Posts Tagged ‘Plains’

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Ecommerce Programming for Great Plains Dynamics Gp – Introduction

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

If your organization deploys Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains ERP and you are thinking on connecting it to your eCommerce site, we would like to give you initial introduction – where to start digging GP, tools, integration options, limitations, pluses and minuses and others typical FAQ. Current version of Great Plains is 10.0, we assume that it is reasonable to be at list on version 9.0, prior to begin ecommerce connection project â?? otherwise you will be reprogramming your integration with version upgrade. If you are on older versions, especially on Pervasive SQL 2000/Btrieve or Ctree/Faircom (this might be the case if you are on GP 7.5, 7.0, 6.0 or earlier), we recommend you first upgrade to MS SQL Server based version (you should contact you MBS VAR and they will provide you with the migration tool and it is recommended that professional Great Plains consultant does the conversion)

1. Sales Order Processing module or SOP. This module is typically integrated with your e-commerce application. In eCommerce you create either SOP Order or SOP Invoice. The easiest scenario is to create order or invoice without inventory items allocation, this is especially recommended if you are trying to program integration in SQL stored procedures

2. Great Plains tables structure. This is one of the first questions, which we hear from developers. You should login GP, depending on version, we will give you the path for version 10.0: Microsoft Dynamics GP->Tools->Resource Description->Tables. Tables are grouped by GP series: Financial, Sales, Purchasing, Inventory, etc.

3. Microsoft Dexterity technology. You should be aware that if you populate GP table records, you should treat GP business logic accordingly. The most vital is treating GP Dexterity business logic, which is validated when Fantastic Plains client application tries to read records, populated by you â?? if business logic is violated and could not be validated, Dexterity interface will error out and you will make GP ERP inoperable

4. eConnect. Yes, this is what you should consider to use when possible in e-commerce. eConnect core is set of SQL stored procedures, which allow you to make, modify, delete GP master records (customer, vendor, inventory item) and work transactions (such as SOP invoice, or SOP order), plus eConnect allocates invoice or order lines, so the limitation of topic one is not a problem here. What eConnect can not do is post individual transaction or SOP batch â?? this routine is left to GP operator by GP architecture

5. Posting Server. Alba Spectrum Posting Server allows you combine eConnect with autoposting frankly from eCommerce application. Posting server is GP Dexterity application and should be installed on separate GP workstation (or your GP server, where you keep GP workstation with Posting server running). When deploying posting server â?? you will need to place approved batches to custom tables and posting server will take care of posting process

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Microsoft Great Plains – Implementing ERP System for Mid-size Business

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Microsoft Dynamics GP MRP product family has various options for small, midsize and large businesses. Microsoft Fantastic Plains Dynamics GP package fits to midsize businesses in various industries: discrete manufacturing, air force, staffing, project organization and constructions, wholesale, warehouse management, distribution and logistics. In this small article we want to concentrate on GP software implementation scenarios, including installation, customization, data conversion, user training, custom reporting, integration with legacy system and EDI:

1. Installation â?? technical overview. GP installation makes DYNAMICS and company databases on MS SQL Server 2005 or 2000. Client workstation side is Microsoft Dexterity application with Dynamics.dic, where application business logic is stored. We are not talking here about integration tom Microsoft Office stack of harvest, especially MS Outlook

2. Integration Manager and eConnect.. eConnect should be considered as background technology to enable integration, especially new type of integration scenarios. IM helps you in initial data conversion, where you need to transfer open AR and AP to your newly implemented ERP system â?? Microsoft Dynamics GP. Regarding

3. eCommerce and batches Autoposting. eConnect, being set of encrypted stored procedures, does wonderful job in bringing work transactions in Sales Order Processing module, which is typical target for eCommerce websites, but automatic batch posting is outside of eConnect scope â?? you will need Albaspectrum Dexterity posting server to do automatic posting for your e-commerce application

4. Dexterity Software Development. If you need GP business processes advancing, modification and tuning, you should review GP customization tools. Fantastic Plains Dexterity is GP Integrated Development Environment with Sanscript programming language. Dexterity programmers are typically rare resources on the job market, and it is recommended to appeal to Microsoft Business Solutions ERP development partners to do Dex customization job

