There was an obstacle facing the implementation team in assigning master data to financial dimensions such as vendors, customers, fixed assets, items, and banks, and the best-case scenario to tackle this is an automatic (online) assignment, in order to keep the integrity. The solution for this requirement is that it will either be maintained manually or by an automatic trigger (customization). Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations has bridged this gap. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations has two types of financial dimensions, as shown in the following diagram:
The first type is the user-defined dimension which allows users to add an unlimited number of dimensions (business unit, cost center, purpose, profit center, and more) as per the outcome of the analysis. The second type is the system-defined dimension. It helps in assigning the master data to newly created dimensions such as vendors, customers, fixed assets, and items.
The steps to create a new dimension are as follows:
- Navigate to General ledger | Chart of accounts | Dimensions:
- Within Dimensions, navigate to Financial dimensions, as shown in the previous screenshot. You'll be redirected to the Financial dimensions page, as shown in the following screenshot:
- Create a new financial dimension by clicking on New in the Financial dimensions window, as shown in the following screenshot:
To create a new record, the shortcut is Alt + N.
- Select the dimension type.
- If you want to add a user-defined dimension, select <Custom dimension>, as shown in this screenshot:
- Enter the user-defined dimension list and configure the dimension value by its dates of activation and/or suspension by filling the Active from, Active to, and Suspended fields, as shown in the following screenshot:
- Select the sub-ledger values, for example, Customers. Then select the financial values called from the customer's master data and configure the dimension value by its dates of activation and/or suspension, as shown:
