Software Information

Microsoft Great Plains on Ctree or Pervasive SQL - What to Do - Tips for IT Manager


As you probably know, when Microsoft purchased Great Plains Software - the whole strategy for Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise line was changed. Initial GPS strategy was to maintain DB platform independence - via it's C-written engine Dexterity, based on the believe that C programming language is platform independent. So - Great Plains was running on MS SQL Server, Ctree (Faircom - if you remember 1995-96 Macintosh era), Pervasive SQL (Btrieve). Microsoft obviously had no plan to keep this multiplatform capability and Great Plains was optimized to MS SQL Server and with the introduction of MSDE - the need to keep entry level Dynamics on Ctree/Btrieve disappeared.

Microsoft Great Plains Business Solutions, later renamed to Microsoft Business Solutions was sending multiple signals to Dynamics customers to migrate to SQL Server, later on to upgrade to Great Plains Standard on MSDE. Recently it promoted all the clients who own Great Plains on Ctree/Pervasive - so now they technically own so called Great Plains Standard. All they need to do is pay for Migration (around k$3 + consulting fee to whoever your MBS VAR is).

Unfortunately MBS did several rough turns in the process of this migration from ctree/Pervasive to SQL/MSDE.

Until early 2004 you could see support expiration date for Great Plains 7.5 on Ctree/Pervasive was July, 31, 2005. In about April, 2004 - Microsoft roughly changed it to December 31, 2004. This actually exposed all the clients with regulation-related modules (such as US Payroll - where you rather do not risk with printing W2s without support) to serious problems

Clients who migrated to Great Plains standard are now in the feeling that they paid for something that is free now. See above - all the low price GP clientele now technically owns GP Standard

Ctree/Pervasive clients with high volume of employees count in GP Payroll/HR now have to cut it to 500 employees due to the cap for GP Standard. You can imagine frustration, especially due to the fact that a lot of mid-size and big companies were running very cheap Dynamics on Ctree for just Payroll/W2 filing. This was a very nice alternative to products like Abra HR - not any more.

What to do. Well, if you plan to stay with GP - the only alternative is to migrate to MSDE. Contact your MBS VAR (or call us directly: 1-866-528-0577). You will be given Migration Tool quote - then install MSDE and Great Plains with exactly the same accounts structure that you have on Pervasive/Ctree. Tune Migration Tool, select all the tables in all the modules, click the button and wait a few hour - and you are in the SQL World!

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies - USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, Illinois, California, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Colorado, Minnesota, Washington and having locations in multiple states and internationally www.albaspectrum.com, he is CMA, Great Plains Certified Master, Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer. You can contact Andrew: andrewk@albaspectrum.com

akarasev@albaspectrum.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Los Angeles Times

Software for supervising students
Los Angeles Times, CA - 3 hours ago
Here's an overview of some of the more popular programs: MealpayPlus: A program from Horizon Software International that lets parents go online to put money ...
Online tools let parents peer into their kids' school day Los Angeles Times
all 3 news articles


ABC News

Open Sauce Software
ZDNet UK, UK - 46 minutes ago
Chrome is still my default browser, and there are everyday things I can't do so easily in it as in Firefox. Perversely. I think what I want is a Google ...
Video: Tech Test: Google Chrome Lacks Polish AssociatedPress
Google Chrome: A Hit with Online Software Vendors CIO
How will Google Chrome change the user experience on the web? CNET News
Reuters - InformationWeek
all 3,424 news articles


Lieberman Software Launches Virtual Server Management Initiative
MarketWatch - 21 hours ago
LOS ANGELES, Sep 04, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lieberman Software's User Manager Pro Suite, a configuration management solution for Windows-powered servers ...
Vendors scramble to rein in virtual environments NetworkWorld.com
Azaleos' OneServer Now Supports Microsoft Hyper-V Server TMCnet
Hyper-V Virtual Monitoring Appliance Debuts at Microsoft Conference WebWire (press release)
MarketWatch
all 23 news articles


Sun to Craft Software Stack Into NAS Appliances
PC World - 9 hours ago
Sun Microsystems will introduce a storage appliance based on its FISHworks software package by the end of this year and later extend the technology to other ...


Roper Industries buys Horizon Software
Bizjournals.com, NC - 15 hours ago
Horizon, based in Duluth, Ga., will continue to market its products and services under its current brand names and will become part of Roper’s radio ...
Roper Acquires Horizon Software, Expands K-12 Business with Food ... Education Channel Partner
Lakewood Ranch company acquires software player Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Roper Industries Acquires Horizon Software International MarketWatch
SunHerald.com
all 14 news articles


Check Point Software Shareholders Approve all Proposals at 2008 ...
MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. ( www.checkpoint.com) is the leader in securing the Internet. Check Point offers total security solutions featuring a ...


Arxan Hosts Complimentary Webinar on Software Protection Best ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 2 hours ago
What application hardening and software protection best practices can be put to use so companies can take back control of their applications and revenues. ...


Schools Consider Software Update
Tampa Tribune, FL - 6 hours ago
By RONNIE BLAIR LAND O' LAKES - The Pasco County School District is considering replacing its outdated computer software with something new that could ...


Software engineering degree coming to SUNY Oswego
NewsChannel 9 WSYR, NY - 6 hours ago
Oswego, New York (WSYR-TV) – Central New York students looking to major in software engineering now have a cheaper, closer option to choose from. ...
Software Added SUNY Oswego
all 2 news articles


American Software Q1 Earnings Drop As Revenues Decline - Update
RTT News, NY - 10 hours ago
Software license revenues were $2.7 million, down 46% from $5.1 million in the prior-year quarter. AMSWA ended Thursday's regular trading at $5.79, ...
MOST E-MAILED RTT News
all 3 news articles

Software - Google News

home | site map
© 2006