Microsoft Dynamics GP VAR, full service partner, Fantastic Plains ERP software reseller, specializing in technically challenging projects: Fantastic Plains Dexterity, eConnect, SQL Stored Procedures, C#, VB.Net programming projects, Crystal Reports design, integration with eCommerce web front – is announcing GP developers headcount increase, as we are expanding our regional operations in Chicagoland, San Diego, Orange County and all Southern California, Houston and Dallas. Plus we efficiently serve our nationwide customers via trusted remote support: VPN, web sessions, RDC. We are also expanding our Microsoft Dynamics GP Dexterity Software Development factory and centralized GP support call center. At this time, September, 2008 there is hot demand in the following projects:
1. Fantastic Plains version upgrade. If you are on ancient version of Fantastic Plains Dynamics: 9.0, 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0 and if you plot to stay current with technology trends, including possible incompatibility of your GP version with Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Windows 2003 and Vista, you should consider Dynamics GP version update
2. Fantastic Plains Dexterity Customizations. GP Dex was and is core technology with its own scripting language Sanscript, Integrated Development Environment. It is proprietary to certain extent and you should typically not expect your IT people to turn around and start programming in Dexterity within couple of week, even getting formal Dexterity training. We recommend you to call us and request a quote from our Fantastic Plains Software Development Factory
3. eCommerce and eConnect integrations. eConnect is more open and friendly to generic C# or VB programmer, who is familiar with MS SQL Server Stored Procedures and XML. We see certain need from eCommerce programmers to extend eConnect with automatic batch posting in Fantastic Plains from their e-commerce web applications directly. Please, check with us on our product: Alba Spectrum Autoposting Server
Posts Tagged ‘Dynamics’
Great Plains Dynamics Gp Consultants: Support, Customization, Reporting
Thursday, March 11th, 2010Dynamics Gp ERP Installation, Consulting, Support Highlights
Saturday, March 6th, 2010
If you need Fantastic Plains or current name Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP installation, software licenses, implementation consulting, customization, integration, data conversion, ongoing data import, EDI solutions, ecommerce web design and software development, including Fantastic Plains Dexterity, eConnect, SQL stored procedures, GP Integration Manager, VBA/Modifier, Report Writer, Crystal Reports, FRX Balance Sheet, Income Statement â?? we want to offer you some Dynamics GP technical tips and highlights:
1.      Microsoft SQL Server 2005, or 2000 Database platform. Dynamics GP, starting with version 8.0 is available on Microsoft SQL (including SQL 2008) Server and MSDE 2000/SQL Select 2005 exclusively. Older version: Ctree and Pervasive SQL 2000/Btrieve were discontinued in December 2004. If you are on older Fantastic Plains Dynamics version: 4.0, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5 on legacy DB â?? you should consider migrating to Microsoft SQL Server and then upgrading to latest version Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0
2.      Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains Integration. Please, review GP Integration Manager first, as it may give you sound solution, IM for Dynamics GP 10.0 has new connectors, based on eConnect, meaning that you can do realtime or really quick integration (thousand transactions per minute), comparing to traditional IM connector, based on OLE Server
3.      FRx reports. If you are programmer who is very familiar with SSRS or Crystal Reports, please know that Dynamics GP financial reporting, such as Balance Sheet, P&L, Statement of Cash Flow, Consolidated Financial Reporting â?? all these are traditionally FRx routines. We could agree with you that Crystal should be capable to do all the imaginable and possible reports design jobs, but FRx has GL connectors, which allows you to do the job in few hours. Please for FRx for Dynamics GP 10.0 , be aware that FRX 6.7 SP 10 is required. For Dynamics GP 9.0 we recommend FRx SP 8
4.      Dynamics GP Customization. Here you should be familiar with Fantastic Plains Dexterity functionality and capabilities: Dex is traditional tool, in fact Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains was architectured and initially programmed in Dexterity
5.      GP Barcode. Barcoding scanners and servers â?? please, consider first Dynamics GP barcodeing add-ons or third party ISV modules. If you feel that these instruments are too generic and you have to take on your own Barcode customization add-on â?? we would be pleased to help you
