Dynamics AX Coding Perspectives in Version 2012 and Some Recommendations

Jun 20
07:49

2011

Andrew Karasev

Andrew Karasev

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With new version 2012 there are more options in customizing and programming AX. It sounds like metadata is now open to Microsoft Visual Studio software developer via strongly or weakly typed .Net interop to X++.

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New feature is X++ code is now compiled into Common Intermediate Language (CIL),Dynamics AX Coding Perspectives in Version 2012 and Some Recommendations Articles however it is only on AOS Server.  Obviously this fact opens the door to Visual Studio Debugger to trace X++ over CIL.  There are many steps in bringing traditional X++ and MorphX IDE to be closer associated with Microsoft .Net technologies and MS SQL Server Reporting Services.  In this small publication we would like to share certain optimism and some concerns in deploying new instruments, especially keeping in mind the future events, such as customization redesign with future version upgrade projects:

1. MorphX IDE with X++ coding language.  When Axapta was in its planning and initial market penetration mode, designed by Daamgard Software, MorphX and X++ we likely playing the roles of three tier Corporate ERP code isolation or neutralization from database and operating system platform.  Probably similar to ABAP in the case of SAP R/3 or Great Plains Dexterity for GP Dynamics.  Axapta architects designed X++ as a flavor of popular and powerful C/C++ family.  The power of C++ is not only in the fact that large number of programmers is available on generic software development market.  Its power also is in the possibility to create very efficient compiler, that could be very close in its performance to processor specific Assembler.  From the standpoint of database platform neutrality – for example recent versions were available on Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server database platforms

2. Microsoft Dynamics ERP technology trends.  Here we see substantial investments by Microsoft Business Solutions into all its Dynamics ERP application user interface unification.  AX is in the same shoes as GP, NAV, SL.  Home page look and feel is in the hands of the user.  And the end user is supposed an in many cases good experimenters are changing their home page.  Home page custom programming is moving toward .Net and SOAP Web Services.  From the user perspective it is quite possible in the future to achieve the situation, where Microsoft Dynamics ERP user will know how to use application regardless if it is AX, GP or other Dynamics family member brand.  For software developer this trend means that generic .Net C# programmer should be able to modify the application via .Net interop.  If you are consulting or coding AX long time (ten or more years) you probably remember Project Green, where the signal was sent to MBS partners, that all best pieces of Great Plains, Axapta, Navision, Solomon might be recoded in C#.Net.  Real life made its correctives.  Now Microsoft Dynamics ERP project is trying one small step at the time by aligning all its inherited Corporate ERP application to have similar intuitive user interface and better exposure to .Net

3. Future Version Upgrade Projects and Customization Code.  We definitely like such new Microsoft platforms as .Net, CLR and also classical COM+.  If your organization has some expertise in MorphX X++ and strong pool of Microsoft Visual Studio programmers – then you can successfully customize AX 2012 or 2009 versions.  However whatever you do today will not stay forever.  New release updates are inevitable in the short or mid-term future.  In the best case scenario, when you do not have any customization or integration upgrade should be done via inserting installation DVD and pushing default buttons…  Well, of course if you have altered logic, this is not your case.  But, what we found sort of known about emerging Microsoft technologies – each new release reserves the rights to deprecate objects and functions, which were popular in the older version.  If you think about this fact – this means that your future version might not be compatible with your old .Net based programming module.  On the other hand MorphX X++, Metadata have proven records to be more stable and neutral to the short term breezes of computer technology trends

4. The more X++ and MorphX is the better.  If you like the idea to be reasonably conservative and do not lead your company into the trap of the future upgrade over budget projects, we recommend you to stay with traditional technologies.  If other companies like innovations and experimenting, let them do the job of beta testing, bugs identification and reporting.  And when you believe that the next technology trend is solid and you are ready to catch in – you should be able to do it with minimal pain and price

5. Axapta versions parade and competition.  As we already mentioned above current version is 2012 (as we are writing these sentences in June of 2011).  Previous version was released in 2009 and earlier versions were sticking to traditional versioning: 4.0, 3.0, etc.  What is a bit odd about MBS – it places its product to compete with each other on the open market.  However similar problem is present for Oracle or Sage, where Oracle Financials are competing with PeopleSoft for example.  In our feeling the most comparison calls we are getting are about Dynamics GP and AX.  The pluses of former Great Plains are rich business logic in Distribution suite of modules: Sales Order Processing, Inventory Control, Purchase Order Processing, Discrete Bill of Materials.  The pluses of AX are Process Manufacturing (where native GP does only discrete manufacturing), Supply Chain Management, various retail niches, Fund Management for Non-for-profit organization and charities.  If you are doing business in USA or Canada only – Corporate ERP localization aspects are probably outside of the scope for you.  However if you are located somewhere in Brazil, China, Russia, Japan – the good news is the fact that AX is localized in these countries and virtually around the globe

6. Please call us 1-866-304-3265, 1-269-605-4904 (for international customers, where our representative pick up the phone in St. Joseph, MI call center).  help@efaru.com  We have local presence in Chicagoland, Southern California, South West Michigan, Houston and Dallas areas of Texas. We serve customers USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil nationwide and internationally via web sessions and phone conferences (Skype is welcomed). Our consultants speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese.  Our core expertise is in International Business