This article describes the new features and other improvements in the February 2019 release of the Zetadocs Expenses service.

Changes in this update

Feature enhancements

Reporting data feed

We have added a data feed to retrieve details of approved expenses.  This can be used with Microsoft PowerBI and Microsoft Excel to analyze expenditure, extending the reporting available in Dynamics NAV.

The Custom Property Details page in the admin site now includes a setting for Analysis Field.  This enables the administrator to choose which custom property is mapped to each of the twelve analysis fields in the data feed (Department, Area, and Custom 1 to 10).

We will be previewing a PowerBI template later this quarter which uses this data feed to display a set of standard dashboards and reports.  You will be able to customize the template using the PowerBI desktop app, then publish it for wider use within your organization.

See the Reporting Feed Reference for further information about connecting to the data feed.

Preview features

The following enhancements are enabled on selected accounts only.  This allows channel partners and other users to understand the feature and to give feedback on its implementation before general release.  Please contact Equisys if you wish to use any of these preview features.

Hotel expense daily limits

We have added a new Payment-Hotel expense type category.  This enables the administrator to set the warning level and maximum limit for hotel expenses as per-night figures, rather than a total figure as previously.

When a user chooses this expense type, they will be asked to enter the number of nights.  The number of nights and the per-night cost is then displayed when viewing the expense.

To use this feature you should disable the existing expense type used for hotel expenses, then create a new expense type with category set to Payment-Hotel.

Note that the client currently restricts you from creating an itemized expense which includes Payment-Hotel and Payment-General items.  This restriction will be removed before general release of the feature.

Quality and performance improvements

This update includes general quality and performance improvements, including the following:

Improve performance of client apps

We have improved memory usage in the Zetadocs Expenses client.  This will help to improve performance, and reduce the risk of the client app closing or becoming unresponsive after heavy use.

Paperclip icon not displayed consistently

When the client displays lists of expenses, a paperclip icon is included if the expense has one or more receipts attached to it.  We have corrected an issue which caused the paperclip to be omitted occasionally.

Unable to export report containing zero value mileage expense

Mileage expenses with a value of zero are used by some customers for special purposes – eg to capture documentation relating to company car maintenance.  Previously if a zero-value mileage expense was attached to an Expense Report export of all expenses on that report would fail.  This has now been corrected.

Additional upgrade steps

Zetadocs Expenses Connector for NAV

Versions of the Zetadocs Expenses Connector before the July 2018 release (version 3.3.18178) will no longer work, and must be upgraded to export data to Microsoft Dynamics Business Central / NAV.  See this article for further details.

The upgrade process is quick and easy, and is described in this technote.  Please contact Equisys for further assistance if required.

Mobile apps

Installed mobile apps will be updated automatically on mobile devices where this is enabled.