Andrew Karasev

Great Plains Dynamics on Pervasive/Ctree support – overview for consultant

All of us know that Microsoft bought former Great Plains Software and formed Microsoft (Great Plains) Business Solutions in the earlier 21st century.  It was total success for GPS, we guess, but for Great Plains Dynamics / eEnterprise / Dynamics C/S+ clients it was the time of change. 

First of all – Great Plains Software, as being independent corporation in 1990^th had to stake on certain future predictions.  They decided that future should be based on these two basic principles:

• Database Independence.  Nobody could predict if Microsoft, Ingress, Oracle, IBM DB2, Btrieve, Ctree/Faircom or somebody else from newcomers will win the market.  In such a situation, if you are growing ERP publisher – you need to be flexible and have the ability to switch quickly from one DB platform to another
• Universal Graphical interface.  Some illusions were related to 1972 invented C language – now it is clear that each computer manufacturer tries to stick standards to its own platform and universal graphics is somewhat no-one uses because of the slow performance.  But it is seen now – not in 1990^th

These two above principles resulted in creation of Great Plains Software development environment and language – Great Plains Dexterity.  This is history. 

Now let’s go to nowadays realities.  We see large number of so-called orphan clients (who lapsed to pay annual enhancement/maintenance fee to Microsoft Business Solutions) and still sits on two legacy platforms (not supported anymore): Pervasive SQL 2000 and Ctree (we are not talking here about Great Plains Accounting – this ERP was phased out in 2001).  We see common frustration, when something happens with performance, for example – these clients are trying to appeal to regular MBS VAR/Partner and figure out that the partner doesn’t have expertise to support this phased out platform.  We’ll give you some hints, before you call the specialist:

• Pervasive SQL had multiple service packs and you probably have multiple CDs of various Pervasive versions in your library.  Use the latest one to reload Pervasive for your workstations
• Pervasive SQL 2000 original (1999) should not be installed at all – it will not work if any service pack was applied from the server side
• Typical workstations slowdown issue is resolved by removing (on the workstations) these files: wbtrv32.dll, w32bticm.dll, and wbtr32.dll
• Expect old hardware and disk space issues – these could be monitored by IT department

Good luck with support and if you have issues or concerns – we are here to help!  If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-630-961-5918 or 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

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