Microsoft Dynamics GP Upgrade 2021 - Upgrading the Web Client

 Hello Everyone!

With the release of Microsoft Dynamics GP’s Fall 2021 update, you will want to think about the steps you will have to take when upgrading Web Client.

**UPDATE **

This area page issue has been addressed in the January 2022 patch for Dynamics GP, MicrosoftDynamicsGP18-KB4576805-ENU.msp

In order to patch your existing Fall 2021 Web Client install with the new January 2022 patch, MDGP_WebClient_ENU_KB4576809.msp, you can download and run this patch on each of your machines where the Web Components are installed.  Once you've done that you will need to run the Web Client Configuration Wizard ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics\GP Web Components\Microsoft.Dynamics.GP.Web.ConfigurationWizard.exe") to complete the upgrade.

If you're upgrading from a version prior to Fall 2021 you can slip-stream this new MSP into the AdProd\WebComponents\Updates folder on the Fall 2021 install media prior to the upgrade and it will be automatically included.

If you receive an Error Code 5 try to run a repair on the Web Components and slip stream the Update (msp) in the GreatPlains\AdProd\WebComponents\Updates of the installation media.

___

Prior to January 2022 hotfix release workaround:

We have noticed some cases once you upgrade to 18.4 the Web Client Home page is missing items or employees cannot see their information.

Basically, we just need to copy the Web Client folder from your prior install (if it is 18.3) or you can Web Client Runtime from the Fall2020GPDVD (18.3), then copy the ‘Web Client’ folder that gets created in the GP18.3 code folder over to the new GP18.4 code folder on the Web Server and the homepage will appear normally again. 

To save time, I have uploaded the WEB CLIENT files for you from an 18.3 install that you can use as well.

___

First, you should verify that the desktop client is working properly before you continue with the Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Client upgrade process. Resolve any issues before you continue.

Then you will want to verify whether you are in a single or multi-server environment. If you are running in a single server environment, you will be upgrading the Session Central Service and Session Service on one server. If you are running a multi-server environment, you will want to be sure that you are installing the update on the Session Central Server/Web Server; the same goes for the Session Service/Session Host server. Also, if you are running multiple Session Service Servers, make sure that you are upgrading all of them so that they are the same Web Client version.

You are going to notice that there is still to install Web Client and Web Components in the GP install media. For all intents and purposes, they will do the same thing.

Please note that you will have the option to install/upgrade Service Based Architecture (SBA). This part of the installation is not covered in this article but be aware that these options will be there. If you are not using SBA, you can right click on Service Based Architecture and SBA Session Manager and select ‘Not Available’.

You can find instructions on how to upgrade a single server environment and a multi-server environment in the Documentation\Manuals directory on the GP media.  Please note that there are special instructions if you happen to be running Tenant Services.  You would want to refer to the Install and Administration Guide.

Tenant Services Documentation: You can find the Tenant Services upgrade documentation on the install media inside Documentation\Manuals. The file is called TSInstallAdminGuide. Be sure you go in and Edit the Path information in the Tenant Manager Snap-In after you have upgraded your GP Client on the Session Host Machine(s).

Installing the Web Client upgrade

Make sure to verify that the desktop client is working properly before you continue with the Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Client upgrade process; resolve any issues, and make sure that all of the users have signed of the system before proceeding.

1. From the Microsoft Dynamics GP installation media, double-click the Setup.exe file to open the Microsoft Dynamics GP installation window.
2. Click Web Components and then click Install.
3. Select to upgrade your existing Web Client installation.
4. The installation wizard will default with the selections from the installation being upgraded. You can change settings as needed.
5. When the installation is complete, you will be prompt to run the Dynamics GP Web Components Configuration Wizard. You can also access this from the Start menu.
6. At the Welcome screen, click Next.
7. Click Exit.
8. The Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Client Help installer will be started. Click Install to complete the help installation process.
9. Click Finish to close the installer.

NOTE: If you run the Web Components install and you're not given the option to upgrade you may need to manually install the patch, which can be found in the AdProd\WebComponents\Updates folder on the Dynamics GP Fall 2021 installation media.  This option would only work if you are upgrading from a previous 18.x version of the Dynamics GP.  To check this you can go to Programs and Features and look at the version of Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Components and see if you're on version 6.x there.  The Fall 2021 release of the Web Components will be 6.0.213.

Issue Starting Session Service after upgrade: There has been instance when a repair was needed to be run after the upgrade process complete before Session Service can start correctly

Updating the online help

If a web client upgrade has updated help content, you should be prompt to install the updates at the end of Web Client install. You can also use the following procedure to install the updated help content.

