The Task Recorder allows you to record your actions in Microsoft Dynamics AX and subsequently generate a document, presentation, or process diagram that describes those actions.

The actions that can be recorded are basically what you can do in the user interface, for example open a form, enter a value, or click a button.

The documents that can be generated are training-oriented documentation in Microsoft Office Word, presentation content in Microsoft Office PowerPoint, or process-oriented documentation in Microsoft Office Visio. For Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office PowerPoint documents, a template can be used for the document generation. The template can, for example, include company information and a logo.

Possible uses of the documents include analysis of customer best practices, documentation of business processes, or creating control documents.

The overall flow in the recording and document generation process is to do the following:

  1. Start recording.

  2. Go through the sequence of actions in Microsoft Dynamics AX that you want to record. For example, this could be how Microsoft Dynamics AX is used to handle the sales order process, from the initial creation of the sales order and until the order has been invoiced.

  3. Stop recording and save the recorded actions.

  4. Generate a document, presentation, or process diagram based on the recording.

Example scenario

Simon, the systems implementer, has been asked to document how Microsoft Dynamics AX is used to handle the sales order process, from the initial creation of the sales order and until the order has been invoiced. Documenting a business process using the Task Recorder is done by recoding a task and subsequently transforming the recording into a document.

Record a task

In order to document how the sales order process is handled, Simon has to go through the individual steps in the task while recording.

Simon opens the Task Recorder toolbar from the Toolsmenu and clicks the button. The Task Recorder now records all activities in the Microsoft Dynamics AX system until the recoding is stopped.

Simon creates the sales order: He opens the form and creates the sales order header and one sales order line.

Next, Simon prints the picking list: He opens form and prints the sales order picking list.

Simon prints the packing slip: He opens form and prints.

Simon prints the invoice: He opens the form and prints.

Having completed his task, Simon clicks the button on the Task Recorder toolbar. A message box asks whether Simon wants to save and when he clicks Yes, a dialog opens where he can provide task name and a description. The script is now saved for later use in the Microsoft Dynamics AX database.

Generate documents from the recorded script

After recording the sales order process, Simon now wants to generate a PowerPoint document presenting an overview of the process.

Simon opens the Task Recorder toolbar from the Toolsmenu and clicks the button. In the list of recorded tasks, he selects the relevant task and clicks the button. In the form, he selects the and selects an appropriate template. When he clicks the button, PowerPoint opens and a presentation is generated. Simon saves the presentation in an appropriate location.

Simon also wants to create a process overview. In the dialog, he selects the same script but in the form, he chooses the format instead. When he clicks the button, Visio opens and a process overview is generated.

Finally, Simon wants to create a detailed document with instructions. In the dialog, he selects the same script but in the form chooses the format. When he clicks the button, Word opens and a document is generated