Microsoft Dynamics GP Software Development Factory

Feb 3
08:29

2010

Andrew Karasev

Andrew Karasev

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We are writing this small publication for the mid-size and large businesses, deploying Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly known as Great Plains Dynamics, and its predecessor Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Windows and Mac) as their Corporate ERP application. Dynamics GP could be considered as flexible Accounting, ERP, MRP II platform, ready for simple or advanced customizations, modifications, integrations, reporting, EDI interfaces

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However Dynamics GP is not a trivial small business application and its programming requires dedication,Microsoft Dynamics GP Software Development Factory Articles multiple years of experience and professional certifications (in Microsoft Dexterity Programming, Modifier with VBA, Integration Manager and general Microsoft Dynamics GP functional consulting).  It is recommended to outsource Great Plains customizations and add-ons programming to dedicated Microsoft Dynamics GP technology partner, who has Great Plains Dexterity programming department with Source Code programming experience (often referred as Great Plains Dexterity Software Development Factory):
1. Microsoft Dynamics GP Programming Tools.  Great Plains offers you multiple modification tools: Microsoft Dexterity (formerly known as Great Plains Dexterity - GP was originally programmed in Dexterity and Dex is the shell programmed in C programming language with Sanscript scripting language for Dex shell).  Dexterity is semi-proprietary and you should not expect generic programmers to turn out to become GP Dexterity coders over night, over week and even over several months.  Microsoft Dynamics GP Dexterity programmer typically polishes his or her software development skills over several years of intensive work for one of the major Dynamics GP Source Code Partner (where developer has Dexterity Dynamics.Dic source Sanscript scripts for all Great Plains modules, procedures, functions, forms, windows and triggers) - these conditions are not compatible with Dynamics GP customer IT department (assuming that you are not a huge public company, programming Microsoft Dexterity in-house every day during several years).  Second tool to be mentioned is eConnect SDK, it was initially dedicated to eCommerce web programmers to open Microsoft Great Plains master records (customer, vendor, GL account, US Payroll Employee) and transactions (SOP Invoice, POP Purchase, Order and Receipt, GL Transaction) for ecommerce shopping cart integration to Dynamics GP (typically Sales Order Processing module, but later on eConnect was extended to cover most of Dynamics GP core functionality modules: GL, POP, RM, PM, Payroll, Project Accounting, etc.).  The third tool to mention is Modifier with VBA: Modifier itself is coded in Dexterity and it opens Dynamics GP windows via OLE server interface, where you can automate custom fields with VBA scripts.  If you need to update custom or standard Dynamics GP tables, please consider deploying Microsoft ADO technology in field event driven VBA scripts
2. Additional Dynamics GP custom programming options.  Since the version 8.0 Microsoft Dynamics GP is available on Microsoft SQL Server DB platform exclusively (SQL 2000, 2005 and 2008).  This fact opens Dynamics GP database for Microsoft SQL Server direct scripting: Stored Procedures, SQL Views, or direct SQL Insert statements.  Even if these methodic may look simple and attractive to Microsoft SQL Server Certified DBA or experienced SQL Programmer, we recommend you to calm down and to imagine the complexity of Dynamics GP business logic (the chances are close to 100% that you will compromise GP business logic by intervening via SQL scripting).  If you would like to move records from your external legacy application, such as ecommerce, or Oracle based Sales Order Processing or CRM system, or IBM Lotus Notes, we recommend you to consider eConnect SQL libraries inclusion into your Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB.Net project.  eConnect replicated Dexterity Dynamics.Dic business logic and data validation and it is likely have your intended Dynamics GP object or transaction automating encrypted stored procedure
3. Dynamics GP EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) software development options.  If your EDI requirements are relatively moderate, we recommend you Precisely Formatted SQL Select Statement to generate text export from Dynamics GP, compliant to EDI code
4. Great Plains Reporting tools.  Here you have FRx Financial Reporting (for Balance Sheet, P&L, Statement of Cash Flow and Consolidated versions of these statements, FRx could also consolidate your overseas subsidiaries, where you have such Corporate ERP applications as SAP Business One, Microsiga, 1S Bukhgalteria) on the level of Excel worksheet (GL trial balance exported from SAP B1 for example).  If you are looking for non Managerial or Industry compliance reporting - consider Crystal Reports, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) or Dynamics GP Report Writer (modifier SOP Invoice, Purchase Order, Receipt, Monthly Sales Tax report, etc.)
5. Dynamics GP internationalization.  We are sort of skeptical on advising Great Plains Dynamics to be translated into your foreign country language (Great Plains Dexterity doesn't support Unicode characters, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean hieroglyphs).  Well, Dexterity theoretically supports ASCII table with such languages as English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, Arabic and most of East European and Central Asian alphabets.  Corporate ERP internationalization also include the compliance to local tax code.  Dynamics GP version 10.0 is localized for USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, English speaking Oceania, Spanish speaking Latin America and Caribbean, French speaking Canadian Quebec province, with some restrictions to Arabic Peninsula, Egypt and African countries (where English is the language of business).  If you plan to localize internally Dynamics GP for your overseas subsidiary in the country, where Great Plains is not localized by Microsoft Business Solutions, we would like to take conservative approach and rather to discourage you, as Corporate ERP localization project is too challenging and not recommended
6. Microsoft Dynamics for Russian Federation.  If you are multinational corporation expanding to Russia, and you are Microsoft workshop, please consider Microsoft Dynamics AX or NAV (Axapta or Navision).  If these Corporate ERP application options seem to be overly too expensive, consider Microsoft competitors, such as SAP Business One
7. Microsoft Dynamics GP for Afghanistan, Kabul or Iran, Teheran.  In both countries alphabets are based on Arabic characters.  Dari, Persian (Farsi), or Tajik are very close and educated individuals understand each other (in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and even Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent  Uzbekistan)
8. Microsoft Dynamics for Brazil.  As Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains is not localized for Brazilian Corporate ERP market, we encourage you to purchase and implement Dynamics AX Axapta in Brazil.  If Axapta is outside of your Corporate ERP and Accounting system budget, please consider SAP B1 for Brazilian subsidiary
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