| If you remember the XXI century story about | | | | Great Plains reseller for details. |
| Microsoft purchase of Great Plains Software - this is | | | | 9. Dex Customization upgrade. If you have custom |
| where eEnterprise, that was the last GPS ERP name | | | | Dex logic in your eEnterprise installation version, you |
| invention ceased to exist in its MRP name | | | | should not assume that modified logic update will be |
| consistency. Great Plains eEnterprise was renamed | | | | automatic. Typically Dexterity developers and |
| into Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains | | | | programmers need to be involved to estimate |
| Professional, later on in September 2005, Great Plains | | | | upgrade efforts |
| was renamed into Microsoft Dynamics GP. But | | | | 10. Crystal Reports and Microsoft SQL Server |
| anyway, if you or your company had hard time back | | | | Reporting Services SRS vs. Great Plains ReportWriter. |
| in earlier 2000, then you might be on Great Plains | | | | RW is Microsoft Dexterity module, so you should not |
| eEnterprise or Great Plains Dynamics for Microsoft | | | | expect miracle from Report Writer interface. RW has |
| SQL Server versions 6.0 or 7.0. Let's review | | | | access to GP Dex reports, stored in Reports.dic file, |
| eEnterprise upgrade and walk away paths: | | | | plus these mentioned reports have Dexterity |
| 1. DB Platform. eEnterprise was available on Microsoft | | | | parameters entry screens in regular GP logic. CR is |
| SQL Server only, so more likely you are on Microsoft | | | | Dex-independent tool and you should try to base |
| SQL Server 7.0 or even MS SQL Server 2000. So, | | | | Crystal Reports on SQL Stored Procedures and |
| considering the fact that high-end version of | | | | Views logic. The same should be said about SRS |
| Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 or 9.0 is available on MS | | | | 11. Dexterity sanscript advise. Dex historically deploys |
| SQL Server 2005 and 2000 only - from DB | | | | cursor base logic in its Sanscript scripting language. |
| perspective there are no challenges | | | | This logic might not be optimal for MS SQL Server |
| 2. GP Licenses and MBS Great Plains annual | | | | 2005 and 2000 platforms. Please consider calling MS |
| enhancement program status. Well, considering the | | | | SQL Server stored procedures from Dex sanscripts |
| fact that you are supposedly still on GPS eEnterprise | | | | directly |
| ERP version, chances are high that you lapsed in | | | | 12. eConnect programming. Again, eConnect was not |
| Microsoft Business Solutions GP annual enhancement | | | | available in 1999, eConnect was introduced for |
| program. If our assumption is correct, then you will | | | | eCommerce developers in earlier 2000. eConnect is |
| have to contact you Microsoft VAR to understand | | | | the set of encrypted stored procedures, assuming |
| your annual enhancement reactivation options. If you | | | | that you have already upgraded to GP 7.5, 8.0, 9.0 or |
| have no idea on what we are talking about - call us | | | | 10.0 |
| 3. eEnterprise upgrade scenarios. If you are on Great | | | | 13. eEnterprise and Great Plains Software Dexterity |
| Plains Software eEnterprise, more likely you have | | | | traces. You should know that Dynamics.dic for |
| more than 10 Great Plains system manager users and | | | | eEnterprise is similar to the one for Dynamics for MS |
| so, you are valuable customer (meaning that you are | | | | SQL Server. Dexterity places the following rules on |
| large or mid-size business from the ERP perspective). | | | | MS SQL Server DB design: DEX_ROW_ID - this |
| If you didn't downsize in 2001-2004, then your | | | | column is use in Dex internal logic, Dex.ini - here you |
| upgrade path is to Microsoft Dynamics GP | | | | place the instructions to Dexterity to log certain |
| Professional | | | | events |
| 4. Microsoft Dynamics C/S+. This is the predecessor | | | | 14. If Upgrade stalls. Typically this is due to |
| of eEnterprise, C/S+ versions were 5.5, 5.0, 4.0 and | | | | inconsistent Company DB records. First consider |
| 3.2. Those days Microsoft SQL platform was in the | | | | check links rescue, however it doesn't work in 100% |
