Understanding Acumatica Generic Inquiries

Introduction

Acumatica Generic Inquiries (GI) are one of the most powerful features for data analysis and reporting in the ERP system. They allow users to create custom queries without writing SQL code, making it easy to extract and analyze data from across the system.

In this guide, we'll explore how Generic Inquiries work, how to create them, and best practices for optimization. Whether you need to create ad-hoc reports, data entry screens, or dashboards, Generic Inquiries provide the flexibility you need.

What is a Generic Inquiry?

A Generic Inquiry is a configurable query tool that allows you to define what data to retrieve, how to display it, and what parameters to use. Unlike traditional reports, GIs are interactive and can be used as data entry forms.

Key features of Generic Inquiries include:

• Visual Query Builder - No SQL knowledge required
• Multiple Data Sources - Join tables from different modules
• Interactive Parameters - Filter data at runtime
• Multiple Views - Display data in grids, charts, or dashboards
• Export Capabilities - Export to Excel, CSV, or PDF

Creating a Generic Inquiry

Let's create a GI to display overdue invoices. First, define the data sources:

Data Sources:
  - ARInvoice (Main)
  - Customer (Join on CustomerID)
  - Location (Join on CustomerID + LocationID)

Conditions:
  - DocDate < Today - 30
  - DocType = 'INV'
  - Status != 'Closed'

Next, select the fields to display:

Fields:
  - RefNbr (Invoice Nbr)
  - CustomerID
  - CustomerName
  - DocDate
  - DueDate
  - CuryDocBal (Balance)
  - DaysOverdue (Calculated)

Configure the sort order and grouping to organize the results effectively.

Results Form Configuration

The Results Form tab controls how data is displayed. You can configure:

• Column Order - Drag and drop to reorder
• Column Widths - Set default widths
• Sorting - Default sort order
• Formatting - Number formats, date formats
• Visibility - Show/hide columns

You can also enable inline editing by setting the "Enable Edit" property for specific fields, turning your GI into a data entry screen.

Parameters and Filters

Parameters make your Generic Inquiries dynamic and reusable. Create parameters in the Parameters tab:

Parameter Name: StartDate
Database Name: @StartDate
Title: Start Date
Type: Date
Required: Yes

Parameter Name: CustomerClass
Database Name: @CustomerClass
Title: Customer Class
Type: String
Required: No

Then use these parameters in your conditions:

DocDate >= @StartDate
CustomerClass = @CustomerClass OR @CustomerClass IS NULL

Best Practices

• Use appropriate joins - Avoid excessive joins that impact performance
• Index frequently filtered columns - Improve query performance
• Limit result sets - Use top records or pagination
• Test with large datasets - Ensure performance is acceptable
• Document complex GIs - Help future maintenance
• Use meaningful names - Name inquiries clearly

Summary

Acumatica Generic Inquiries provide a powerful way to extract, analyze, and display data from your ERP system. By mastering GI configuration, you can create custom reports, dashboards, and even data entry screens without writing code.

For more information, check out our other tutorials on SQL Analysis Tools and Report Designer.