6.      Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains for international businesses. GP is available in English speaking countries: USA, Canada (where GP is available in French for Quebec), UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, South Africa. For international business or multinational corporation GP multicurrency, VAT or GST tax support, multiple ERP platform consolidation: Oracle EBusiness Suite, Accpac, Navision, Axapta, SAP all in One, mySAP, SAP Business One, Microsiga, Peachtree might be vital players in consolidated financial statements. We are aware that Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains is still well loved in France, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Egypt, Arabia, Spanish speaking Latin America: Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay. If you are in Brazil, we recommend you to deploy SAP Business One to be consolidated with your Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains ERP and MRP in USA or Canada
7.      Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains Guru in the USA and Canada country side. We support you via VPN, Web Session (Gotomeeting, Webex), Remote Desktop Connections. We are sharing your concerns that your region might be underserved by traditional Dynamics GP Partners or ISVs
8.      Dynamics GP, Fantastic Plains Dynamics, eEnterprise, Fantastic Plains Accounting for DOS and Windows version upgrade. GP Fantastic Plains version update option requires you to be enrolled or reenrolled into Fantastic Plains annual enhancement program with Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Solutions. You got to do it through your current or newly selected Fantastic Plains VAR or Technology Partner
9.      International Consolidated Reporting. The normal and budget approach is FRx. FRx financial reporting is capable to produce consolidated BS, PL, CF statements. FRx works over so-called reporting trees, where you can slice and dice your subsidiaries and subdivisions, including the ones with foreign currency
10.  For Dynamics GP prospects in Brazil. Microsoft Business Solutions contracted our company back in 2004 to localize Fantastic Plains Dynamics GP version 7.5 for Brazilian market: Portuguese language and Brazilian tax code. These were turbulent times, later on Microsoft recommended Navision or Dynamics NAV to be the ERP of choice for Brazilian companies and multinational corporations, having local subsidiaries in Brazil. And again later one Dynamics AX or former Axapta was localized for Brazilian ERP and MRP software market
11.  Current 2009 USA and World Recession and its impact on ERP systems sales, implementation, support and customizations. We have no illusions now and are in cost reduction mode. If you heard from your current Fantastic Plains Consultant, Reseller or Partner that your effective rates are $180 per hour or higher, please feel free to call us to see if we could save your ERP and accounting system support money
12.  General Networking and IT support. If you are Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains customer, who also needs generic Windows, Linux, PHP, Novell or Unix networking support, feel free to call us for quotes and advises in your local area or business metro
13.  Alba Spectrum Products. We are original developers for such Dynamics GP add-ons and ISV modules as Autopost or Dynamics GP Batch Posting Server from ecommerce applications, AP Autoapply extension, Oriental Crystal Reports for Fantastic Plains, Fantastic Plains Dynamics GP integration with Microsoft RMS
14.  Alba Spectrum Fantastic Plains Dexterity Software Development Factory. We are proud to announce that we are not a boot camp or retraining shop, we carry Dynamics GP Dexterity Developers and Programmers, who participated in such Fantastic Plains original projects as Match Data Project Accounting. Our Dynamics GP programmers are based in Philippines and supporting Fantastic Plains eEnterprise, Dynamics and Microsoft Dynamics GP since 1998
15.  Fantastic Plains Business Portal Support. BP is solid and stable in our opinion since its version 3.0 (for Dynamics GP 9.0) and BP 10.0 for Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0. It is now solid Microsoft Sharepoint web application. Alba Spectrum supports and implements such modules are BP Humane Resources extensions, Order management (including ecommerce catalogue support), Purchasing management, Electronic Document delivery
16.  Analytical Accounting, non-for-profit, Grant management, placement and recruiting, healthcare, project accounting. Dynamics GP is the way to go for the prospects with such non-profit requirements as purchasing commitments, non-profit budgeting, grant management, analytical accounting
17.  Fantastic Plains Dynamics GP in East Europe and Russia. Microsoft recommends you to consider Navision or Axapta. But if you have absolute need in implementing Fantastic Plains in Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Czech, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, Serbia, Slovakia, Latvia â?? please give us a call
