Dynamics AX 2012 R3 CU 9 Update : Step-by-Step

It’s been a while since CU 9 got released and this article briefly explains how to install cumulative update 9 for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 CU8, which is already installed. If you are trying to install MS Dynamics AX 2012 R3 CU 9 as a new installation, please does that so as slipstream ( Include cumulative updates and hotfixes in a new installation (slipstreaming) ) installation.

Installation Methods:

1. Using setup wizard and slipstreaming process on new installation of MS Dynamics AX 2012 R3 CU 9.
2. Using update wizard to apply CU9 on existing installation of MS Dynamics AX 2012 R3 CU 8.

We can either directly install CU 9 from Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services or install using Dynamics AX installer available both in Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services andPartnerSource. We here are going to learn about installing CU 9 using the Dynamics AX Installer from LCS.

Environment preparation:

1. Backup business and model store databases. Backup the database that is being updated.
2. Make sure that you are an Admin on local computer and System Administrator in Dynamics AX.
3. Make sure that you are a member of “SecurityAdmin” server role on the SQL Server instance.
4. Make sure that you are a “db_owner” role in model database.
5. Make sure the system runs in single-user mode while installing this update (or down-time).

Download the update installer:

1. Log on to PartnerSource or Microsoft Dynamics Lifecycle Services.
2. Download the most recent version of the update installer.
3. Save and extract the update installer on a computer to apply updates.
4. On clicking the update installer, select the path to extract the files.

5. From the extracted files select axupdate.exe application to open AX update Installer Wizard

6. Now, click Next to accept “Software license terms” by clicking “Accept and continue” in the next step.

7. After accepting the license terms, select “Download and install updates” option from the Download and install updates page and click Next button.

If suppose the customized package (which is going to be created and saved in step 17) is being used on selecting the “Install updates” option, there will be an option given (Express/Custom) to select the installation type as shown below. Select the type as required.

When the customized package is being used, no need to login to LCS to download the updates and hence the steps 8, 9 and 10 would be skipped in this case concerned.

8. By clicking Next button, it will be prompting to LCS and login with your credentials.

9. Once login to LCS using the credentials, select the most recent updates and click ‘OK’.

The drop-down will show the list of updates available most recent to till date.

10. Once ‘OK’ clicked, the wizard will start downloading the updates in the Download progress page.

11. After the download/importing the package completes, select both the updates types (Binary updates and Application updates) from the “Select update type” page.

12. By clicking “Next” button, the wizard will start processing the updates as selected in the previous step.

13. Since the Application update also selected, it is required to select the Model store as shown below. There is an option to select the different model store by specifying the server name.

14. By clicking Next button, select application updates with the default values selected.

15. Now, the Review conflicts page will show the conflicts if any.

Since i got a conflict, clicked “Impact Analysis Wizard” to start and analyze the impact.

Starting Impact Analysis Wizard:

Analyzing the Impact:

This would open up Dynamics AX and generates CIL compilation.

Impact Analysis Result:

Click “Advanced” button to view the conflict object with advanced options.

I just decided to delete the conflict object as I don’t have any other model store sharing with this object.

16. Now, the “Review updates” page will display the lists of updates and click Next to proceed.

17. Once the updates got reviewed, “Save updates” page provides an option to save this as customized package which can be used later in the step 7. This will be useful if the update needs to be installed in another computer. If this update needs to be installed in the same computer, mark the check box “Install selected update on this computer” and click Next.

18. Now, “Review components” will be giving the list of components which is going to be updated during the installation.

Please unselect US Payroll (64 bit) and US Payroll (32 bit) which would be marked by default and then click “Install” button.

19. Now, the installation will be in progress as shown in below.

20. Now, all the components were got installed successfully and setup got completed as shown below. Click “Finish”.

Post-Installation:

1. Reinitialize the model store and then restart the AOS services.
2. Open Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. A pop-up will indicate that model store got modified and the list of action needs to be taken. Select “Start software update checklist” option and Click ‘OK’ to start the upgrade checklist process.

3. Select “Start the software update checklist” and click OK. Complete all the checklist activities.

4. Done :-)

How to Import Contoso Data using Test Data Transfer Tool

AX2012 R3- How to Import Contoso Data using Test Data Transfer Tool (Beta)

Pre-requisites:

1-      Download the test data transfer tool from the below mentioned link.

https://informationsource.dynamics.com//RFPServicesOnline/Rfpservicesonline.aspx?ToolDocName=Microsoft+Dynamics+AX+2012+Test+Data+Transfer+Tool+(Beta)+-+Updated+7th+Jan+2014%7cQJ4JEM76642V-8-1465
2-      Download demo data for AX2012 R3 from partner source site.

Steps: 

·         Extract the demo data files from DynamicsAX2012R3DemoData.exe to a specific location.

·         The output folder will contain the files of following extension types:

1. .OUT—– data file that contains metadata for AX transactional database
2. .OutModel —- data file that contain metadata for AX model database
3. .XML —- data file that contains AX table data.

·          Run the Test Data Transfer Tool.Exe file to install the utility.

·         After successful installation, the folder will look like as shown below:

·         Open AX client and import the .XPO named (MetaDataXMLGenerator.Xpo)

·         On successful import a job will be created as shown below:

·         Run the job <MetadataXMLGenerator(usr)>, a  meta data file will be generated and the path will be displayed in the infolog as shown in the snapshot below:

·         Copy the metadata file from the above path and paste it in [lists] folder (where Test Data Transfer Tool has been extracted). If the file already exists, then overwrite the file.

·         Stop MS Dynamics AX service.

·         Open command prompt using administrator and navigate to the path where the Test Data Transfer Tool is extracted).

·         Run the following command:

Dp.exe Import “C:\R3DemoData\DynamicsAXR3DemoData” DynamicsAXR3

C:\R3DemoData\DynamicsAXR3DemoData—— update the path accordingly

DynamicsAXR3—— provide the actual database name.

If we enter ‘Y’, then following screen will open up describing the count for importing the table data and Error (if they come up)

·         The process may prolong depending upon machine configuration.

·         On successful import, Open AX client and data will show up.