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AFR Installation Guide

9.05.702E
Disclaimer
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9.05.702E
Revision: June 18, 2013 8:56 a.m.
Total pages: 23
sys.ditaval
AFR Installation Guide Contents

Contents
1 Welcome and Introduction.................................................................................................4
2 Pre-Installation Steps...........................................................................................................5
2.1 Verify Prerequisite Software is Installed.......................................................................................................5
2.2 Export Existing Reports (Optional)..............................................................................................................6
2.3 Uninstall AFR Logon Server........................................................................................................................7
2.4 Download Latest AFR Installation Package from EPICweb...........................................................................7
3 Install Advanced Financial Reporting.................................................................................8
3.1 Install AFR Logon Server.............................................................................................................................8
3.2 License Advanced Financial Reporting........................................................................................................9
3.2.1 Request License...............................................................................................................................9
3.2.2 Apply License.................................................................................................................................10
3.3 Install Advanced Financial Reporting........................................................................................................10
3.3.1 Install AFR Client on Workstation...................................................................................................11
3.4 Install Epicor AFR ODBC driver.................................................................................................................12
4 Configure Report Designer and Report Viewer..............................................................13
4.1 Configure Report Designer.......................................................................................................................13
4.2 Test Report Viewer Configuration............................................................................................................14
4.3 Re-configure Report Viewer (If Needed)...................................................................................................14
5 Configure AFR with Epicor 9.05 Application...................................................................16
6 Install Local Language Support (If Available)..................................................................17
6.1 Download Language Pack File..................................................................................................................17
6.2 Install Language Pack File.........................................................................................................................17
6.3 Override Language Settings.....................................................................................................................17
7 Install AFR Report Templates............................................................................................19
7.1 Download AFR Report Templates.............................................................................................................19
7.2 Install AFR Report Templates....................................................................................................................19
8 Post Installation.................................................................................................................20
8.1 Upgrade Financial Database (If Previous Version)......................................................................................20
8.2 Verify Credit Amount Values (If Previous Version).....................................................................................20
8.3 Test Report Definitions (If Previous Version)..............................................................................................21
8.4 Configure Financial Data Security.............................................................................................................21
8.5 Migrate Microsoft Financial Reporter and Management Reporter Reports.................................................21

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Welcome and Introduction AFR Installation Guide

1 Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting Installation Guide. This document is intended as a starting
point to install and license Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR). AFR includes the License Requester Tool,
Report Designer, and Report Viewer.
The Report Designer AFR allows creation, management and viewing of reports, including General Ledger reports.
Licenses are required to access Advanced Financial Reporting features and functionality.
Use the following graphic to review the installation and configuration process flow:

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AFR Installation Guide Pre-Installation Steps

2 Pre-Installation Steps

Complete the following steps before you start the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting installation. Use these
steps if you are installing AFR for the first time, or if you are upgrading an existing AFR installation.

2.1 Verify Prerequisite Software is Installed

Use these steps to verify the necessary software versions are installed.

1. Verify you have SQL 2008 Server or SQL 2012 Server installed on a machine which will host the AFR Report
Data database.
Important AFR does not support case-sensitive SQL Server. In particular, the Report Designer does
not support case-sensitive SQL Server. Also, Replication Server does not support an AFR subscriber on
a case-sensitive SQL Server.

2. For the Report Server, verify you have the following installed:
• Windows 2008 or Windows 2008 R2 with latest service pack
• MS SQL Server 2008 or MS SQL Server 2012 (Standard or Enterprise) with Reporting Services
• AFR Replication (MS SQL users) or Epicor DB Replication (Progress users)
Note The Epicor DB Replication release version must match the Epicor AFR release version. For
example, if you are installing Epicor AFR 9.05.702, you must install or upgrade to Epicor DB
Replication 9.05.702. Use the Epicor DB Replication Installation Guide for instructions on installing
or upgrading your Epicor DB Replication application. Upgrading may include installing the Replication
Hot Fix, for example, the file may be called RS Cumulative HFs YYYY-MM-DD.zip.