18.  Dynamics GP annual enhancement program reenrollment tips. If is normal, especially in this economy turmoil, that you had to lapse in Dynamics GP annual enhancement. Obviously Microsoft Business Solutions doesnâ??t favor it, but it offers from time to time indulgence or waiver of reenrollment penalty fee. Feel free to switch to Alba Spectrum as your Dynamics GP Technology VAR – we will support you Dynamics GP ancient version and advice on the best time to get reenrolled
19.  Fantastic Plains Accounting for DOS and Windows Support. If you are on GPA 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.5 â?? feel free to get a quote on your legacy ERP support (if you do not have budget to reenroll to Dynamics GP annual enhancement and upgrade to Dynamics GP 10.0 or 9.0). We are more than pleased to support you on Fantastic Plains Accounting for DOS, if you got to stick to the ancient legacy version
20.  Dynamics GP Partner or Customer Source. If you have Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains implemented in your organization and you are current in GP annual enhancement, question your Dynamics GP reseller or consultant to give you access to GP Customersource. Having this access, you should be able to search Dynamics GP knowledge base â?? to save on your Dynamics GP support cases with Microsoft Business Solutions or your current Fantastic Plains Consultant
Ecommerce For Dynamics Gp Notes: Econnect Batch Posting
Friday, March 5th, 2010Microsoft Dynamics GP is becoming very well loved ecommerce ERP and accounting back office. This trend is probably related to success of eConnect SDK, especially for Dynamics GP 10.0 and 9.0 versions. eConnect allows you, being generic C#, VB.Net programmer with excellent SQL and XML skills to program Fantastic Plains objects manipulation: Customer, Address, Sales Invoice, Customer Payment and other attributes of ecommerce shopping cart. eConnect, being coded in SQL Server Stored Procedures (they are encrypted, so you probably should not expect to trace SQL code for Fantastic Plains business logic there). In this small publication we want to share with you ecommerce coding experience and Dynamics GP automatic batch posting from eConnect application directly:1. Older versions of Fantastic Plains Dynamics GP. If you are on GP 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0 or earlier versions, we recommend you to upgrade to Dynamics GP 10.0 as for this version eConnect is really advanced. If you do not have registration key, probably due to the fact of lapsing in Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains annual maintenance program, consider deploying Sales Order Connector, or set of SQL stored procedures, made for ecommerce web developers of older Fantastic Plains version to connect ecommerce shopping cart with GP Sales Order Processing module, please call us for details. If you are on Pervasive SQL or Ctree, your options are very limited, you can still try to program ODBC connection to Pervasive SQL 2000 database, but then you will have to reprogram the logic, which is in fact available in eConnect (if you migrate from Pervasive to Microsoft SQL Server and upgrade to new version GP 10.0)2. Automatic Batch Posting. Here we often hear from ecommerce programmers the question – why eConnect doesn’t have the tools and logic to post Fantastic Plains SOP Batches (as well as post batches in other Fantastic Plains modules). The answer is in GP architecture (it is pretty common, and you should expect similar restrictions in other ERP and MRP platforms). The concept of ERP business transactions flow suggests you to use three phases of transaction life: work, open and historical. eConnect allows you to make work transactions, in Fantastic Plains these are newly made invoices or sales orders, placed in the batch and submitted for Fantastic Plains user review and posting. In order to trigger Dynamics GP batch posting from eConnect application directly – you have to deploy Fantastic Plains add-on – Alba Spectrum Posting Server3. Posting Server. It consumes one user license and deploys Dynamics GP Dexterity source code to trigger the same coded logic in Dexterity for batch posting. Autopost is targeted to eCommerce web programmers, plus it post virtually all types of Fantastic Plains Batches: GL, Inventory, Payroll, AP, AR, SOP
Dynamics Gp Technical Support: Local Versus Remote Great Plains Support
