Tools to customize Great Plains

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Microsoft Business Solutions - Great Plains has captured the American market with its integrated business applications for small and medium businesses. Its comprehensive accounting and business management capabilities provide businesses with tools to customize various modules of the software Great Plains. These instruments have proved to have contributed to business growth and tighter control over its processes.

There are several ways in which customization and integration can beApplied to the Great Plains applications for its open architecture feature. Data integrity and performance of the processes can be validated using one of several tools listed in this article. So how can we answer the question of the Great Plains customization?

Dexterity

Although Dexterity requires the user an extensive knowledge in software development (primarily in C / C + + or Pascal) and experience in scripting languages (VBScript, or Dexterity's own script - SanScript)This proprietary programming language that was developed in Great Plains provides access to all the great Plains resources such as tables, reports and scripts. With this access, you can manipulate and define triggers such as opening a form or leaving a field. It can also be used to call up functions and procedures and create new applications without interfering with other customizations already in place and integrate them into the great Plains user interface easily.

Dexterity can beinstalled using CD # 2, which comes with the Great Plains 7.5 package.

Modifier with VBA

Modifier with VBA is one of the simplest tools to have for end users and developers. It uses common graphic design techniques that can be used to change the appearance of an application for Great Plains. It can be used to move, edit or delete menus within a window so that you can manipulate the importance of each field. It also allows you to add new windows or controls or simply rearrangingthose that exist. This customization tool is safe to use as the original information is stored separately from the changes. Changes can also be shared with others. However, unlike dexterity, it is not advisable to create new applications with Modifier VBA.

Continuum for VBA / Delphi

This tool uses Great Plains as OLE server. Capture the VB or Delphi code as queried by the user to record macros. However, we do not recommend it because it is an oldtechnology.

Crystal Reports

Great Plains has its own Report Writer. However, its functionality is limited. Introduction to Crystal Reports for Great Plains opens up a whole new world of reporting. With the use of Crystal Report Designer interface, you can create complex reports with formatting and grouping just the way you want - professionally done. Data can be grouped and summarized subtotaled and its ability to drill-down, the user can view reportsthe data in detail.

Crystal Reports has come up with a version for Visual Studio. NET. With all the features of Crystal Reports 8.0, Visual Studio. NET provides. Internet users the ability to share information and reports via the Internet. Through the use of database driver, Crystal Reports connects to the Great Plains database and accesses the specific data as queried by the user and select the tables or views, depending on the user's proposition.

In GreatPlain, the structure of tables can be found in: Tools> Resource Description> Tables

Direct Web Publishing

If you're looking to publish the Great Plains information over the Internet, then using Visual Studio. NET is the right tool to use. It allows the deployment of Web-based applications and XML Web Services and can be exploited with the use of programming languages such as Visual Basic. NET, Visual C # and VisualJ #.

eConnect

Integrating data from external sources, such as point-of-sale, customer relationship management applications and Web services to implement Great Plains eConnect is what is all about. eConnect can filter data or add script to the objects according to the specified schema. It allows you to limit the number of values entered in a field or setting a default value for the field. Although eConnect promises integration, calls for advancedprogramming skills. It uses a number of different programs including Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Basic objects and XML (Extensible Markup).

Integration Manager

Conversion and data transfer (import) a database format (ODBC) to an application for Great Plains can be done with the use of Integration Manager. This tool allows the end user to map the data source to the target field without the need to search the database tables. SQLQueries can also be defined for your accompany the integration and data validation. Integration Manager requires development experience with a background in database maintenance, SQL commands and VBA or VBScript to name a few.

SQL Query

Microsoft SQL Server is a database engine that provides users with tools for creating, configuring and maintaining databases. E 'integrated directly into the Great Plains database. Its Query Engine allows you to create instructions to recall someinformation from the database. Although this is a powerful tool, SQL queries should only be done with expert hands. A false declaration could wipe out your database.

The conduct of the operations of your business depend on you. With the right experience and training, these tools for customization of applications and databases can bring your company to a better land.

Need more information?

Contact: 1-866-528-0577

help@albaspectrum.com

For customization work andadvice, please contact Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum's Chief Technology Officer. His works include the development of applications using Dexterity, SQL, C #. NET, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK.

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