We assume that in your case you have established Microsoft Dynamics GP (also known as Fantastic Plains Dynamics in the past) and use it in production for accounting, Sales Order Processing, AP, AR, distribution and logistics. Plus you have working ecommerce website, where integration to GP is very loose: maybe it triggers email to Picking and Packing department, or Sales Order Processing people. In this small publication we want to review relatively open for end user or in the case of software developer – not hard to start integration coding. We do not specifically review here differences between B2B and B2C ecommerce scenarios in Dynamics GP, please review our past articles. There are ready for use solutions, we assume that you by now did this homework and chose to preserve your investments into your current eCommerce web application, and all you want to do is robust integration:
1. Real Time versus Batch Mode integrations. Real Time ecommerce transactions go to GP Sales Orders or Invoices is certainly cool to have, but if this is not unquestionably required, we recommend you first to reckon about Batch Mode ecommerce integration. Batch mode means, that ecommerce may have some lookups for your customers if item is available in one of your warehouses (via simple SQL query to your Dynamics GP Company database), but ecommerce transactions are went to GP Sales Document only once per day, or maybe every hour, if you are larger ecommerce retailer
2. GP Integration Manager. This tool is very friendly to Fantastic Plains users, and it could be extended by programmer via VBA event driven scripts. IM is first choice if you are plotting integrate in Batch Mode. Please, do not be mislead by some GP consultants, that IM is for text files only. For advanced ecommerce integration to GP we recommend you to base IM data queries on SQL Server Views (Advanced ODBC based query) and the View itself looks at the existing GP orders and lines and into new ecommerce document – in that case your scenario could be completely automated. Plus IM integration could be called involuntarily via Windows macro third party tiny applications (or you can buy Integration scheduling tool from Microsoft Business Solutions, check with your Dynamics GP Partner on that). We helped implement scenarios for large Computer IT integrator and warehouse, where all transactions are coming through B2B ecommerce website on PHP/Linux and GP Integration Manager is scheduled to run every 20 minutes to be close to real time mode integration. OK, now if you reckon IM is too simple, let’s go on to eConnect
3. eConnect SDK and technology for Dynamics GP. If you are C# or VB.Net ecommerce programmer or programming savoir-faire web master, please review eConnect, as it has set of libraries, which could be added to your MS Visual Studio web projects and you could make, edit, delete virtually all GP Master records: customer, vendor, GL account, Item, Address, Employee, and work transactions: Sales Invoice, Buy Order, Buy Receipt, GL Transaction, Customer Payment. Please, note that you cannot post GP Batches (such as standard in ecommerce scenarios Sales Order Processing Batch) – if you need complete automation with Batch Posting you need to consider Alba Spectrum Posting Server or Autopost. Also, eConnect doesn’t cover some rather historical modules, such as Invoicing (usually Fantastic Plains Customers prefer more robust Sales Order Processing module). And plus, eConnect from Dynamics GP doesn’t cover third party Dynamics GP ISV modules, which you may deploy – consider to check with you Fantastic Plains ISV partner if they have extensions for eConnect. If you are on Dynamics GP 10.0 and 9.0 – eConnect is the way to go, but if you are on older version, consider to upgrade to GP version 10.0 prior to deploying eConnect in your ecommerce integration programming
4. Beyond eConnect. If you believe that your integration is SOP only and it is very simple, we place forward Alba Spectrum Order Connector. This tool supports all current versions: 10.0 and 9.0 plus older versions: 7.5 and 8.0. You can also combine some Fantastic Plains Dexterity programming to alter business processes in GP as bonus help to Integration. We are trying to discourage you from considering direct SQL Server Stored procedures coding, as eConnect by now have this work done for you – its initial layout is encrypted MS SQL Server Stored Procedures, plus consider the fact that Dynamics GP Business Logic and Data Flow is complex, and its database is not protected from inexperienced SQL programmer – you can compromise data integrity and incur bonus unexpected expenses in involving GP Technical consultants to do data recovery and repair
5. How to get help? Please, feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, outside of USA: 1-630-961-5918 or email us help@albaspectrum.com We are very technical and real Dynamics GP Dexterity, SAP Business One SDK programming gurus. We have Fantastic Plains Software Development Factory and could support unlimited Dynamics GP Customization and Programming needs. Plus we speak English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and not only as native speaking sales folks, but as real technical consultants. If you prefer skype: albaspectrum
Posts Tagged ‘Notes’
Dynamics GP ecommerce Integration Technologies: notes for Programmer
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010Dynamics GP ecommerce integrations: eConnect, Posting Server notes
Saturday, February 13th, 2010It is evenly excellent thought to start ecommerce from scratch, but for some of us it doesnâ??t work as we work for established ecommerce retailers and wholesalers, where ecommerce application might be custom urban and hosted on Linux/PHP/MySQL, Oracle or a further non Microsoft solution. In this situation you would rather consider custom integration with existing ecommerce web site and we want to share with your some highlights. We are trying to write this small publication for programmers and IT people as a review:
1. eConnect SDK. If you are comfortable with Microsoft Visual Studio C#, VB or a further .Net language programming, plus you are fluent with XML and have excellent SQL querying background, you should take a class or try self study on eConnect. With this Software Development Kit you can program virtually all core modules Fantastic Plains objects: GL Financial statement, Customers, Vendors, Employees, Addresses. SOP Invoices, Buy Orders, etc. eConnect might seem a bit complex, especially when you are very courageous and want to try coding custom SQL Stored Procedures, in this case, please consider the following fact â?? eConnect is written in SQL Stored procs (that are encrypted) and you probably do not want to do it second time, especially taking into significance the fact, that in Microsoft Business Solutions programmers have access to all the Dynamics GP Dexterity source codes and got appropriate training
2. eConnect Posting restriction. eConnect doesnâ??t post Dynamics GP batches, as this is how Fantastic Plains architecture was built. Batch posting is prerogative for GP user, who supposed to review the batch (print batch edit list report), get sufficient evidence that all the transactions are right and ready for posting and then post the batch from Fantastic Plains user interface. If you really reckon that you need to post GP batch from ecommerce application frankly, please read the next paragraph about Dynamics GP Posting Server, or Autopost
3. Fantastic Plains Posting Server. We urban this Add-On in Dynamics GP Dexterity, it deploys native Dex posting routines and by doing so eliminates the problems with Software QA, as it is not exposed to programming bugs. Posting Server or Autopost is for Software Developer and it allows programmers to flag Dynamics GP work transactions batch for posting. Batch posting checker is running every few minutes and it looks at batch ready for posting table and if batch is there, it triggers Dynamics GP fixed batch posting routine
4. SQL Scripts in ecommerce integrations. We have several scripts collections, one of them is Order Connector, which allows you to deploy scripts to go ecommerce orders or invoices to Dynamics GP SOP Orders and Invoices accordingly. Order connector runs quicker in our opinion that eConnect methods, as we are not validating all Dynamics GP business logic and instead give you green light with simple Orders and Invoices
5. If you have concerns, or want to get more info, see presentation, feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com
Dynamics GP eCommerce Custom Integration Notes
Friday, February 12th, 2010Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly this ERP and MRP application was known under Fantastic Plains Dynamics and eEnterprise name, is very standard among mid-size businesses and it is natural to turn it into ecommerce back office. If you are launching your ecommerce from scratch, please consider deploying existing Fantastic Plains ISV Partners harvest or add-ons. But, and this might be why you are reading this small publication, your ecommerce web application is working and you have to program integration connectors to Dynamics GP Sales Order Processing, Inventory Control and Receivable Management modules. Let’s come through the options:
1. eConnect programming. GP is hosted in Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 2008 or earlier, so you can permanently program eConnect via MS Visual Studio. GP eConnect is Software Development Kit with libraries, that you can deploy in your integration C#, VB programming project. It has sample codes, so that should be all you need. Some familiarity with XML and Dynamics GP objects could be recommended: SOP Invoice, Customer, Inventory Item, etc.
2. Dynamics GP Integration Manager. For GP version 10.0 we see a lot of integration bases are now rewritten in eConnect as general observation, but IM is end user friendly (to some extent of this term of course) tool. If you are OK with integration, initiated by IM user or with scheduled integration (via Windows Macro utilities from small software development vendors, etc.), then you may choose to implement Integration Manager solution and close the question
3. Order Connector. This product allows you to deploy ecommerce integration in the case, when you do not want to come through eConnect programming learning curve, or you are on older GP version: 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, or you believe that eConnect performance is not too cool for real time integrations. This product is set of SQL Stored Procedures with simple set of parameters to make your live as SQL programmer simpler
4. Posting Server or Autopost. If you have requirements to post SOP Documents all the way through General Ledger, you probably by now realized that both eConnect and Integration Manager do not allow you to Post, they do not have the functionality and methods to post. And this is natural restriction of original Fantastic Plains Dynamics architecture, where transaction and batch approval and posting are coupled together and left in the hands of GP user. Posting Server deploys one user license and is add-on to existing Dynamics GP workstation. It checks GP server if new batches are approved for being posted every few seconds and initiates Fantastic Plains Batch Posting process if new batch is ready for processing
5. Dynamics GP Business Portal. Here you can deploy ecommerce in B2B scenarios. Order Management module in BP is natural base for such a project. Current version of Business Portal is 10.0 (looks like MBS synched it with Dynamics GP versioning) Please, note that older Fantastic Plains ecommerce extensions, such as eOrder (ASP platform)are no longer available and you will have to migrate such solutions to Dynamics GP Business Portal, which is now Microsoft Sharepoint application. In Dynamics GP Order Management module you can deploy Bits and pieces Catalogue and Price List, reflecting original Dynamics GP Inventory Price Lists