• 3GB of RAM or more

3. For the Logon Server, verify you have the following installed:
• Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 2008 or Windows 2008 R2

4. For the Epicor AFR OBDC driver, verify you have the following installed:
• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5
• Microsoft Excel 2007 or Microsoft Excel 2010

5. For the workstation (Report Designer and Report Viewer) verify you have the following installed:
• Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 - Business Intelligence Development Studio (This software is optional; it is
used to edit and deploy RDLs on this workstation.)
• Microsoft Report Builder 2.0, available in the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack or from the Microsoft
Download center. (This software is optional; it has the same functionality as the Microsoft Visual Studio

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Pre-Installation Steps AFR Installation Guide

Business Intelligence (BI Studio) but includes a Windows-type user interface for easier use. For example,
after editing a report, you can just save it, you don't need to also deploy it.)

2.2 Export Existing Reports (Optional)

AFR 9.05.701 version and later automatically exports and imports reports created in the previous versions. If you
want to create a backup of your existing reports prior to upgrading, you can use the following steps. You can
also export your row sets, column sets, reporting trees, and dictionaries.
Note The RDL (report definition language) files export functionality is only available for reports created in
AFR 9.05.607A version or later.

1. Login to the Report Designer. To do this, select Start > Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial
Reporting > Report Designer.

2. When Report Designer opens, you are prompted to select the Logon Server. Select the server that is licensed
and click Connect.

3. Search and select the reports that you want to export. Note that the row sets, column sets, reporting trees
and dictionaries attached to these reports are included in the export. To do this:

a. From the File menu, select Search/Open > Reports. Click Search to list the available reports. Select
the reports you want to export. Click OK.

b. From the File menu, select Export > Reports. Enter the export File Path or click the browse button
and select the file to export.

c. Select the Include RDLs check box if you want to export the report definition language files along with
the selected reports. Click OK.

4. If you have additional information that you want to export, use these steps to select and export the data.

a. From the File menu, select Search/Open. Select one of the following options:
• Row Sets
• Column Sets
• Reporting Trees
• Dictionaries

b. Click Search to list the available information. Select the data you want to export. Click OK.

c. From the File menu, select Export and select the desired option. Enter the export File Path or click the
browse button and select the file to export. Click OK.

d. Repeat the above step to select and export the other options, if desired.

5. Exit from the Report Designer.

Note To import the exported reports, within Report Designer, from the File menu, select Import >
Exported AFR reports. For more information on importing reports, review the Epicor Financial Report
Designer > File Menu > Import > Import Exported AFR reports topic within the application help.

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AFR Installation Guide Pre-Installation Steps

2.3 Uninstall AFR Logon Server

Use these steps to uninstall Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting Logon Server.
Note Skip this step if you are upgrading from AFR 9.05.702 or later.

1. Select Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.

2. Select and remove the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting Logon Server program.

3. Close Add or Remove Programs.

2.4 Download Latest AFR Installation Package from EPICweb

Use these steps to download the latest AFR installation package from EPICWeb, if available.
Important If AFR installation package is available on EPICWeb, you must use those files to install AFR.
Installation package from EPICWeb supercede files on the AFR DVD.

1. Log on to EPICWeb and go to the Support website.


Tip You can click this link: https://epicweb.epicor.com/Support/epicor9/Downloads

2. Navigate to Epicor AFR > Version 9.05

3. Download the latest AFR installation package to your report server. For example, download the
AFR_9.05.70x.zip file.

4. Extract the .zip file contents.

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Install Advanced Financial Reporting AFR Installation Guide

3 Install Advanced Financial Reporting

Use the following steps to install Advanced Financial Reporting. The installation process may include installing
the AFR Logon Server, licensing AFR, installing AFR from the DVD or EPICweb, and installing any AFR Service
Pack updates.

3.1 Install AFR Logon Server

Use these steps to install the AFR Logon Server. This process installs the License Requester Tool.
Important If AFR updates are available on EPICweb, you must use those files to install AFR Logon Server.
Updates from EPICweb supercede files on the AFR DVD.

1. Go to the directory where you extracted the AFR*.zip file from EPICweb. Go to the AFRLogonServer
directory.

2. Double-click the Setup.exe file to start the AFR Logon Server install.

3. On the Welcome dialog, click Next.

4. Accept the default destination folder, or click Browse to select a different folder. Select who can use AFR
License Requester on this computer, Everyone or Just me. Click Next.

