Microsoft Dynamics GP Dexterity Customizations: Large Scale Projects

When we are talking about large scale integration and customization projects, when Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics GP business logic is “improved” by custom software development without compromising the initial modules reliability and upgradeability – such business logic design requires initial architecture design, functional and technical logic expertise, selection of the proper tools. In this article we would like to give you some highlights:

• Posting Logic challenge. It is probably relatively easy to place records into so called working tables in GP: SOP10100, SOP10200 are the most popular, when we deal with eCommerce. Also developer had such tools as eConnect ready to do this job. However the real challenge is to make posting logic work – try to post Sales Order Processing invoice with eConnect. Yes, here you need to go beyond the simple things and at the same time do not try to rewrite several GP modules, participating in posting process – imagine what will happen with version upgrade – your posting imitation will required redesign from scratch? This task is for experienced Dexterity developer, familiar with GP Dexterity source code programming techniques.

• Upgradeability. The best results could be achieved if you make portions of GP logic work for you, in this case future upgraded logic will be utilized with minimal revision. In the case of posting deployment – you need the conception of GP posting server, which will be called every time when you have ready to be posted batch in line

• Integrations. In the past we were recommending SQL stored procedures, today development should rely more on eConnect and its XML web services interface, which should be supplemented with posting server if business logic requires automatic posting. Both approaches XML Web Service and SQL Stored Procedure allow you to cross platform boundary – and integrate Oracle, SQP, Siebel, IBM Lotus Notes Domino, DB2 with MS SQL Server based Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains

Microsoft Dynamics GP Dexterity Customization

Microsoft Dexterity programming as reliable alternative to newer technologies and platforms, such as .Net, C# and VB MS Visual Studio development, eConnect, XML: Web Services.Some Microsoft Dexterity technological features:

• Sanscript. This is Dexterity programming language. It is actually compiled and stored in Dynamics.dic with development source code. Dex is cursor oriented DB accessing programming language, however you can also call MS SQL Server stored procedures (with SQL Select statement aggregation logic)

• Alternate Forms. Technically you can modify any form you like in Dynamics.Dic – original Microsoft Dynamics GP objects repository. But you might encounter future upgrade issues – original forms are subject to redesign by Microsoft Dynamics subdivision without any notice

• Dexterity Reports. As software developer you can create new Dexterity report, assuming that you will also provide new Dex form, where report will be getting parameters

• Dexterity Alternatives. In 1990th the alternatives were VBA – you could modify Greta Plains form with Modifier and include VBA scripting into your modification – Dynamics.vba is the dictionary, storing your modification. In 2000th you have .Net instruments, such as eConnect with XML Web Services interface. Technically eConnect is very powerful, but comparing to Dexterity – Dex has access to all Dynamics GP objects, while eConnect is secondary enabler – it has access to objects, covered by eConnect development team. Future direction will probably give more options to Business Portal developer, using either eConnect or manipulating another future interface for Great Plains objects

• Dexterity Advancements. These are typically related to Microsoft Great Plains Source Code Programming. Very good extension is posting server, allowing ecommerce developer automatically post GP batches in such modules as Sales Order Processing, GL, Inventory Control, POP, and others

• Comparison to Other Microsoft Dynamics Products. Microsoft Dynamics ERP family include Axapta, Navision, Solomon and with some restrictions Microsoft CRM. Dexterity should be compared with similar technologies: Axapta Microsoft Dynamics AX – MorphX / X++, Navision Microsoft Dynamics NAV C/SIDE

• Heterogeneous. Or cross platform software development: Oracle, IBM, Sybase, Ingress: Oracle Financials/Ebusiness Suite, Lotus Notes Domino. Microsoft SQL Server technology gives you Linked Server concept, Oracle gives you similar technologies, plus from Java/J2EE you can create various JDBC/ODBC bridges or native drivers