| Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP version upgrade should | | | | update. Report Writer in turn is Dexterity-written |
| be planned, it is not recommended to do it | | | | module and it comes back to one of the first GP |
| impulsively. In order to facilitate your homework we | | | | versions: 3.2 and 4.0, so this is not a surprise that you |
| would like to give you highlights in technical and | | | | may encounter multiple surprises and restrictions |
| functional compatibility areas | | | | 5. FRx. This is financial reporting tool, which has |
| 1. Microsoft Dexterity core. Great Plains is Dexterity | | | | connection to GP General Ledger and GL account |
| application, which has new technologies, incorporated | | | | summaries. FRx upgrade is typically straightforward, in |
| in Dexterity and serving as additions (and in some | | | | some cases you have to know "known issues", you |
| cases as replacements) to Dex: eConnect, Sharepoint | | | | should be familiar with sysdata folder, FRX date and |
| (with approval cycles), Microsoft Office stack | | | | time table in Dynamics database. If you got FRx |
| integration, plus integrations with Microsoft CRM, RMS | | | | upgrade deadlock, please try to relax and search |
| and other MS business applications. The message | | | | Microsoft Business Solutions technical knowledge |
| here is to check if you have custom Dexterity logic - | | | | database at partner or customer source |
| this is first step to analyze and address in version | | | | 6. Upgrade Paths. How upgrade works behind the |
| upgrade | | | | scenes? Dexterity utilities looks in Dynamics database |
| 2. Great Plains Dex modifications upgrade scenarios. | | | | which legacy version you are on and then if it has |
| Dexterity was designed as GP Dynamics IDE and | | | | upgrade algorithm from your version it launches the |
| programming language, and one of its fundamental | | | | update process. You should know probably all |
| features is upgradeability. However this should be | | | | historical GP versions: 3.2, 4.0, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, |
| given to the hands of professional Dexterity | | | | 9.0 and current 10.0 (October 2007). FRx versions: |
| programmers. In the best case scenario, you should | | | | 4.0, 5.0, 6.5 |
| have DYNAMICS.DIC dictionary with your | | | | 7. GPA upgrade and migration. If you are on old |
| customization source code (in the case of Dex it is | | | | Great Plains Accounting for DOS or MS Windows, |
| sanscript codes). Dexterity modification upgrade has | | | | you need to undergo migration to Microsoft |
| further specifics, required to be taken to | | | | Dynamics GP path. Migration tool is available if you |
| consideration in upgrade, this is outside of the scope | | | | contact your MBS partner |
| here. | | | | 8. Pervasive SQL 2000/Btrieve and Ctree/Faircom |
| 3. Third Party modules. Great Plains is the platform, | | | | Great Plains Dynamics upgrade. If you are on |
| open to Microsoft Business Solutions ISV, who | | | | Pervasive or Ctree, then it is version 7.5 or earlier. |
| extends GP business logic. Typically these extensions | | | | Microsoft terminated these legacy platforms support |
| are written in Dexterity and distributed as Dexterity | | | | in December 2004. MRP software industry deploys |
| chink. The examples of popular ISV names for Great | | | | annual support fee mechanism to finance accounting |
| Plains: Mekorma, Avalara, Intellisol (late 1990th), | | | | software development expenses. In order to get |
| Albaspectrum, and others. If you deploy third party | | | | new version registration key, you should be enrolled |
| GP extension module, you should check if third party | | | | and current in GP annual enhancement program. If |
| tool is available for the new version, where you plan | | | | you are current, then you should contact your GP |
| to upgrade | | | | VAR of record to arrange migration from Great Plains |
| 4. Reporting. Well, you may have various blends of | | | | Dynamics on Pervasive or Ctree to Microsoft |
| reporting tools: Crystal Reports, SRS, MS Access, but | | | | Dynamics GP on MS SQL Server 2000 or 2005 |
| in our opinion GP ReportWriter reports should be | | | | 9. No answer. |
| analyzed in the most careful manner in GP version | | | | |