Dynamics GP Consultant Newsflash: Importing into Great Plains
If you have Dynamics GP or former Great Plains Dynamics eEnterprise implemented in your organization there is a good idea to understand your options to add such things as EDI, ongoing integration or one time data conversion
Dynamics GP has multiple data import and export options and
in this small publication we would like to give you initial GP integration
highlights:
1.
Dynamics GP Integration Manager. This tool is really great and you can setup
the integration simply by reading IM user manual. It integrates text files: CSV, Tab and
special character delimited. Also, you
can get advantage of more flexible ODBC data sources integration, where you can
deploy such ODBC compliant constructions as SQL Views, including
cross-platform: Oracle, Lotus Notes, Pervasive SQL, Ctree, Microsoft Access,
Excel, PHP mySQL (including bridges to Linux or Unix) to give you the idea. Plus, IM allows you to alter integration
logic in VBA scripts: before integration, before document commit, and other
execution points. You may say, that it
is all great, the only problem for you is ERP implementation and support budget
(especially now in 2009, when we are supposed to be in deep recession) ?
Integration Manager doesn’t come free with GP purchase (however Dynamics GP
Business Ready license gives you, at least now the IM conversion license ? this
is temporary license, assuming that you need few month to conversion legacy
accounting and MRP data to Dynamics GP Great Plains)
2.
Dynamics GP Macros. This technique is a bit creative and not
necessary known to every Dynamics GP programmer or consultant. Macros work even if you have add-ons, or
third party Dynamics GP ISV partners customizations. The idea of macro deployment is simple and
straightforward: open the window of the object to be integrated (customer
maintenance for instance) and start recording macro in
Tools->Macro->Record. Enter
manually two new customers and then stop playing macro. Look at the macro file, open Excel file with
your customers (coming from legacy system: PeachTree, MYOB, QuickBooks, Lotus
Notes Domino) and add macro commands as Excel columns (in between your customer
related fields). Then save your Excel
file in text format and give the new text file macro extension. Now you are ready to play macro. Macro playing requires computer session
dedication ? do not try to switch to another application while macro is in
progress ? simply take lunch or cup of coffee
3.
eConnect programming. If you are on Dynamics GP 10.0 or 9.0, and if
you classify yourself as Microsoft Visual Studio C# or VB.Net programmer with
good skills in SQL and XML, then you can program integration on your own. eConnect is especially great tool for
ecommerce programmer , who needs to expose Dynamics GP as back end ERP for
ecommerce application
About the author
Related Posts
- Dynamics GP Partner Newsflash: 2009 Payroll Tax Update
- Great Plains Partner Newsflash: Payroll Timesheets and New Employees integration
- Great Plains Implementation for Non-Profit Organization overview for consultant
- Great Plains Dynamics GP Implementation in Naperville, Aurora, Chicagoland overview
- Great Plains Consultants and Integrators with emphasis in Technology