5. Define the MS Reporting Services server web connection settings and click Next. To find the specific
Reporting Services Web Service URL and Report Manager URL information, do the following on the
Report Server machine:

a. Navigate to Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 20xx > Configurator Tools > Reporting
Services Configuration Manager.

b. On the left navigation menu, select the ReportManager URL. This URL is used to view reports in Report
Viewer.

c. In the URL section, copy the ReportManager URL. The URL typically displays as a blue underlined link.

d. On the left navigation menu, select the Web Service URL. This URL is used to publish reports on MSRS.

e. In the URL section, copy the Web Service URL. The URL typically displays as a blue underlined link.

Note During the installation, if the URLs use localhost as the server name, for example, the Reporting
Services Web Service URL is set to http://localhost:8080/Reports, the system automatically changes
localhost to your machine name after you install the AFR Logon Server.

6. To begin the installation, click Next. The files are installed.

7. When complete, click Close. The AFR Logon Server installation wizard closes.

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AFR Installation Guide Install Advanced Financial Reporting

3.2 License Advanced Financial Reporting

Use these steps to request and apply the license for Advanced Financial Reporting.
Note If you are upgrading from a previous version, your license file is still valid if you are upgrading on
the same server. However, you need to request a new license if you want to install the Epicor AFR OBDC
driver.

3.2.1 Request License

Use the following steps to request a license for Advanced Financial Reporting.

1. Launch the License Requester Tool. To do this, select Start > Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced
Financial Reporting > License Requester Tool. The dialog looks similar to the following:

2. In the Customer Name field, accept the default value (domain user name), or change it to another value
to identify the company or person making the request.

3. Enter the values for how long you need the license. For example, enter the number of days, months or years.

4. Enter the number of concurrent users for the license for the Report Designer and Report Viewer.

5. Review the information in the text box. Note that this license only applies to the machine where the License
Requester Tool is launched.

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Install Advanced Financial Reporting AFR Installation Guide

6. To select the detailed license information, click Copy to Clipboard.

7. Open your email. Create a new email to your Sales Representative. Paste in the information that is in your
clipboard. Click Send to send the email.
Tip Do not expect an automated response from Epicor. Your server license request requires human
interaction to generate the license and email it back to you. The response time may vary, based on
the situation when the request was received.

8. Click the X in the upper right corner to close the License Requester.

You have successfully requested your license.

3.2.2 Apply License

Use these steps to apply licenses for Advanced Financial Reporting. This step is usually completed by the customer
after the license file has been received.

1. Verify that you have received an email response from the License Administrator.

2. Open the email from the License Administrator.

3. Save the license file attachment to the AFR Report Logon Server folder. For example, save it in Epicor
Software/AFR/Logon Server.

4. Start the AFR Logon Server. To do this, navigate to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools >
Services. Right-click the Epicor AFR Logon Server and select Start.

5. If the service fails to start, navigate to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer.
In the left pane, click on the Epicor Financial Reporter section. Review any error messages that are listed in
the right pane.

3.3 Install Advanced Financial Reporting

Use these steps to install Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting on your server.
Note If you want to design or view reports from a workstation instead of the server, you must also install
AFR on that workstation. Use the "Install AFR Client on Workstation" section for instructions.

Important If AFR updates are available on EPICweb, you must use those files to install AFR. Updates from
EPICweb supercede files on the AFR DVD.

1. Go to the directory where you extracted the AFR*.zip file from EPICweb. Based on your server environment,
select the x64 (64 bit) or x86 (32 bit) directory.

2. If you are upgrading your application, start the AFR Logon Server. To do this, navigate to Start > Control
Panel > Administrative Tools > Services. Right-click the Epicor AFR Logon Server and select Start.

3. Double-click the Setup.exe file to start the AFR installation.

4. If you have a previous AFR version installed, the application prompts to uninstall it. Click Yes to confirm. It
may take several minutes for the Windows Installer to uninstall the application.

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AFR Installation Guide Install Advanced Financial Reporting

5. On the Welcome dialog, click Next.

6. Accept the default destination folder, or click Browse to select a different folder. Select who can use AFR
on this computer, Everyone or Just me. Click Next.

7. To begin the installation, click Next.

8. Enter the installation folder based on the location of where Microsoft SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services)
is installed:

a. Select the MS SQL Server Reporting Services instance from drop-down list. This value automatically
populates the MS SQL Server Reporting Services installation folder field. If the required instance
does not display on the list, select <Custom Path> and specify the MS SQL Server Reporting Services
installation folder location on this machine manually.

b. MS SQL Server BI Development Studio installation folder specifies the location of the SQL Server
Business Intelligence Studio on this machine. The field is blank if it is not installed.

