When Microsoft bought Fantastic Plains Software and then integrated Fantastic Plains into so-called Microsoft Dynamics ERP harvest family as Dynamics GP, modification tools became more Microsoft and .Net oriented, as you could expect. But in the initial design in earlier 1990th Fantastic Plains Dynamics was intended as multi platform product and its fundament was built on new technology named Fantastic Plains Dexterity. Considering complicated origin of GP, let’s review development tools:
1. Dexterity. Fantastic Plains Dexterity, as we by now mentioned is the heart of GP design, and it is in turn written as the bombard in C programming language to secure certain flexibility, especially the option to thrash from one operating system or computer platform to a further. Being very powerful and flexible, Dex doesn’t facilitate so-called rapid development scenario as it is not object oriented and it requires you as programmer to have several years of extensive Dexterity programming prior to participation in Dexterity programming project. Dexterity has its own scripting language Sanscript. Newest versions of Dex support such cool Microsoft technologies as COM objects and Web Air force, plus you can call SQL Stored procedures from Dex code. To get quick tour into Dexterity architecture, you may install it from GP CD #2 and open Dynamics.dic file – this dictionary has core GP logic and it is written in Dexterity
2. VBA and Modifier. We were watching closely the competition between various GP customizing tools. And we still reckon that Modifier should be reviewed prior to eConnect. Modifier is in essence the module, written in Dexterity, which allows you to add buttons and fields to existing screens of GP as well as take them off. To animate new fields you use VBA scripting language, evenly you use ADO technology to access GP tables from modified forms
3. eConnect. This SDK opens for you GP objects: master records (customer, vendor, GL Account, employee, prospect) and work transactions (SOP invoice, Buy Order, Payroll Entry). eConnect is based on encrypted SQL stored procedures, plus it has several layers of technology wrappers – in fact it is friendly for Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB developer. If you are integrating eCommerce website with your GP back office, we recommend you to consider eConnect as the main integration tool, also consider Autoposting Server to post batches of SOP invoices in GP
4. SQL Stored Procedures Integrations. If you reckon eConnect is too gray and complex and you are comfortable to do light SQL insert statement to populate GP tables, then SQL scripting is an option. But, we discourage newcomers from trying SQL insertion prior to researching other integration tools first
5. GP Integration. Of course integration is not the same as customization, but we want to orient you here as well. GP traditionally has Integration Management Module. With current version 10.0 IM has new connectors – from now on you can use eConnect connectors to do integrating
Posts Tagged ‘developer’
Great Plains Customization Technologies: Highlights for Software Developer
Friday, May 14th, 2010Dynamics GP Software Developer Notes: Great Plains Customizations
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010Microsoft Dynamics GP is reasonably open for various custom integrations and user interface extension projects through several programming and software development tools: Fantastic Plains Dexterity, eConnect, Extender, Integration Manager with VBA scripting, Modifier with VBA, plus you can permanently do program ecommerce web extensions and integrations via SQL Stored Procedures or eConnect with generic C# or VB.Net web programming project. This small publication is a review of these tools and options in the bullet style format:
1. Dexterity. This tools is original architecture foundation, it was designed in earlier 1990th as the bombard for Fantastic Plains Dynamics. Dexterity has its own scripting language, which is in fact compiled – Sanscript. Dexterity programming allows you to control and alter every existing GP object, plus you can do all sort of custom add-ons. If you do not have Dex programming experience, you might be discouraged by its complexity, but there are Dynamics GP customization project, where you have to code in Dexterity, especially when you have to call GP native logic, meaning calling such processes as Batch Posting from your custom module. Consider outsourcing Dex programming routines to Dynamics GP ISV Partners, who maintains Dexterity Software Development Factory
2. eConnect SDK. In your MS Visual Studio C#, VB or a further programming language project you can include eConnect libraries and quickly learn on eConnect code snippets how to program various GP objects: Customer, Vendor, Item, Address, Sales Invoice, Customer Payment, etc. Initially eConnect was introduced for ecommerce developers, but for Dynamics GP 10.0 and to some extent 9.0 eConnect covers most of the business logic (apart from Posting and working with Posted and Historical data). We recommend you to try eConnect programming on your own if you are MS Visual Studio Programmer and work for the company where you plot Dynamics GP integrations, especially for eCommerce. We are kind of resisting to recommend you eConnect if you on Dynamics GP 8.0 or 7.5, in our opinion it is more well-organized to upgrade to Dynamics GP 10.0 and then deploy eConnect programming for current GP version