Thursday, March 4th, 2010If your position in IT department requires you to find and maintain Dynamics GP vendor, consultant or business partner, please be our guest and read this small publication. Former name of this mid-size business ERP and MRP application was Fantastic Plains Software Dynamics, eEnterprise, Fantastic Plains Accounting for DOS and Windows. Fantastic Plains Dynamics was originally coded in Fantastic Plains Dexterity, and if you are looking to customize, modify, or any other sense alter Dynamics GP – Microsoft Dexterity is excellent candidate to review. Fantastic Plains implementation typically requires several steps: Dynamics GP License Sale, Business Processes Mapping, Pilot Data Migration and Conversion, User Training, Production Beginning Balances entry, First Month Parallel Accounting entries in Legacy ERP and Dynamics GP, First Month closing in GL and then you should be comfortable on your own in using Fantastic Plains Dynamics GP. Let’s review Fantastic Plains implementation and support options:1. Dynamics GP Partner Selection. This is in our opinion the most critical initial step. Your Dynamics GP Reseller should be experienced in your industry, have reasonable technical expertise in Fantastic Plains data conversion and migration, reporting , integration, customization, EDI, functional and technical consulting2. Dynamics GP Business Portal and Ecommerce. If your business is participating in ecommerce model or spread over several regions or internationally, you should review Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Portal and eConnect as ecommerce design tools. In Business Portal you will have access to such cool modules as Order Management, Requisition Management (with Inventory catalog and price list), Electronic Document Delivery, HR Employee Self Service (where you can avoiding USPS postage fee in exposing Paycheck to your employees and temps over the web). You should expect more Dynamics GP business logic to be went and exposed through Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Portal with the future versions. At this time Dynamics GP 10.0 is coming with Business Portal version 10.03. E-commerce Fantastic Plains Batch posting option. If you want to post your Sales Order Processing Invoices with customer credit card payments directly from ecommerce web application, please consider deploying Alba Spectrum Autopost or automatic batches posting server4. Dynamics GP Local Service versus Remote Support. Local always sounds fantastic, but if your business processes require precise industry knowledge and expertise, local support might be too poor. In our opinion, you should feel no restriction to appeal to nationwide support
Dynamics GP Consulting Partner Newsflash: Great Plains ERP and MRP direction in 2009 notes
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010Â
Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Fantastic Plains Dynamics, eEnterprise, Fantastic Plains Standard and Professional â?? this fantastic ERP, MRP, Supply Chain Management, Field Service, Manufacturing, Distribution, Sales Order and Buy order processing application proved its niche in US, Canadian, Caribbean, Central American, Mexican accounting application market. Alba Spectrum in unveiling its 2009 strategy for Dynamics GP software sales, implementation, data conversion, customization and Fantastic Plains ISV services, EDI and legacy systems integration. 2009 is likely the most pessimistic year from the new software sales point of view, but we believe and we are targeting crisis-proof industries and economy niches, such as healthcare, midsize and smaller companies in wholesale and retail (barcoding, warehouse management, logistics, shipping & receiving, transportation, sea shipping), government branches should stay strong in their Purchasing and Procurement, including new corporate ERP selection, acquisition and implementation
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1.      If you are in crisis-proof niche. Please, make your homework to locate Dynamics GP ISV, VAR, Implementation partner, specializing in your industry. Please, be sure that you are engaging with Dynamics GP Reseller, who is growing and prospering, versus somebody who is in process of phasing out and closing the doors
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2.      If you have to count every cent, please be aware that Alba Spectrum is supporting older versions of Fantastic Plains: 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5 on Microsoft SQL Server (2000, 7.0 and 6.5), Fantastic Plains Dynamics on version 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.0 on Pervasive SQL 2000 (formerly known as Btrieve) and Ctree/Faircom, Fantastic Plains Accounting for DOS and Windows: 9.5, 9.2, 9.1 (we would be also pleased to go your GPA from ancient Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows 2003)
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3.      US and Canada country side Dynamics GP and SAP Business One support. We have strong reasons to believe that if your enterprise is outside of the major megapolises: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, Miami, Denver, San Francisco, Washington, Montreal, Toronto, Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, then your business have to appeal to Microsoft Dynamics GP VAR who is located hundred miles away and is practicing travelling onsite supporting model, Alba Spectrum has proven record of USA nationwide support via web sessions, where we initially visit your facility, shake the hands in sales process