1. Open the Programs and Features control panel.
2. Select Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Client Help, and then click Change.
3. Click Remove to remove the existing web client help. The process may take a few minutes.
4. Click Finish.
5. Start the installer that is located on the install media (AdProd\WebComponents\Help) for the updated help content. The installer has the following name: Microsoft_DynamicsGP16_GPWebClientHelp.msi.
6. At the Welcome screen, click Install. The installation process may take a few minutes.
7. Click Finish.

Client machine update steps

To ensure that the updated Microsoft Dynamics GP web client is working properly, you should perform the following steps on each of the client machines that access the web client.

1. Clear the Internet Explorer browser cache. This helps to ensure that the updated Application and help files are being used for the web client. To clear the browser cache, open Internet Explorer. In the Tools menu, choose Internet options. In the Browsing history group, click Delete.
   
   
2. In the Delete Browsing History window, be sure to remove the temporary Internet files. Click Delete.
3. After the browser cache has been cleared, click OK.
4. In Internet Explorer, go to the Microsoft Dynamics GP web client site. Sign in to the web client.

Preparing for the Scale out upgrade

The first step to performing the upgrade for a scale out installation is to upgrade for database and the desktop client components for Microsoft Dynamics GP. Use Dynamics GP Utilities to upgrade the system database and the company databases. Refer to the procedures described in the upgrade documentation for Microsoft Dynamics GP to complete this process.

You should verify that at least one desktop client installation is working properly before you continue with the Microsoft Dynamics GP web client upgrade. Resolve any issues before you continue.

Be sure that all of the users have signed out of the system before you start the web client upgrade process.

If you are using Tenant Services with your Microsoft Dynamics GP web client installation, you must apply the update to Tenant Services before you update the web client components.
Refer to the Tenant Services Installation and Administration Guide for information about updating Tenant Services. The Microsoft Dynamics GP upgrade can take place after the upgrade of the web client since older versions of the Microsoft Dynamics GP runtime can be used with the latest version of the web components.

Updating the web site and Session Central Service

To install the upgrade for the web site and the Session Central Service, complete the following procedure.

1. Log in to the machine that is running the web site and the Session Central Service for the Microsoft Dynamics GP web client installation.
2. From the Microsoft Dynamics GP installation media, double-click the Setup.exe file to open the Microsoft Dynamics GP installation window.
3. Click Web Components and then click Install.
4. Select to upgrade your existing web client installation.
5. The installation wizard will default with the selections from the installation being upgraded. You can change settings as needed. You can also select to add the service based architecture components to the installation.
6. When the installation is complete, the Dynamics GP Web Components Configuration Wizard will start automatically. If it doesn’t, you can access this from the Start menu.
7. At the Welcome screen, click Next.
8. Specify the type of authentication you want to use to connect to the SQL Server where the database for the Web Components is located. Click Next to continue.
9. Review the configuration actions that will be performed. Click Next to continue.
10. Click Exit.
11. The Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Client Help installer will be started. Click Install to complete the help installation process.
12. Click Finish to close the installer.

Updating session host machines

To install the upgrade for each session host machine in the scale out installation,
complete the following procedure.  This also goes for a single machine install, but you would update all services on one machine.

1. Log in to the session host machine.
2. If you haven’t already done so, perform the update for the Microsoft Dynamics GP desktop client components. Be sure that the desktop client on the session host machine is working properly before you continue this upgrade procedure.
3. From the Microsoft Dynamics GP installation media, double-click the Setup.exe file to open the Microsoft Dynamics GP installation window.
4. Click Web Components and then click Install.
5. Select to upgrade your existing web client installation.
6. The installation wizard will default with the selections from the installation being upgraded. You can change settings as needed. You can also select to add the service-based architecture components to the installation. When asked for the web components database, provide the new database name selected when upgrading the web server.
7. When the installation is complete, the Dynamics GP Web Components Configuration Wizard will start automatically. If it doesn’t, you can access this from the Start menu.
8. At the Welcome screen, click Next.
9. Specify the type of authentication you want to use to connect to the SQL Server where the database for the Web Components is located. Click Next to continue.
10. Review the configuration actions that will be performed. Click Next to continue.
11. Click Exit.

Continue to check back to the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2021 Upgrade Blog Series Schedule page to review upcoming blog posts related to Upgrading Microsoft Dynamics GP and other helpful resource links.