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 ‘Highlights’
Great Plains Customization Technologies: Highlights for Software Developer
Friday, May 14th, 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, precious stone Reports, FRX Weigh Sheet, Income Statement â?? we want to place forward you some Dynamics GP technical tips and highlights:
1.      Microsoft SQL Server 2005, or 2000 Database platform. Dynamics GP, early 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 newest 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 habitual IM connector, based on OLE Server
3.      FRx reports. If you are programmer who is very familiar with SSRS or precious stone Reports, please know that Dynamics GP financial reporting, such as Weigh Sheet, P&L, Statement of Cash Flow, Consolidated Financial Reporting â?? all these are traditionally FRx routines. We could agree with you that precious stone 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 habitual 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 standard 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 Relations. We are sharing your concerns that your region might be underserved by habitual 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 once a year 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 habitual 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 impression 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 effectual 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 cash
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 Harvest. 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 precious stone 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, residency 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 once a year enhancement program reenrollment tips. If is habitual, especially in this economy turmoil, that you had to lapse in Dynamics GP once a year 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 thrash 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 once a year 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 once a year 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