9. Click Next.

10. From the list of logon servers found on your local network, select the server to which you want to connect.
Click Next.

11. When complete, click Close. The Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting installation wizard closes.

3.3.1 Install AFR Client on Workstation

If you want the ability to design or view reports on a workstation instead of the server, use these steps to install
AFR on that workstation. When using Report Designer or Report Viewer on a workstation, the AFR Logon Server
must be running on the SQL Server machine.
Important If AFR updates are available on EPICweb, you must use those files to install AFR. Updates from
EPICweb supercede files on the AFR DVD.

1. Go to the directory where you extracted the AFR*.zip file from EPICweb. Based on your workstation
environment, select the x64 (64 bit) or x86 (32 bit) directory.

2. Double-click the Setup.exe file to start the AFR installation.

3. If you have a previous AFR version installed, the application prompts to uninstall it. Click Yes to confirm. It
may take several minutes for the Windows Installer to uninstall the application.

4. On the Welcome dialog, click Next.

5. Accept the default destination folder, or click Browse to select a different folder. Select who can use AFR
on this computer, Everyone or Just me. Click Next.

6. To begin the installation, click Next.

7. Enter the installation folder based on the location of where Microsoft SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services)
is installed:

a. From the MS SQL Server Reporting Services instance drop-down list, select <none (Don't install
AFR Data Extension)> .

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b. SQL Server BI Development Studio. Specifies the location of the SQL Server Business Intelligence
Studio. The field is blank if it is not installed.

8. Click Next.

9. From the list of logon servers found on your local network, select the server to which you want to connect.
Click Next.

10. When complete, click Close. The Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting installation wizard closes.

3.4 Install Epicor AFR ODBC driver

Use these steps to install the Epicor AFR ODBC driver.


The Epicor AFR OBDC driver allows to export AFR reports to Microsoft Excel, to view and adjust financial data
and to customize the report form using Excel functionality. Users who do not have AFR Report Designer installed
can also work with Excel reports generated from AFR Report Designer if they have the Epicor AFR OBDC driver
installed.
Note The Epicor AFR OBDC driver is compatible with Microsoft Excel 2007 and Microsoft Excel 2010.

1. Go to the directory where you extracted the AFR*.zip file from EPICweb. Go to the AFRODBCsetup
directory. Based on environment, select the x64 (64 bit) or x86 (32 bit) directory.
Note The AFR ODBC driver version must match the Microsoft Office version. For example, if you have
Microsoft Office x86 (32 bit), you should run the AFR OBDC driver installer from the x86 (32 bit)
directory.

2. Double-click the Setup.exe file to start the AFR ODBC driver install.

3. On the Welcome dialog, click Next.

4. Accept the default destination folder, or click Change to select a different folder. Click Next.

5. To begin the installation, click Install.

6. When complete, click Finish. The Epicor AFR ODBC driver installation wizard closes.

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AFR Installation Guide Configure Report Designer and Report Viewer

4 Configure Report Designer and Report Viewer

Use the following steps to configure and test the Report Designer and Report Viewer.

4.1 Configure Report Designer

Use these steps to configure the Report Designer.

1. Login to the Report Designer. To do this, select Start > Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial
Reporting > Report Designer.

2. On the Report Definition Logon, enter the connection details to the SQL Server that will host the report
definition database. To verify the SQL Server host name, you can open SQL Server Studio and review the
information.

3. Select a report definition from the Database drop-down list or select Create New and click OK to create
a new database. You can also select a database created in the previous version of AFR. To do this:

a. On the Logon to Report Definition DB window, select the Show previous versions check box.

b. In the Database drop-down list, select a database created in the previous version. Click OK.

c. Specify the New Database Name and click Yes.


The application creates a new database and populates it with reports from the previous database. It
converts them into a new database that matches the new version of AFR you just installed.

4. In Report Designer, go to Tools > Settings.

5. On the RDL sheet, review the Web Service URL. This URL is entered from the URL, reported by the Logon
Server at the time the report definition database was created. This URL was defined during the Logon Server
installation.