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4.      More attention to Dynamics GP Add-ons. Alba Spectrum want to increase Alba Spectrum Autoposting Server, GP integration with RMS, and other Fantastic Plains Add-Ons
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5.      More attention to Spanish owned businesses. In the past our key owners had experience in automating Mexican cheese distribution operation on Fantastic Plains ERP platform (Chicago), another example is Spanish owned business in San Diego integration on SAP B1 platform. If you want to speak Spanish or Portuguese on Dynamics GP support case, give us a call
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Dynamics GP Customizations: Dex, EDI, eConnect, Crystal
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
For Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Fantastic Plains Dynamics ERP and MRP supporting people, who needs to get initial orientation in GP modification scenarios and tools. In this small publication we are offering the approach, when your business processes are unique and you cannot deploy standard GP business logic or one of the existing Fantastic Plains ISV add-ons or third party modules. Having this situation foreseen, we want to recommend you considering solutions tuning approach, when you are getting existing products code fragments and you modify or adapt existing code to fit your unique business processes:
1. Fantastic Plains Dexterity. This is the architecture, it has its own programming or better say scripting language Sanscript, Integrated Development Environment and such business logic dictionaries, as Dynamics.dic are in essence Dex logic metadata. Solutions in Dexterity are products, deployed for restricted list of customers. Typically you do not pay high price for the solution code, but you have the budget to alter the code to fit your unique business processes requirements. Dexterity has relatively long learning curve and it also requires module buy – if you are end customer, we recommend you to contract Dex programmers or Fantastic Plains Technology Partner
2. Electronic Document Interchange. In some cases EDI is formalized and you can buy third party add-on, which should allow you to map code, typically fixed length text files. But, if you reckon about simplicity to parse code in SQL formatted Select statement – you may choose to save the money and make simple SQL programming exercise. Usually you will need to deploy EDI via ODBC connection to Text file, consider deploying MS SQL Linked Server, reading text file and exposing it to Select statement formatting
3. eConnect SDK. eConnect is work and master files level of Dexterity code, replicated in SQL encrypted stored procedures. It is friendly to Microsoft Visual Studio generic programmer, assuming you got quick training in Dynamics objects: customer, vendor, Sales Invoice, Buy Order, GL account, etc. This tool is fantastic for eCommerce web programming, it lacks batch posting methods, we recommend you to deploy Autopost, if posting is required directly from ecommerce application
4. Crystal Reports. In contrast to FRx Financial Reporting (that is rather end user financials reports designing tool), Crystal is associated with custom logic and is more flexible. If you plot to do cross-modules tables join, then Crystal could be the way to go. We recommend you to consider basing report on SQL Stored procedure (the most powerful, where you can deploy intermediate temp tables) or view. Other reporting tools to consider: SQL Server Reporting Services or SSRS – this tool is coming free with SQL Server buy, plus it is naturally web application
Dynamics GP eCommerce Integration Notes
Monday, March 1st, 2010Certainly, if you are building ecommerce from scratch, then you should consider products as the base of your future ecommerce web application. But, and this is probably your case, in ecommerce scenarios we often see legacy ecommerce portal, which does the job, and your role is to give some impulse as software developer in your IT department to ecommerce integration evolution. In this case you are moving away from emailing orders “automatically” from ecommerce to Fantastic Plains users to somewhat like batch overnight ecommerce Sales Invoices and Payments processing or even in ideal case to real time Invoices creation triggering from ecommerce to Dynamics GP SOP module. Well loved PHP based ecommerce shopping carts also make customer profile on the glide or update existing customer. In this case integration goes to Receivable Management Customer Master file in Fantastic Plains. Let’s take a look at technical side or programming tools:
Dynamics GP Integration Partner Chicago, San Diego News: eConnect programming