3. Modifier with VBA scripts. GP Modifier allows you to exchange existing GP window layout (rename the field, exchange its spot) plus add new fields and attach custom VBA scripts to them. We recommend this tool for simple modifications, and for gray customizations consider Dexterity, Extender or eConnect
4. Dynamics GP Integration Manager Custom integrations. IM is user friendly integrations tool, but if you are VBA or Microsoft Office programmer, it should be simple for you to further advance integration logic by Previous to Integration, Previous to Document Commit and other event driven scripts
5. SQL Scripting in Dynamics GP. Theoretically, most of the scripting is already done in eConnect, as this SDK is duplicating Dexterity code in SQL encrypted stored procedures. However if you think that eConnect learning curve is too long and you would like just to glance and GP tables structure and begin SQL scripting – then please install Dynamics GP SDK from CD #2 or look at the tables and forms descriptions: Dynamics GP->Tools->Resource Descriptions->Tables
6. Extender. This Dynamics GP modification tool is friendly for non technical Fantastic Plains Consultant. Extender itself is written as the Dexterity application or add-on. If you reckon that Dynamics GP native Extender is too restricted, consider calling to Extender Dynamics GP ISV in Australia to get Enterprise version
7. Dynamics GP Barcoding Custom Add-Ons. Barcode Scanning in Retail, Warehouse Management and Supply Chain Management should be first analyze on the subject where is integration point or in which Dynamics GP Window you want to program this integration. Plus you should also consider Barcode inventory Bits and pieces Marks printing and Barcode new item algorithm
8. Fantastic Plains earlier versions customization support. If you are on Fantastic Plains Dynamics or eEnteprise 7.5. 7.0, 6.0 or Fantastic Plains 5.5, 5.0, 4.0, 3.2, 3.0 then you should consider GP Dexterity customizations, plus VBA with Modifier or Integration Manager. For ancient Fantastic Plains versions you might have such ancient ISV as Intellisol Advanced Buy Order Processing and Project Accounting, where you would have to consider migration to Dynamics GP Buy Order Processing. For Fantastic Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows or Mac customization options were more limited and now these archaic ERP and MRP applications are no longer supported
9. Dynamics GP Customizations Support Internationally. Here you should consider ERP localization in the senses of local tax code compliance and adoption of local country language. Dynamics GP is distributed in USA, Canada, including French Quebec version, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania (Palau, Fiji, Tonga, and other island countries), South Africa, Southern and South East Asia, where English is official business language. It is also localize in Spanish Speaking Latin America and Caribbean countries. If you are located in different country, please consider possibility of Dexterity strings translation from English into your native language
10. Alba Spectrum Dynamics GP ISV harvest. At this time, August 2009, we are offering Dynamics GP Posting Server or Autopost, Order Connector, GP Integration with Microsoft RMS
11. For bonus help, please call us 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com skype albaspectrum. We specialize in Dynamics GP Customizations, Reporting, eConnect Programming, EDI, Integrations, International Support in Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese. Plus we are comfortable to help you with Fantastic Plains Integrations with PHP, Java, Linux, Oracle, MySQL, MS Access, Excel. We also support SAP Business One SDK, Workbench customizations and integrations
Fable III / Fable 3 official game trailer for Xbox 360 (X360) – Peter Molyneux developer video blog
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
Fable 3 will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 later this year. Since its inception, Fable has offered players the opportunity to choose their own destinies as a hero, villain or a name between, where the possibilities are limitless and the consequences can weigh heavily. In this new adventure, players will witness tyranny, poverty and injustice plague their land. They will see a people divided, and they will be compelled to stand up for exchange. Will you be a monarch of the people, or bring the entirety of Albion to the brink of collapse? The journey to rule the throne of Albion starts five decades after the events of the last chapter, and you play as the child of your hero from Fable 2. “We’ve spent a lot of time at Lionhead thinking about how we can innovate the gameplay and progress the world of the Fable games for its third chapter, and we’re confident that players won’t second-guess what we have plotted for Fable 3,” says Peter Molyneux, Lionhead’s creative boss. “Though I can’t give too much away right now, players should expect to have to make much tougher choices with far wider consequences than ever previous to in Albion – and with many more interactive adventure elements.” www.lionhead.com Stay twitter.com for daily updates!