Great Plains Reseller News Advanced ODBC Integration review - Alba Spectrum

Released on: August 20, 2008, 3:46 pm

Press Release Author: Alba Spectrum

Industry: Computers

Press Release Summary: Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP has pretty cool and end user
friendly integrating module: Great Plains Integration Manager. With Dynamics GP
version 10.0, IM got revolutionary improvements in the form of eConnect connectors


Press Release Body: Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP has pretty cool and end user friendly
integrating module: Great Plains Integration Manager. With Dynamics GP version
10.0, IM got revolutionary improvements in the form of eConnect connectors. Now,
where these connectors are available, IM performance issue virtually evaporated and
you can integrate thousand of SOP invoices per minute, as eConnect deploys SQL
stored procedures, versus OLE server for old IM connectors. However we often see
the problem of finding GP programmer, who is a maestro with advanced ODBC query to
make integration manager work with pretty rigid and cumbersome text file, produced
from your legacy MRP or EDI application. Let's move to the bullets:

1. Microsoft Text ODBC Driver. Unfortunately for Windows XP, Windows 2003 and
Vista, this driver has known bugs and they are not fixed by service packs. The work
around is to restrain from defining fields format and allowing the driver to guess

2. SQL Query. Assuming that you have Microsoft Text Driver connection, see #1
issues, next step is to produce complex SQL select statement. Let us give you some
examples. Imagine the situation, when you are given Purchase Expense accounts only
and you need to alter GL distribution in AP vendor invoice integration. Yes, of
course, what you need is Accounts Payable account distribution counterpart. In
order to achieve this you create union clause in GP IM Integration query. AP is
typically sent on single Accounts Payable account, for you this means that you have
to group together Purchasing lines and use SUM construction to create single
Payables distribution line

3. Text Driver Limitations. To give you good example - if you have exactly
identical GL distribution lines in the case described in the bullet #2, text driver
will fail in distinguishing of those two lines and it will skip one of them. What
you need to do is to provide unique parameter, which will restore the lines
uniqueness. Also you need to be aware that Advanced ODBC option in IM should allow
you to deploy Standard SQL constructions: group, union, having and others

4. Additional Consideration for eConnect, related to E-commerce web integration and
development. eConnect is in essence SDK or Software Development Kit, opening GP
object for manipulation to Microsoft Visual Studio C# and VB.Net developer, who is
familiar with XML and SQL encrypted stored procedures. eConnect will do the job
when you have established ecommerce website, written in PHP, .Net, EJB and other
open technologies and you need to integrate it with Microsoft Dynamics GP accounting
back office


Web Site: http://www.albaspectrum.com

Contact Details: Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving Great Plains USA and
Canada nationwide. Local service in Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Diego. Please
visit our information portal Pegas Planet: http://www.pegasplanet.com . If you need
custom programming for GP, we are happy to help you with Dexterity, eConnect,
VBA/Modifier, SQL Stored Procedures, Crystal Reports. We also provide instant
support to new and existing clients via web sessions for the customers in CA, IL,
WI, NY, FL, IN, MI, TX, GA, NE, NM, AI, NC, SC, OR, WA, DC, DE, PA, VI, AZ, LA

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