5. GP Reporting. In our opinion, you can deploy various tools for GP, especially if you will follow the rules of separating report result set generation in MS SQL Server stored procedures â?? if you do so, precious stone Reports, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Air force, and even Microsoft Excel will do wonderful report design job

6. Initial Data Conversion. As our experience indicates, the best approach is to penetrate GL beginning balances and avoid historical RM, PM, SOP, and POP data conversion, please consider the scenario, when you have ancient ERP system for data investigation and lookup

7. GP remote vs. local support. If you work for nationwide public corporation, then you should seek local support for your headquarters or the most vital branch. If your ERP system is by now implemented, then remote support might be budget saving option

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Great Plains Dynamics Gp Consulting in Chicago Downtown and Suburbs

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

If your organization is contemplating Microsoft Dynamics GP software license buy and implementation, or if you need to bring in Microsoft Fantastic Plains functional or technical consultant for new modules implementation, setup. Custom logic programming, integration, data conversion, version upgrade, user training, Alba Spectrum Group invites you to call us and check with us on the best options available for you. We want to give you some highlight on Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP implementation:

1. Technical challenge. Fantastic Plains is for mid-size and even large customers, you know that for small businesses analogous Microsoft MRP product is Small Business Financial. As GP is for mid-size, it is because of that not off-the-shelf product and more likely you expect GP be integrated and customized to fit to your existing IT and applications infrastructure

2. GP VAR selection. Considering the fact that you expect GP mapping to your ERP niche, and so, advanced technical skills and expertise are required from your Microsoft Business Solutions partner to implement GP ERP system. If your current partner doesn’t carry required expertise, you might consider bringing alternative opinion to give a new lease of life your implementation and GP support

3. GP Programming. The following technologies should be considered and evaluated: Microsoft Dexterity (former Fantastic Plains Dexterity), eConnect, Alba Spectrum Autoposting server, SRS, precious stone Reports, MS SQL Server Stored Procedures, GP Integration Manager, Modifier with VBA, Extender.

4. GP Implementation Phases: System Installation, Initial Data migration or conversion, beginning balances entry, user training, probably having ancient and new ERP work in parallel for one fiscal period (one month)

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Great Plains Customization Tools: Dexterity, Modifier, Econnect, Auto Posting Server

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Microsoft Dynamics GP, or former Fantastic Plains Software eEnterprise, Dynamics has proprietary EDI: Microsoft Dexterity. This tools really requires skilled programmer to do the job, and we do not recommend you to do dex modification on your own or try to come through Fantastic Plains Dexterity programming learning curve. Instead you should probe yourself as GP developer with eConnect – C#, VB and SQL skills are helpful here, or even in VBA – this programming practice comes together with GP Modifier module. Let’s review the tools:

1. eConnect. This is Software Development Kit with sample codes in VB and C#.Net. At the end of the chain eConnect calls encrypted SQL stored procedures, which you can not modify, and you shouldn’t as these procs replicate Dexterity business logic, where eConnect has some features of Object Oriented Programming. eConnect was initially dedicated to eCommerce Microsoft Visual Studio developer, who is given the objective to integrate e-commerce website with GP ERP at the back end. eConnect has some restrictions, one of them is lack of batch posting ability, so we recommend you Alba Spectrum Posting Server

2. Auto Posting Server. Again, GP is written in Microsoft Dexterity and it has its internal logic, which is available for Dexterity source code developer. Posting Server calls GP Dex batch posting native logic to post batches in the queue. You, as SQL programmer should place batches, produced in eConnect or Integration Manager into this queue table. In our opinion, this product is more flexible and gives you more control, than Autopost, urban by Parity Software, GP VAR from South Africa

3. Modifier with VBA. If you have comfort amount in VBA scripting and past experience programming and modifying MS Excel, Access, Word or other office applications with VBA, the research this option of GP customizing. Modifier allows you to place new fields to GP forms and screens and then you as programmer can associate VBA scripts with these new fields. If you plot to alter DB, by clicking or filling up new fields, please be sure that you are familiar with Microsoft ADO technology