6. Verify the Reporting Services Web Service URL and Report Manager URL and click Next. To find the
specific URL information, do the following on the Report Server machine:

a. Navigate to Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 20xx > Configuration Tools > Reporting
Services Configuration Manager.

b. On the left navigation menu, select the Web Service URL.

c. In the URL section, copy the ReportManager URL. The URL typically displays as a blue underlined link.

d. On the left navigation menu, select the Web Service URL.

e. In the URL section, copy the Web Service URL. The URL typically displays as a blue underlined link.

f. In Report Designer, go to Tools > Settings. Navigate to the RDL sheet, and paste the link to the
Reporting Services Web Service URL field.

g. Click Test Connection to test that the URL is valid.

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Configure Report Designer and Report Viewer AFR Installation Guide

7. Review and change, if necessary, the default Data Source Name.

8. Specify the connection details to the Report Data database.


Note When using AFR with the Epicor 9 application, this is the target database for a Financial Reporting
subscriber in the Epicor Replication Server.

9. On the Preview sheet, select a report Database from the drop-down list, select to create a new report
database. Click OK. Specify the connection details to the same database.

4.2 Test Report Viewer Configuration

Use these steps to test the Report Viewer configuration.

1. To test the configuration, select Start > Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial Reporting
> Report Viewer.

2. Verify that the URL that displays is correct. For example, the SQL Server Reporting Services home page.
Note You enter the default SQL Server Report Manager URL during the Logon Server installation.
You can also configure Report Viewer to access reports from multiple SSRS servers. Review the
Configure Logon Server section within the Epicor AFR User Guide to learn how to do this.

3. If an error displays or if the displayed page is different from the expected page which opens when you use
the SQL Server Report Manager URL link in the Reporting Services Configuration Manager, use the steps in
the following section to re-configure the Report Viewer.

4.3 Re-configure Report Viewer (If Needed)

Use these steps to re-configure the Report Viewer if an error displayed when you tested the configuration.

1. Go to the location where AFR Logon Server is installed. For example, go to C:\Program Files(x86)\Epicor
Software\AFR\Logon Server.

2. Using a text editor, open the file: Epicor.AFR.LogonServer.WinService.exe.config

3. In the file, locate the [ReportManagerURL] line.

4. Edit the specific URL information. To find the specific URL information, do the following:

a. Navigate to Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 20xx > Configurator Tools > Reporting
Services Configuration Manager.

b. On the left navigation menu, select the ReportManager URL.

c. In the URL section, review the ReportManager URL. The URL is typically displayed as a blue underlined
link.

d. Copy the URL text and paste it between the "[ ]" of the ReportManager URL line in the configuration
file.

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5. Save the configuration file.

6. Restart the Epicor AFR Logon Service.

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Configure AFR with Epicor 9.05 Application AFR Installation Guide

5 Configure AFR with Epicor 9.05 Application

AFR is designed to work with different ERP systems, such as Epicor 9.05, Enterprise, or iScala. Use this section to
configure AFR with the Epicor 9.05 application.
During the replication process, financial data is published to the AFR database. Note that the AFR database can
only reside on a system with SQL 2008 R2 or higher. The data is exported from the ERP database in real time
and inserted into the AFR database where it is immediately available for reporting. Since the schema of the AFR
database is optimized for reporting performance, the data is transformed from the source database schema into
the target AFR schema.
You can use one of the following ways to replicate Epicor 9.05 database to AFR database:
• Epicor Replication Server
• AFR Replication Monitor tool
For information on how to use Epicor Replication Server, refer to the Epicor Database Replication Installation
Guide. Review the Configure Replication in the Epicor Application and the Configure Using Replication
Management Console sections for details on how to assign replication profiles, create instances, and initialize
tables.
For information on how to use the AFR Replication Monitor tool, review the AFR Replication Installation Guide
and Application Help.
Be sure to keep the AFR database and your ERP database as separate databases. For example, if you already have
a SQL Server configured on your machine, you can replicate the AFR data onto the same SQL Server instance
that is used by the ERP software. You can also replicate onto another SQL Server instance; or onto a different
SQL Server installation on a different machine. With either of these configurations, be sure that the AFR database
and ERP databases are separate.

