Software Information

Microsoft Great Plains Integration with Microsoft Access - Overview for Developer


 
Microsoft Business Solutions stakes on Microsoft Great Plains as main Accounting/ERP application for US market.  At the same time it seems to be staking on Navision in Europe and has Axapta as high end large corporation market competitor to Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, IBM.  This article is brief review of Microsoft Great Plains integration with Microsoft Access.  This is also applicable to Small Business Manager (which is based on the same technology - Great Plains Dexterity dictionary - DYNAMICS.DIC and runtime DYNAMICS.EXE) and Great Plains Standard on MSDE  or MS SQL Server.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we implement  Great Plains integration/interface  with your MS Access-based  system - read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

  • Great Plains Integration Manager - this is rather end-user tool - it is very intuitive, it validates 100% of business logic, brings in/updates master records (accounts, employees, customers, vendors. etc.) brings in transactions into work tables.  The limitation of Integration Manager - it does use GP windows behind the scenes without showing them - so it is relatively slow - you can bring 100 records - but when you are talking about thousands - it is not a good option.  By the way you can program Integration Manager with VBA.  Microsoft Access is ODBC compliant and so you can do direct Integration Manager query to MS Access
  • eConnect - it is type of Software Development Kit with samples in VB.Net.  Obviously the development environment should be Visual Studio.Net.  eConnect will allow you to integrate master records - such as new customers, vendors, employees, etc., plus you can bring transactions into so called Great Plains work tables (eConnect doesn't allow you to bring open or historical records - you need to post work records in Great Plains, the same limitation applies to Integration Manager above)  eConnect is rather for ongoing integration.  It was initially created for eCommerce application integration to Great Plains.
  • SQL Stored Procedures.  Obviously you have unlimited control and possibilities with SQL queries.  You need to know Great Plains tables structure and data flow.  Launch Great Plains and go to Tools->Resource Description->Tables.  Find the table in the proper series.  If you are looking for the customers - it should be RM00101 - customer master file.  If you need historical Sales Order Processing documents - they are in SOP30200 - Sales History Header file, etc.   Do not change existing tables - do not create new fields, etc.  Also you need to realize that each GP table has DEX_ROW_ID - identity column.  Sometimes it is good idea to use inbound/outbound XML in the parameters - then you can deploy web service as a middle party between two systems.
  • Data Transformation Services (DTS) - Good tool for importing your third party data into staging tables in GP - then you can pull them in using either stored procs of Integration Manager.  You can also deploy this tool for EDI export/import.  You can have DTS working with Linked Server - SQL Server Construction for linking to Microsoft Access
  • Great Plains Dexterity Custom Screens.  Sometimes users prefer to have seamlessly integrated into GP interface custom screens - for parameters settings and initiating integration.  Dexterity is a good option, however remember - it is always better to create new custom screen versus customizing existing one - due to the future upgrade issues.  Also - Dexterity is in phasing our by Microsoft Business Solutions.
  • Modifier/VBA custom buttons on the existing screens -  alternative to Dexterity is you are comfortable with VBA and ADO.
  • SQL Linked Servers - you can do direct SQL queries to other ODBC compliant platform via SQL Linked Server (including Microsoft Access) - you may need to familiarize yourself with OPENROWSET command in Transact SQL.  This is also good option if you need cross-platform Crystal Report - pulling data from SQL Server and third party databases on the same report.
  • Warning - do not place existing GP tables into Replication! - you will have upgrade issues.
  • Happy integrating!  if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

    Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies - USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, Arizona, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    India offers software support to unravel Big Bang secrets
    Business Standard, India - 6 hours ago
    ... Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Saha Institute, and Punjab University were involved in providing software and quality-testing services of detectors. ...


    SilkRoad technology Expands Global Footprint in Asia Pacific ...
    MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
    With over ten years experience in technology and software, Earnshaw is based in Singapore and will lead the overall sales and marketing efforts for the ...


    PokerNews.com

    PokerStars Launches Full Version of Mac-Compatible Software
    PokerNews.com - 18 hours ago
    The software that brings the hugely popular online poker site PokerStars.net into the homes of over 15 million players worldwide will now have a Mac version ...
    PokerStars offers dedicated Mac client PokerListings.com
    Sunday's WCOOP Action Boasts $5 Million in Guaranteed Prizes PocketFives.com
    Some Poker Gossip and a Great Promo PokerNews.com
    all 8 news articles


    Software Engineers In Demand
    Fox 12 Boise, ID - 23 hours ago
    Software engineering keeps on beating the odds. It's an industry that's boasting an unemployment rate that's nearly fifty percent lower than the national ...


    A Charity Fails Families Of Fallen Firefighters After 9/11
    Hartford Courant, United States - 16 hours ago
    Careaga, a one-time volunteer firefighter and reserve police officer, had been trying to make money selling computer software to rural fire departments in ...


    Voting software does not ensure accountability
    Albany Times Union, NY - 21 hours ago
    Software experts have proven that votes cannot be secured on any electronic voting equipment. Vote manipulation was found despite these machines being ...


    Software helps 'observant'choppers
    Times of India, India - Sep 6, 2008
    The researchers have revealed that their software could learn and flawlessly replicate more than 20 years of radio-controlled helicopter expertise in just ...


    WELT ONLINE

    Open Sauce Software
    ZDNet UK, UK - Sep 5, 2008
    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 sees new browser displacing desktop software Reuters
    Google Chrome: A Hit with Online Software Vendors CIO
    Seeking Alpha - Chicago Tribune
    all 3,447 news articles


    Govt forms society to develop software in Bangla
    Kolkata Newsline, India - 2 hours ago
    The West Bengal government is forming an autonomous society to develop systems and software in Bangla and other regional languages. “The Society for Natural ...


    No Download Casino (Flash Casino) VS. Downloadable Software
    Corsavoo.com, France - 6 hours ago
    For instance, a software download casino tends to offer more game variety, where a no download casino is typically more limited. On the other hand, ...

    Software - Google News

    home | site map
    © 2006