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Great Plains Customization Technologies: Highlights for Software Developer

Friday, May 14th, 2010

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

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Great Plains Customizations: Dynamics Gp Add-ons

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Microsoft Dynamics GP has various customization options and tools, which should fit to your specific modification need.  But as typical mid-market ERP it requires tools research prior to performing custom programming.  Let’s quickly review the tools:

 

1.       eConnect.  This is the most modern and really cool SDK.  If you are Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB.Net programmer and you are reasonably excellent with SQL stored procedures, you should invest your time in eConnect research.  But there are some drawbacks in eConnect programming: it is rather for integrations, and it is hard to modify GP screens with eConnect – use rather Modifier with VBA or Dexterity for that.  Also, eConnect doesn’t post batches in GP – consider deploying Alba Spectrum Autoposting Server to proffer eConnect with batch posting logic

 

2.       Microsoft Dexterity.  Former name was Fantastic Plains Dexterity.  This tool allows you to break through virtually any limits of other tools.  Well, of course there is the learning curve – Dex is not rapid customization option, it requires long programming experience in order to produce qualified and competitive Dexterity coding

 

3.       VBA and Modifier.  This tool is rather legacy, but it is and was very standard, as simple and really quick modifications could be automated with simple VBA scripting.  If you plot to do database update, select and insert statements – you can deploy ADO technology in your VBA code

 

4.       SQL direct scripting.  If you are very advanced SQL programmer and DBA, then you probably like to disregard all the tools and try or rely on your experience in SQL stored procedures coding.  Please, review GP SDK (install it from CD #2)

 

5.       Integration Manager.  IM module also opens modification possibilities, related to data translation, VBA coding.  In GP version 10.0 IM you will find eConnect connectors, which are breaking through former IM performance limits

 

6.       Third Party Add-Ons.  At this time (June 2008), GP ISV harvest are written in Fantastic Plains Dexterity and are distributed via Dex chunks technology.  But there is the trend to adopt eConnect in the third party add-ons, related to eCommerce integration harvest

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Great Plains Mods: Dexterity, Econnect, Sql – Gp Customizations Review

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Fantastic Plains Dynamics GP has long history of custom programming, business logic adaptation, integrating scenarios, EDI, reporting.  When you are implementing ERP for mid-size modern business, you evenly mean to thwart the borders of pure accounting system and integrate it with MRP, warehouse management, order tracking (UPS, FedEx), barcode, POS and retail, shipping and receiving, supply chain management, etc.  You can expect existing add-ons or satellite modules on the GP modifications market, urban and supported by GP ISV partners â?? and first option is to evaluate these existing extensions.  The second option and especially if your modification seems to be simple enough, you can develop it just for your own business.  Letâ??s review the second option, when you do your in-house customization:

 

1.       SQL stored procedures.  This is when you review GP table structure and transaction workflow and have your SQL programmers to make stored procedures to feed outdoor data into GP tables.  We recommend you to review GP Integration Management module, prior to deciding on SQL scripting, as IM validates GP business logic and you can not violate data integrity if integrating via Integration Manager.  If you do not own IM module and want to try simple integration through SQL scripts or insert statements, make test company, insert data there and try to run check links to see if your data import is accurate

 

2.       Dex.  Fantastic Plains Dexterity tool modifies GP user interface, plus it can add custom tables to your companies and Dynamics databases.  We would say, that Dexterity is preferred tool, but it is not very simple to get Dexterity developer in staff and Dex is not rapid application development tool.  Dex is a way to go if you know or can find Dexterity programming partner or consultant to do the modification design and coding job

 

3.       eConnect.  This is very standard SDK, especially for eCommerce programmers and developers, as it allows them to include GP objects and transaction creation scripts and call these logics from their eCommerce applications

 

4.       Posting GP batches from e-commerce application, or extending eConnect logic.  eConnect out of the box doesnâ??t do batch posting job and so you can not post batches involuntarily as web order is placed and paid.  You will need batch posting tools, we recommend you Alba Spectrum Posting Server or Autopost

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Great Plains Dynamics Gp Consultants: Support, Customization, Reporting