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AFR Installation Guide Install Local Language Support (If Available)

6 Install Local Language Support (If Available)

Epicor AFR is delivered with English as the default language. Other languages are available for installation using
local language packs. Use this section to install local language support for AFR, if desired. The process includes
downloading and installing the language pack into the environment so that it can be accessed by Epicor AFR.

6.1 Download Language Pack File

Use these steps to download the latest language pack file from EPICweb onto your machine.

1. Log onto EPICweb and go to the Support website.


Note You can click this link: https://epicweb.epicor.com/Support/epicor9/Downloads.

2. Navigate to Epicor AFR > Version 9.05.

3. Download the latest AFR language pack file to your report server. For example, download
AFR_LanguagePack*.zip file.

6.2 Install Language Pack File

Use these steps to install the language pack file into the environment to be accessed by AFR.

1. On your report server, go to the location where you downloaded the Epicor AFR language pack file.

2. Extract the Epicor AFR language pack file into the LangPack folder where your Epicor application is installed.
For example, extract the file to C:\Program Files\Epicor Software\AFR\LangPack. This folder is created when
the Report Designer or Viewer is started for the first time.

3. Go to the folder. Verify the language file for your specific language and culture is listed. The language file
contains the translated text strings.

6.3 Override Language Settings

When Epicor AFR is launched, it uses the Regional Settings, including language, as defined for your server. If you
want to override your regional settings, use the following steps to add the "-l" parameter. This parameter forces
Epicor AFR to launch using a specific language pack. When no "-l" parameter is specified, Epicor AFR uses the
language as specified by your regional settings.

1. Navigate to the AFR installation folder. For example, in a standard environment go to C:\Program Files\Epicor
Software\AFR.

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2. Right-click the Epicor.AFR.Designer.exe and select Create Shortcut.

3. Right-click the Epicor.AFR.ReportViewer.exe and select Create Shortcut.

4. Right-click the Epicor.AFR.DataSecurity.exe and select Create Shortcut.

5. Right-click the Report Designer shortcut and select Properties. In the Target path, add the '-l <language>'
parameter, where <language> is the language abbreviation which corresponds to the language pack. For
example: “C:\Program Files\Epicor Software\AFR\Epicor.AFR.Designer.exe” -l fr-FR

6. Right-click the Report Viewer shortcut and select Properties. In the Target path, add the '-l <language>'
parameter, where <language> is the language abbreviation which corresponds to the language pack. For
example: “C:\Program Files\Epicor Software\AFR\Epicor.AFR.ReportViewer.exe” -l fr-FR

7. Right-click the Data Security Manager shortcut and select Properties. In the Target path, add the '-l
<language>' parameter, where <language> is the language abbreviation which corresponds to the language
pack. For example: “C:\Program Files\Epicor Software\AFR\Epicor.AFR.DataSecurity.exe” -l fr-FR

8. Drag and drop both shortcuts onto the Start menu.

9. To test the files, do the following:

a. Open AFR Report Designer or Report Viewer using the new shortcuts. The localized language file is
automatically loaded.

b. Verify that all the user interface labels and captions are in local language.

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AFR Installation Guide Install AFR Report Templates

7 Install AFR Report Templates

AFR is delivered with report templates which may be imported into the application as standard templates. Use
this section to install the AFR report templates. The process includes downloading and installing the available
templates into the environment.

7.1 Download AFR Report Templates

Use these steps to download the latest AFR Report Templates to your machine.

1. Log on to EPICweb and go to the Support website.


Note You can click this link: https://epicweb.epicor.com/Support/epicor9/Downloads.

2. Navigate to Epicor AFR > Version 9.05.

3. Download the latest AFR Report Templates file to your report server. For example, download the
AFR_9.05.70x_Templates.zip file.

4. Extract the .zip file contents.

7.2 Install AFR Report Templates

Use these steps to install AFR report templates into the environment.

1. Login to the Report Designer. To do this, select Start > Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial
Reporting > Report Designer.

2. To import reports, from the File menu, select Import > Exported AFR Reports. Enter the import File Path
or click the browse button and select the file to import. Select the Include RDLs check box if you want to
import the report definition language files along with the reports. Click OK.

3. Repeat the above step to select and import other reports provided in the Report Template package
downloaded from EPICweb.

4. From the File menu, select Save to save the imported reports.

5. For the instructions on how to modify the reports to match your business accounting structure, open the
report and review the Description field on the Reports > Detail > General sheet.

