Microsoft Great Plains Integrations - tips for developerWritten by Andrew Karasev
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2.Great Plains Dexterity integration with Great Plains process server. This is more advanced and recommended approach, however it requires advanced Dexterity programming skills and access to source code. The idea behind is simple - you populate so-called triggering custom table and then check it from Dexterity custom application every 5 seconds or so. If record is there - then you process it. Processing is usually Dexterity source code stored procedure call. Great Plains uses similar logic when you post batch and see status in Process Monitor window. If you don't have source code - you can try to do best guess with Microsoft Great Plains Software Development Kit (SDK) 3.Great Plains Integration Manager. This is end user tool and is easy to use. However - it uses Great Plains as OLE Server and calls Great Plains forms behind scenes. As result - it is very slow - we recommend using integration manager when you have up to one thousand transactions per day. 4.eConnect – it is type of Software Development Kit with samples in VB.Net. Obviously development environment should be Visual Studio.Net. eConnect will allow you to integrate master records - such as new customers, vendors, employees, etc, plus you can bring transactions into so called Great Plains work tables (eConnect doesn't allow you to bring open or historical records - you need to post work records in Great Plains, same limitation applies to Integration Manager above) eConnect is rather for ongoing integration. It was initially created for eCommerce application integration to Great Plains. Happy integrating! if you want us to do job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com
Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, based in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Houston, Dallas, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.
| | Microsoft Great Plains Implementation – overview for IT Director/ControllerWritten by Andrew Karasev
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•Historical Data conversion - this is optional, in order to do historical data conversion you need to know basic Great Plains tables structure (Setup->Tools->Resource Description->Tables Structure). This is similar to surgery - so you probably need outside consultant to help you. If volume of historical data is small - you can deploy Great Plains Integration Manager and then post records in modules. •User Training - we are just listing this item - it is up to you to decide on way to train your users •Using Two Systems in Parallel - this is recommended. You should print reports from both systems during this test period and compare results •Customization - typical areas of customizations: Invoice form, Crystal Reports, pulling info from multiple databases, including Great Plains database, Great Plains forms modification with Modifier/VBA, Great Plains Dexterity forms and logic customization, integration with CRM, RMS and other business systems, web publishing from Great Plains tables, EDI with your suppliers, SQL Data Transformation packages Do I need consultant? We strongly recommend you to use consultant in following cases •You have identified need for Great Plains Dexterity customization •You are doing migration from Pervasive/Ctree to Microsoft SQL Server/MSDE, especially when you have third-parties without migration tools •You are doing migration from Great Plains Accounting to Microsoft Great Plains •You have to create a lot or ReportWriter Modified Great Plains Reports •You have old version of Great Plains: Dynamics or eEnterprise 6.0 or prior - in this case you can not appeal to Microsoft Technical Support - it is discontinued •Your Great Plains has more than 20 users in this case mistake may lead to serious business problems •You don't have support for your old Great Plains - then you have to select your Microsoft Business Solutions Partner and pay for annual support/enhancement plan - you will get new registration key and will be ready for upgrade Good luck with installation, implementation, upgrade and if you have issues or concerns – we are here to help! If you want us to do job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com
Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, based in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Denver, Houston, Dallas, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.
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