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

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, precious stone 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 question for 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 proffer eConnect with automatic batch posting in Fantastic Plains from their e-commerce web applications frankly.  Please, check with us on our product: Alba Spectrum Autoposting Server

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Great Plains Partner in Chicago, San Diego, Houston Newsflash

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

We welcome all new prospect, considering Microsoft Dynamics GP implementation, software licenses buy, as well as existing Fantastic Plains customers, who are looking for second opinion, especially, facing technologically challenging GP modification project: Dexterity customization, precious stone Reporting, EDI integrations, on-going data migration as well as initial historical data massage and conversion, ecommerce batches autoposting and generic shopping cart integration to GP Sales Order Processing module.  We want to share with you the specifics of the season of 2008:

 

1.       Ecommerce integrations.  Numerous cases, when customers have existing and probably to some extent “legacy” ecommerce website, where they have to stick to the historical ecommerce website development and programming investments.  In this situation, they have to design and code the interface between ecommerce and GP back office ERP.  This is eConnect C# or VB.Net programming routine with some reinforcement by custom SQL stored procedures.  Plus, evenly customer wants complete eCommerce automation, meaning that they need automatic Fantastic Plains batch posting from ecommerce web application code – in this case you need Alba Spectrum posting server

 

2.       Trading companies.  Several Chicago down town and Chicagoland trading companies implementation moves us to the point of offering our expertise in this vertical industry niche to other prospects in Houston, San Diego and across the USA and Canada.  AP integration seems to be vital for trading companies, as well as such large scale modules implementations as Fixed Assets, Electronic Document Interchange, Analytical Accounting

 

3.       Light and precise manufacturing and assembly.  As distribution warehouses are moving down toward highway 55 in Chicago area, San Diego becomes more attractive for venture capital type of scenarios and Houston attracts energy industry businesses, the need in precise manufacturing and custom manufacturing processes are in high demand this season

 

4.       Microsoft CRM integrations with Fantastic Plains Dynamics.  As MS CRM takes its market share, friendly Dynamics GP MRP platform is becoming more exposed to CRM to GP integration needs.  This service is available internationally, and we place forward project organization Microsoft CRM based timesheets integration to GP Sales Order Processing module orders or invoices

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Great Plains Reseller Chicago, San Diego Newsflash: Add-ons Development

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Traditionally, Microsoft Dynamics GP or former Fantastic Plains Dynamics and eEnterprise customizations were programmed in Fantastic Plains Dexterity, where you can make your screens working integrated into GP workstation and user security rules.  Dexterity modifications are typically outsourced to Fantastic Plains Technology Partner and Certified GP technical consultant.  If you are doing modifications on your own and your are technically comfortable with Fantastic Plains, then you can review eOne Extender.  If you are engaged in ecommerce website integration project, then your tool of choice should be eConnect.  In this small publication we want to give your technical highlights:

 

1.       Dynamics GP Dexterity customizations.  GP Dexterity has its own scripting language Sanscript, which is cursor like in the manner of database access.  When Microsoft bought Fantastic Plains Software, Dexterity was enriched with MS SQL Server direct SQL code calls, COM objects access library and other features, facilitating integration with Microsoft .Net programming.  Dexterity add-on is distributed via so-called chunk file, which should be copied into GP workstation directory to be involuntarily integrated on the next GP user login.  The best practice is to make new Dexterity forms and windows and place triggers in order to modify existing GP tables.  But you can also modify or alter existing GP forms, but if you do so – likely that you will come in conflict with other add-ons and third party module, plus there will be more work in Dex customization version upgrade

 

2.       Extender.  With eOne version you can proffer GP form, and make it intuitively.  But in fact Extender is the bombard over Fantastic Plains Dexterity and behind the scenes you are making Dex objects

 

3.       eConnect programming.  It is advisable to have Fantastic Plains eConnect programmer or consultant to be involved at least in the tech specification writing and be available to help on case-by-case when programming is in progress.  eConnect is written in encrypted SQL stored procedures and replicates Dexterity logic, but is more object oriented and so, more friendly to C# or VB.Net programmers, who are also familiar with MS SQL Server stored procedures.  eConnect doesn’t post batches, so you will need Fantastic Plains Posting Server or Autopost

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