6. Dynamics GP Dexterity ecommerce programming. Dexterity is former Fantastic Plains Dynamics architecture and it is still one of the fundamental stones in Dynamics GP platform. In Dex you have unlimited power over Dynamics GP objects, including posted transactions, in fact Autopost is Dexterity custom application, which is programmed with Fantastic Plains Dexterity Source Code access. You should consider Dexterity customization route if your ecommerce integration requirements are really challenging and you need access to the objects, coded in Dexterity add-ons (Dynamics GP ISV or your former in-house Dexterity customizations)
7. Sorry for being laconic, but it is the restriction of the article genre. How to get bonus info and help? Please, feel free to call us: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com
Ecommerce Dynamics GP or Great Plains Solution Notes
Monday, February 8th, 2010 There is no needs to reinvent the wheel or bicycle, in the significance that ecommerce web front out-of-the-box applications exists and you could simple to deploy Shopping Cart, Online Catalog, Credit Card Payments, Inventory Stock Status lookup. We should be able to help you in integration of existing ecommerce web front with Dynamics GP – we have multiple tools and codes, used in the past and ready for tuning in your ecommerce environment. We recommend you to consider eStore, where we have successful integration cases with Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains. But, if you have your in-house urban custom ecommerce solution in Linux/PHP, .Net, MS SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle or any other web server or DB platform, we should be able to help you in integration to Dynamics GP. Please read the paragraphs not more than for orientation: 1. Order Connector. Here we have a set of SQL Stored Procedures, integrating ecommerce Sales Order Processing and AR transactions to Fantastic Plains Dynamics. Being coded in SQL Stored Procs, this product (or better classify it as Solution, as it is a tool and SDK for ecommerce developer), Order Connector shows real time integration performance for huge number of ecommerce transactions per hour. The nature of ecommerce transactions is typically simple and repetitive, so you do not need gray functionality in your SDK and integration vehicle 2. Posting Server. Alba Spectrum Autopost or Batch Posting Server is written in Dynamics GP Dexterity and it allows you to post or schedule for posting GP Batches frankly from your eCommerce or eConnect web C#, VB or SQL driven application. We really deploy Dexterity engine and one user license for Posting Server and you should not have concerns about complex posting business logic in Dynamics GP as Dexterity engine will do exactly the same job as if you would initiate posting in GP User Interface 3. eCommerce eConnect Integration Programming. We encourage you to order Dynamics GP eConnect programming and software developing training, if you are ecommerce full time or consulting programmer for mid-size or large ecommerce organization with Dynamics GP as Corporate ERP. eConnect is SDK and it allows you to make, modify and delete Master records: Customer, Address, Vendor, GL Account, Employee, and Transactions: Sales Invoice, Quote, Order, Customer Deposit and others. eConnect doesn’t post GP batches, please read paragraph 2 for Autopost, which does exactly that 4. Please, give us a call: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com
There is no needs to reinvent the wheel or bicycle, in the significance that ecommerce web front out-of-the-box applications exists and you could simple to deploy Shopping Cart, Online Catalog, Credit Card Payments, Inventory Stock Status lookup. We should be able to help you in integration of existing ecommerce web front with Dynamics GP – we have multiple tools and codes, used in the past and ready for tuning in your ecommerce environment. We recommend you to consider eStore, where we have successful integration cases with Dynamics GP Fantastic Plains. But, if you have your in-house urban custom ecommerce solution in Linux/PHP, .Net, MS SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle or any other web server or DB platform, we should be able to help you in integration to Dynamics GP. Please read the paragraphs not more than for orientation:
1. Order Connector. Here we have a set of SQL Stored Procedures, integrating ecommerce Sales Order Processing and AR transactions to Fantastic Plains Dynamics. Being coded in SQL Stored Procs, this product (or better classify it as Solution, as it is a tool and SDK for ecommerce developer), Order Connector shows real time integration performance for huge number of ecommerce transactions per hour. The nature of ecommerce transactions is typically simple and repetitive, so you do not need gray functionality in your SDK and integration vehicle
2. Posting Server. Alba Spectrum Autopost or Batch Posting Server is written in Dynamics GP Dexterity and it allows you to post or schedule for posting GP Batches frankly from your eCommerce or eConnect web C#, VB or SQL driven application. We really deploy Dexterity engine and one user license for Posting Server and you should not have concerns about complex posting business logic in Dynamics GP as Dexterity engine will do exactly the same job as if you would initiate posting in GP User Interface
3. eCommerce eConnect Integration Programming. We encourage you to order Dynamics GP eConnect programming and software developing training, if you are ecommerce full time or consulting programmer for mid-size or large ecommerce organization with Dynamics GP as Corporate ERP. eConnect is SDK and it allows you to make, modify and delete Master records: Customer, Address, Vendor, GL Account, Employee, and Transactions: Sales Invoice, Quote, Order, Customer Deposit and others. eConnect doesn’t post GP batches, please read paragraph 2 for Autopost, which does exactly that
4. Please, give us a call: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com