Great Plains Consultant Newsflash: Integration Manager

Oct 18
18:04

2008

Andrew Karasev

Andrew Karasev

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Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP has robust set of data integrating tools and modules. Just the fact that Great Plains is hosted in Microsoft SQL Server opens for programmer the whole spectrum of Microsoft SQL Server integration options: DTS package, SQL stored procedures, ADO.Net programming, XML data feed

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However,Great Plains Consultant Newsflash: Integration Manager Articles GP data conversion might be potentially dangerous, as you, as software integration developer may compromise business logic data integrity.  In this small publication we are giving you highlights on the integration tool, which validates business logic and weeds out non-compliant records – Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration Manager:

1.       IM licensing.  Integration Manager requires license.  If you are on Business Ready Dynamics GP, then it should be included, however if you are on older licensing plan: Great Plains Standard or Professional – you should obtain GP IM license through your Great Plains VAR/Reseller

2.       IM connectors.  If you are on Great Plains version 10.0 and trying Integration Manager, you probably realized that there is new connector: eConnect.  Traditionally IM uses OLE server, which requires GP workstation be running with all forms closed to instantiate OLE server.  If you are or were familiar with OLE technology, you probably should expect performance issues, as OLE virtually key in data into GP windows and clicks to Save button to create integrated document.  In contrast, eConnect connector doesn’t require GP workstation and works on the level of encrypted SQL stored procedures.  And having said that – you should expect eConnect IM connector to work a way faster and break through potential performance issues

3.       Advanced ODBC integration.  We assume that you already played with IM and tried simple text (CSV or tab delimited) file integration and if you are reading this news – you realized that it doesn’t do the job you need and hoped to get done.  Yes, the next level of IM is Advanced ODBC sources, where you can use SQL query to work with either text file or SQL Server view.  It is difficult to give you detail instructions in small publication, so we recommend you to give us a call