| formation stage, so your version might be MS SQL | | | | of the cases. If you don't have a luck with check |
| Server 6.0 or alternative DB platforms: Btrieve or | | | | links, then you will have to do manual data repair SQL |
| Ctree/Faircom. Your migration path is likely to be to | | | | scripting |
| Microsoft Dynamics GP Professional as well. If you | | | | 15. Most Typical Pitfalls. GP Upgrade process is not |
| are on non Microsoft SQL Server DB platform - you | | | | easy and this is not because Microsoft Business |
| will need to migrate to MS SQL Server. The migration | | | | Solutions has inefficient upgrade path, in the opposite |
| tool is available fro Microsoft Business Solutions, | | | | - GP upgrade fails, due to the data inconsistency in |
| however it is not trivial and we recommend you to | | | | your GP tables, typically in Purchase Order Processing: |
| deploy GP technical consulting firm to do migration | | | | POP10110, POP30110 and IV10200 |
| and version upgrade job. | | | | 16. Manufacturing, Project Accounting, Fixed Assets |
| 5. Great Plains Dexterity customizations for | | | | special considerations. These mentioned modules |
| eEnterprise. Dex programming was very popular in | | | | were integrated with Great Plains Dynamics in late |
| late 1990th, and this is not a surprise if you have Dex | | | | 1990th. PA was the result of MatchData purchase, |
| altered Dynamics business logic. Please review you | | | | Philippines base Dexterity development partner, GP |
| Dynamics.set file to figure out if you have Dexterity | | | | Manufacturing was Icontrol Purchase, Fixed Assets |
| custom logic and if so, try to find Dynamics.dic with | | | | module is the successor of Forestar FA application |
| your Sanscript scripts in not stripped out | | | | for GPS Dynamics. |
| 6. eEnterprise custom reporting. The most likely you | | | | 17. Intellisol Advanced Purchase Order Processing and |
| have GP ReportWriter modified reports: SOP Long | | | | Project Accounting upgrade to GP PO Processing. To |
| Invoice or Blank Form, POP Purchase Order. RW is in | | | | have you informed, Intellisol International, Australian |
| fact Dexterity module and reports migration and | | | | based company tried to relocate to Fargo, ND in |
| upgrade require Dex architecture expertise and | | | | 1998. Then GPS negotiated with MatchData and |
| software development experience. | | | | Icontrol to purchase and incorporate their respective |
| 7. Dinosaur versions of Great Plains. GPA for DOS, | | | | modules over Intellisol PA and Advanced POP. |
| MS Windows or Macintosh were discontinued to | | | | Intellisol APOP upgrade path is still available to GP 7.5, |
| support in earlier XXI Century. If you are still on one | | | | please contact us for further details |
| of those, you got to consider walk away migration | | | | 18. Mekorma Modules, This Los Angeles based |
| option: to Microsoft Dynamics GP would be the | | | | software vendor was famous in GP secured check |
| natural way, however you may theoretically migrate | | | | printing. Please contact Mekorma if your new |
| to Oracle, Sage, PeopleSoft, JDEdwards, Scala, or | | | | intended for upgrade version of Mekorma GP is |
| other ERP application | | | | available |
| 8. GP Licenses. You are probably familiar with ERP | | | | 19. Local and State Tax calculation and filing partners, |
| industry rules - besides initial MRP application purchase | | | | such as Avalara. Alba Spectrum initially helped Alalara |
| you have to be current and pay annual fee for ERP | | | | to develop Avatax GP 7.0 and 7.5, later on Avalara |
| enhancement program. You are lapsed in | | | | decided to outsource Avatax development to India |
| enhancement program, you should expect | | | | Great Plains Dexterity developers, where Alba |
| re-enrollment fee. The GP re-enrollment fee depends | | | | Spectrum provided Avalara with Dex source code |
| on the number of lapsing years, and in some cases it | | | | 20. French Canadian and European Dynamics GP ERP |
| is more beneficial to do new GP software licenses | | | | market. While French Canadian GP version 10.0 as well |
| purchase, please contact your Microsoft Dynamics GP | | | | as Latin American Spanish version, German GP 10. |