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Post Installation AFR Installation Guide

8 Post Installation

If you had a previous version of AFR installed, use these steps after upgrading to the latest version.

8.1 Upgrade Financial Database (If Previous Version)

When you use an AFR Financial Database created in a previous version, you need to upgrade it to the current
version. Use these steps to upgrade an earlier version financial database.
Note You do not need to upgrade financial database in AFR Financial Data Security Manager if you
upgraded it in the AFR Replication tool.

1. Login to the AFR Financial Data Security Manager. To do this, select Start > Programs > Epicor Software
> Advanced Financial Reporting > AFR Financial Data Security Manager.

2. In the AFR Financial Data Security Manager window, click the Connect DB button.

3. In the Log on to Report Data DB window, select the name of the existing Database.

4. Click Yes to upgrade the database to the current AFR version.


Once upgraded, the AFR Financial Data Security system connects to the database.
Note If the Financial Database version you import is earlier than 9.05.603, the signs of the Credit
Amount values in fiscal periods are reversed after upgrade. If the reports use periods instead of dates,
you may need to revise them.

8.2 Verify Credit Amount Values (If Previous Version)

If you used FromPeriod / ToPeriod parameters in a report, you must use these steps to verify that your Credit
Amount values are accurate. In AFR versions prior to 9.05.603, Credit Amount values were negative values, and
with AFR version 9.05.603 and higher, the Credit Amount values are positive values. The CreditAmount field is
in the GLPeriodBalEx table.
Note If you used the FromDate / ToDate parameters in a report, your Credit Amount values are correct
and you do not need to use the following steps to verify your values.

1. Open the AFR Report Designer.

2. Select the column set that is used in a period based report.

3. Locate the columns which have 'CreditAmount' keyword in the expression.

4. Change 'CreditAmount' to 'CreditAmount * (-1)'.

5. Save the column set.

20 9.05.702E
AFR Installation Guide Post Installation

8.3 Test Report Definitions (If Previous Version)

Use these steps to test that the reports you exported and then imported are valid.

1. Login to the Report Designer. To do this, select Start > Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial
Reporting > Report Designer.

2. Click the Search button on the Standard Toolbar.

3. Search for and select a report.

4. From the tree view, select Reports > <report name> > <RDL file>.

5. Click the Generate report preview button. Verify your report opens correctly.

8.4 Configure Financial Data Security

Use these steps to configure the AFR Financial Data Security. Configuration includes authorizing certain users or
user groups to access restricted portions of financial data.
AFR Financial Data Security Manager is a standalone program with a set of functional features for restricting
unauthorized access to confidential company financial data that is stored in the AFR financial databases.

1. Open the AFR Financial Data Security Manager. To do this, navigate to Start > Programs > Epicor Software
> Advanced Financial Reporting > AFR Financial Data Security Manager

2. Select the Activate AFR Financial Data Security check box to apply data security restrictions to your
financial database.

3. Review the AFR Financial Data Security application help for more detailed information.

8.5 Migrate Microsoft Financial Reporter and Management Reporter Reports

Use these steps to migrate any existing Microsoft Financial Reporter (FRx) and Management Reporter (MMR)
reports into AFR.

1. Review the help topics within the AFR application for instructions on importing your FRx and MMR reports
into AFR. The help topics include:
• Epicor Financial Report Designer > File Menu > Import > Import Management Reporter DB
• Epicor Financial Report Designer > File Menu > Import > Import FRx DB

2. For additional technical details on how your Microsoft Management Reporter reports are mapped in AFR,
review the "EpicorAFR_FRx_MR_Conversion" document. To access the document:

a. Log on to EPICweb and go to the Customer Portal Page. Navigate to Documentation > Epicor 9.

9.05.702E 21
Post Installation AFR Installation Guide

Note You can use this link: https://epicweb.epicor.com/doc/Pages/Epicor9.aspx

b. In the Cross Brands Solutions Library navigate to Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting > Release
9.05.70x

c. Select and download the "EpicorAFR_FRx_MR_Conversion" document to your workstation.

22 9.05.702E
Additional information is available at the Education and
Documentation areas of the EPICweb Customer Portal. To access
this site, you need a Site ID and an EPICweb account. To create an
account, go to http://support.epicor.com.

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