter the password for the service account.
29. In the Database Configuration section, put a check in Connect to an existing database.
30. Enter the name of the new SQL Server in the Database server field.
31. Select to use Windows authentication, or enter a SQL authenticated username and password.
32. In the Database dropdown, select the name of the newly restored Management Reporter 2012 database.
33. In the Application Service section, enter a port number for the application service to run on. If the Windows Firewall is enabled on the server, put a check next to Open this port in the Windows Firewall.
34. Click Next.
35. Click Configure.
36. Click Close on the Configure Management Reporter screen when the process is completed.
37. Under the File menu, click Configure.
38. Put a check next to the ERP that is correct for your environment.
39. Click Next.
40. Follow the instructions for the ERP for your environment using the appropriate guide at the following link:
Microsoft Management Reporter: Installation, Migration, and Configuration Guides
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=5916

Workflow Approval via Email White Paper for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2

This Whitepaper highlights the functionality in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2 that enables workflow to be configured so that a user can take approval action directly from email messages.

The document describes the email approval workflow. This workflow includes features and email messages that can be configured and the links that can be included in the emails that contain links to documents that require action. For example, an employee enters a timesheet, and then submits it to his or her manager for approval. The manager receives an email message requesting approval. The email message contains a link to the timesheet that the user entered. This functionality provides the capability for approvers to approve or reject from the email message itself.

White paper can be downloaded directly from Microsoft Download center.

High level steps required to implement this functionality:

1. Setup of Windows Azure Service bus - Details are given in this whitepaper.

2. Installation of new hotfix:

As on date when I am writing this post Hotfix link given on page 3 of the whitepaper is not correct and lands on microsoft homepage.

Please keep an eye on link for hotfixes for AX 2012 R2 for more information on this hotfix.  

3. Microsoft Dynamics AX connector for Mobile Applications

Important links:

a. My earlier post: Configure Microsoft Dynamics AX Connector for Mobile Applications White Paper for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 or download from Microsoft Download center

b. Download Installation files for connector for Mobile Applications from here.

 

Configure Microsoft Dynamics AX Connector for Mobile Applications White Paper for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

This whitepaper describes how to configure an environment that is running Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 so that users can connect the Microsoft Dynamics AX mobile phone application.

White paper can be downloaded directly from Microsoft Download center.

New Training material available on Partnersource/Customersource: Retail Application Functionality in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2

The objective of this training is to explain the Retail application functionality found Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2. This includes how Retail is an integrated solution that is designed for Microsoft Dynamics AX, and how it can be used to manage a retail business from the head office to stores.

Audience
This training is intended for employees of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 partners, who want to set up and use the application functionality in Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail, and those who want to be able to provide support for the application. 

Click here to access training on Partnersource.

Developing Mobile Apps White Paper for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

This white paper describes how developers can build a mobile app to communicate with Microsoft Dynamics AX from a phone or tablet device.

The paper provides walkthroughs with sample code to demonstrate how mobile or tablet apps authenticate users and connect to Microsoft Dynamics AX. It also includes a sample solution to address the simple user scenario of an employee being able to capture information about expenses they have incurred while traveling. Download from Partnersource/Customer Source.