Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains Custom Logic Programming

Here we would like to give top level introduction, which should give you directions on where and how to go deeper into the GP software development layers:

1. GP Programming tools.  Microsoft Dexterity is very traditional and matured EDI with Sanscript programming language: Dynamics.dic, Dex.ini, Dynamics.set – these files are defined by Great Plains Dexterity architecture.  eConnect – this tool replicates Dex logic in encrypted SQL stored procedures, and as such it is a bit faster than Dexterity itself; eConnect was created for eCommerce developers to enable GP accounting backoffice integration with e-commerce front end.  Modifier with VBA – Visual Basic for Applications scripting language was introduced for Microsoft Windows applications, such as Excel; in GP you can modify existing Dynamics screens – place new fields and buttons and animate their logic with VBA scripts.  Extender – please note that this tool deploys Dex behind the scenes and being easy to learn for GP end-users, it has some drawbacks as you could expect – as Dex objects are generated in wizard manner – their naming convention and structure might be not friendly for SQL select statement and custom reporting; saying that we encourage you to avoid large scale customizations with Extender and use Extender where you need minor GP business logic tailoring
2. Popular Customization Areas.  The most popular custom programming exercise for GP is Sales Order Processing module tailoring.  Scenarios for SOP integrations are EDI (Electronic Document Interchange), eCommerce (where you push eCommerce invoices to GP SOP module, often with applied credit card deposits).  Second popular module is Purchase Order Processing, where we often see third party requisition systems integrations with GP POP module
3. GP Modified Integration Scenarios.  Great Plains Integration Manager is preferred tool for GP integration routines, especially considering the fact that latest GP IM versions (10.0 and 9.0) work with eConnect IM connectors – eConnect boosts IM performance, especially comparing with traditional OLE-based IM connectors.  Plus IM is flexible enough for integration logic alteration – you should research VBA pre and post scripts and data translations
4. SQL Scripting.  This option may seem encouraging for SQL developer, however GP MRP system is complex in its data flow and posting diagram, so we strictly recommend you to use SQL scripting in select statement only and do not update records, especially if you are beginner and not familiar and comfortable with GP data fixing techniques
5. Future Directions.  eConnect will be taking more ground and it is advisable to invest in eConnect programming training and self study.  At this time Dexterity is ultimate development tool, however eConnect advancing should allow Great Plains Programmer to work in Microsoft Visual Studio exclusively without rescuing to Dex coding