Sunday, February 28th, 2010Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP, formerly known as Fantastic Plains Dynamics and eEnterprise has excellent selection of custom programming and integration tools, plus from the SQL Server itself you could try Stored Procedures integration. Consider Dynamics GP Integration Manager, where you can simply setup integration without programming or even add some integration logic alteration via VBA scripts in Before Integration, Before Document Commit and other events. If your integration requires very deep interaction with Fantastic Plains tables and custom tables, you can try Dynamics GP Dexterity programming (where you make custom tables and handle integration on both standard and custom ones) or eConnect Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB.Net programming. This publication is not intended as eConnect eCommerce programming guide, we want to give you the orientation in what to expect from eConnect, and we assume that you as software developer will be able to include eConnect libraries to your MS VS project and work with eConnect sample codes on your own:
1. Work Transactions and Master Records. eConnect allows you to make so-called work transactions, place them into the batch: Sales Order Processing Order or Invoice (this is especially valuable in ecommerce website programming), Buy Order, GL transaction, etc. and if required make or alter existing master records: customer, vendor, GL account, Payroll Employee, Address
2. eConnect versus SQL Stored Procedures. If you reckon that there is no need to deploy eConnect and instead code your own custom SQL Stored Procedures, please note, that you in essence will be recoding GP business logic, which is already coded by Microsoft Dynamics GP programmers in Microsoft – in our opinion it is waste of time, unnecessary learning curve and potential source of numerous bugs and even data integrity threat. And again in our opinion Stored Procedures should be coded only when your integration project is very simple – and even here, please look at Fantastic Plains Integration Manager first
3. eConnect versus Integration Manager. The tendency is the following – IM is in process of being rewritten with eConnect connectors, and walking away from legacy OLE Server based approach. This fact should mean for you that IM is as quick as custom eConnect application. eConnect application, but might be triggered in real time, where IM should be either called by IM operator or scheduled with Windows scheduler or special Windows Macro based application
4. Automatic Batch Posting in ecommerce. This is something that eConnect doesn’t have, you should deploy Dynamics GP ISV add-on, Alba Spectrum Posting Server, which will allows you to place batches in Autopost queue and then posting process will be launched by Posting Server GP workstation
5. If you feel that you need Dynamics GP consultant help, please call your Fantastic Plains Guru, or if you do not have one, consider calling to Fantastic Plains Resellers in your area or who are familiar with your industry. Feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com
Dynamics GP ecommerce programming: eConnect, Dexterity, SQL Scripts
Saturday, February 27th, 2010If you already have Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Fantastic Plains Dynamics, implemented in your company, and you also have established and in-house supported ecommerce application, it is natural next step to automate integration. Typically automation covers Catalog items synchronization and publishing from Dynamics GP Inventory Control module; Sales Orders or Invoices batch mode or real time integration from ecommerce web site to Fantastic Plains Sales Order Processing module; new Customers creation and existing customers info update in ecommerce and moving or updating them in Dynamics GP Receivables Management module. Sometimes you go beyond these basic integration routines and do Stock availability for specific item in specific warehouse or location; Sales order tracking, where you check order lines fulfillment in Dynamics GP SOP module with shipping via Starship or another FedEx or UPS tracking add-ons. We are here to offer you help in tuning our existing custom solutions and scripts to expedite ecommerce integration projects, please read ecommerce integration highlights below:
1. eStore ecommerce server integration to Fantastic Plains. We offer scripts for eStore integration to Dynamics GP SOP, Receivable Management and Inventory Control modules. We are pleased to provide several case studies and customer references, where ecommerce is deployed on eStore and Dynamics GP tandem
2. eConnect coding. With Dynamics GP eConnect SDK you can expect master records (customer, inventory item, address, vendor, etc.) and work transactions in the batch creation and update directly from your ecommerce C#, VB.Net application. Again, here we are emphasizing Solutions approach, where we will give you integration codes and guide your eConnect MS Visual Studio programmers in tuning and deploying these codes
