What’s new in Zetadocs Expenses October 2019 update

Single sign on using Microsoft work or school accounts

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

Changes in this update

Feature enhancements

Single sign on using Microsoft work and school accounts

Zetadocs Expenses now supports signing in with a Microsoft work and school account, as an alternative to using a Zetadocs account (username and password).  This is enabled on the system settings screen.

Using single sign on is better for users and for IT administrators.  Users can sign in with their existing Microsoft account.  This means that they do not have to remember a separate password for Zetadocs Expenses, making access easier and more intuitive.  If the Microsoft account is disabled then the user’s access to Zetadocs Expenses will be blocked automatically, making it simpler for IT teams to process leavers.

For more information see this blog entry.

Controlling permitted sign in method for each user

The sign in page for all the Expenses apps (mobile app, desktop app and admin site) now includes the option to sign in with a Microsoft account or Zetadocs account.  If you have not enabled the single sign on feature your users will still see both options, but will be blocked from signing in after entering their Microsoft account details.

You can control the sign in methods which are permitted for each user, choosing whether they can use only a Microsoft account, only a Zetadocs account, or either method.  When you enable the feature all existing user accounts will be configured to allow either sign in method so it is simple to rollout the feature to existing users.

If some of your users do not have a Microsoft work or school account for your company, you can still allow them to sign in using a Zetadocs account.  This simplifies access by external contractors or service providers, and also allows use of shared accounts if required.

Easier creation of user accounts

We have streamlined the process for adding new users, for companies using single sign on with Microsoft work and school accounts.

When you add a new user you can now search for them in the list of Microsoft users for your company.  Zetadocs Expenses then sets the name and other details automatically, saving time and reducing the chance of mistakes.

Support for Apple iOS 13

We have updated the Zetadocs Expenses app for Apple iOS devices to support the latest iOS release.  The changes include improvements to the Edit Expense form so it is easier to enter data and use the keyboard.

Support for Business Central October 2019 release (BC15)

The Zetadocs Expenses Extension for Business Central now supports the October 2019 release of Business Central (BC15) however its deployed: on-premises, private cloud or in the Microsoft cloud.

For on-premises and private cloud systems the extension is downloaded and installed from the software updates page.  The extension creates a web endpoint which the Zetadocs Expenses server calls directly.  This removes the need to install the Zetadocs Expenses Connector software on the Business Central server computer which simplifies installation on private cloud systems with restricted access.

A separate version of the extension is also available for use with Business Central April 2019 release (BC14), providing an alternative to using the Connector for NAV for on-premises and private cloud systems.

Improved reporting on export configuration errors

We have improved the way that the system reports errors when exporting to Business Central or NAV.  If an export operation fails the report history now contains more information about the error, including the expense number and details about the cause. 

This makes it quicker to correct configuration settings, reducing the time required to implement a new system and enabling a system administrator or reseller to troubleshoot issues more simply.

This feature requires the Extension for Business Central or Connector for NAV to be upgraded to the version in this update.

Additional upgrade steps

Extension for Business Central

This release is compatible with previous versions of the Zetadocs Expenses Extension for Business Central.

If you are using the Extension for Business Central, some improvements in this release require you to upgrade the extension.  These are noted above.  To upgrade the extension please contact your Business Central reseller, or contact Equisys for further assistance if required.

Connector for NAV

This release is compatible with previous versions of the Zetadocs Expenses Connector (versions 3.3.18178 and later).

Versions of the Zetadocs Expenses Connector before the June 2019 release (versions before 3.3.19148) will not work with Business Central on-premises systems using the April 2019 of Business Central (BC14), or with older Business Central systems with cumulative update 4 (BC13 CU4).

If you are using the Connector for NAV, some improvements in this release require you to upgrade the connector.  These are noted above.  To upgrade the connector, follow the instructions in this technote.  Please contact Equisys for further assistance if required.

Reporting Template

There are no changes to the PowerBI reporting template with this update

Mobile apps

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

Known issues with released features

Restriction on offline use for single sign on users

After signing in on the mobile app using a Microsoft work or school account, some actions such as creating an expense will not work if the device does not have an Internet connection.

The issue does not affect users who sign in using a Zetadocs account (username and password).

Map does not display correctly on Apple iOS devices

There is an issue with displaying maps when using the Zetadocs Expenses mobile app on some Apple iOS devices.  This affects how the route is displayed in the mileage expense view and edit screens, causing it to be displayed on a solid grey background instead of overlaying it onto a map. 

Moving or resizing the map corrects the issue, and the map will then be displayed correctly.  The issue does not occur when using the mobile app on Android devices or the desktop browser app.