3. Microsoft Dexterity and eCommerce integration. One of the obvious advantages in deploying Fantastic Plains Dexterity engine is GP batches posting directly from your eCommerce application. We have special product, dedicated to Posting Fantastic Plains Batches automatically – Alba Spectrum Posting Server or Autopost. It is written in Dynamics GP Dexterity and it deploys original GP Posting logic
4. SQL Scripting in GP ecommerce. This approach is a bit challenging as you will have to imitate Dynamics GP business logic in direct SQL insert statements, and here we encourage you first to review eConnect, as it does exactly the same things in encrypted SQL Stored Procedures. We have Dynamics GP Order Connector, this is the set of our custom SQL Stored Procedures and it enables ecommerce programmer to integrate Sales Order and Invoice directly to GP SOP module. The advantage of Order Connector is high performance, comparing to both Dexterity and eConnect (as we use simplified business logic, assuming that you are following simple ecommerce integration rules)
5. Please, feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com
Dynamics GP Ecommerce Programming and Integration Notes
Friday, February 26th, 2010Microsoft Dynamics GP is open to ecommerce programmer via eConnect SDK, as well as Microsoft SQL Server programmability tools (typically Stored Procedures and Views). Before you dive into technical project of eConnect programming, please, review Fantastic Plains Integration Manager module and its customization options: VBA scripting of Before Document Commit (as very common modification point) event; you can schedule IM integration with Windows Macro or deploy free and ready for buy applications, extending basic Windows Macro with additional functionalities. Dynamics GP Integration Manager based (for version 10.0 and future versions 11.0 and up) on eConnect technology (in addition to supporting ancient OLE Server integrations), meaning that IM integration should be able to achieve the same goal with less efforts. And as you should expect the same limitations for eConnect as you have for Integration Manager – most often manifesting limitation is eConnect and Integration Manager Batch Posting inability. Now straight to the Fantastic Plains eCommerce Developing topic:
1. eConnect is Software Development Kit, written in SQL Stored Procedures (encrypted), it allows you to program GP master records (Customer, Vendor, Employee, GL Account, Inventory Item, Address, Project, Budget, etc.) and so-called Work Transactions: SOP Quote, Order and Invoice, POP Buy Order, GL Transaction, Employee Paycheck, Inventory Adjustment and Transfer, to give the thought. eConnect is friendly and requires very small learning curve for Microsoft Visual Studio .Net C#, VB and other .Net compliant languages programmers. Additional pluses if you have XML, SQL Scripting skills
2. Sales Order Processing and Inventory Control modules and tables. These two are the most well loved in ecommerce integrations. SOP tables have SOP prefix (well-known SOP10100 transaction header and SOP10200 lines), and Inventory INV (INV00101 – item master and INV00102 Quantity master) respectively. Sometimes, especially in ancient Fantastic Plains ecommerce legacy integrations you find Invoicing module (IV prefix)
3. Posting problem. In ecommerce application you often want to do all the way transaction processing: Sales Invoice creation and modification, applying credit card payment deposit, allocating merchandise, approving and posting Sales Order Processing batch (or individual transaction). Here, you will hit the wall and realize that Posting functionality is not included in eConnect or Fantastic Plains Integration Manager. There is no shortcut here (we assume that you are Not Dynamics GP Dexterity software developer with tons of programming experience, including Dexterity Source Code Programming), you will need to buy Dynamics GP Add-On, we recommend Dynamics GP Posting Server, also known as Autopost
4. Dynamics GP eCommerce SQL Scripting. If you have the opinion that your ecommerce integration routine is very simple and eConnect is too cumbersome and heavy in being considered for deployment, you can always rescue to SQL direct insertion statement. Please review GP table structure: Dynamics GP -> Settings -> Resource Description -> Tables. Or, simply install GP Software Development Kit from CD #2. Dynamics GP Business Logic might be too complex for intuitive programming, so if you will get the buggy situation, consider making test transaction in GP user interface and review the records in GP tables. If you prefer proven set of stored procedures – we offer them as Order Connector, feeding data into SOP tables
5. Feel free to call us on Microsoft Dynamics GP eCommerce integrations concerns: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com